Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-22
PERSHING BUSHES REINFORCEMENTS
TO TROOPS ATTACKED BY MEXICANS

EI, PASO Tex, June 22-Reinforcements
were rushed today to the aid OF the 10th
Cavalry, victims OF an ambush by Mexicans.
In which 40 Americans are reported to
have been killed and Il known TO have
been captured and transferred to Chihuahua
City under heavy guard
General Pershing has sent a body of addi-
tional troops TO the 10th general head
quarters, according to word received here.
The Mexican authorities profess complete
ignorance of the extent of Mexican casual
ties in tho battle which followed ambush
ing of the negro troopers OF five companies
Of the 10th.
II was admitted. however that General
Gomez was killed and that Mexican casual
ties were "correspondingly heavy"
Latest reports are that the troopers were
lured into the hamlet OF Carrlzal under
nag of truce yesterday.
The Mexicans stuck to their claim that
there were 40 Americans killed and II cap
tured.
From reports received by state Depart
ment agents, mining companies and the
Carranzista officials here, it appears that
1--WE troops of the 10th Cavalry were on
scout duty near Carrizal when they we're
discovered by Carranzista outposts. The
Mexican troopers hastened back to the
hamlet
General Felix Gomez, commanding the de
facto troops in the town. ordered machine
guns secreted on the roofs of houses and his
men behind adobe walls. A small company
of Mexicans was sent to the western part
of the town to wave flag OF truce. The
unsuspecting cavalrymen rode into the
ambush.
News of the battle was received in
Juarez early in the afternoon by General
Francisco Gonzales, Carranza commander
of the military zone of the border. For
some reason Gonzales kept the story secret
until late in the afternoon, when an Amer.
lean, J. G.. Hubble, returning to the border
from tho iutpripr to no
news that he had seen numbers of Mexican
dead along the Mexican Central Railroad
tracks at villa Ahumada, and had been
told there had been an encounter
BLAME AMERICAN TROOPS
General Gonzales first step after confirm.
ing the news was to issue a statement plac-
ing the blame on the American commander
He charged that the troops fired first on the
Mexicans, and that their shots were directed
at a courier who had just presented to them
q request that they retire,
American army officers declare absolute
disbelief in Gonzales assertions The opin-
ion is expressed that If the Americans fired
on the Mexicans they did so because it was
necessary in order to insure their own
safety
General Trevino's recent warning to Gen.
eral Pershing not to send his troops east.
south or west of their positions was re-
called.
The only official details of the engagement
received here came from the Mexican side
of the river. General Gonzales said his in
formation Transmitted to him from
Villa Ahumada by Colonel Genoveso Hivas,
who commanded the Mexicans, after their
leader, General Gomez had been slain. Con.
zales also gave the Mexican explanation
of how the two forces came in contact.
According to Gonzales. he was informed
BY. General Gomez at Villa Ahumada yes
terday Of the presence of the Americans
westward between Villa Ahumada and El
Vale. He says he Immediately instructed