Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-22
MEX|CANS MAKE A
SURPRISE ATTACK
.oNPERSH|NGb
Forty American Soldiers Slain by
Machine Gun Fire Of Carranzista
Troops Ninety Miles South
of Ell Paso.
DE FACTo LOSSES ARE LIGHTER
Seventeen Tken Prisoners by Con.
stitutionalists, ,Juarez Com.
l.. mander Reports.
WOUNDED BORNE TO FIELD BASE

Washington, June 2l.--At 9:30 to-
night the War department had no
official information regarding the re-
ported clash between American and
Carranza troops near Carrizal. A
dispatch from General Funston said
he had heard the report, but had been
unable to secure official confirmation.
Ell Paso, Tex, June 2l.--A detach-
ment of American cavalry clashed
with Carranzista forces at Carrizal,
about ninety miles south of El Paso,
early today, both sides suffering
heavy casualties, according to unof-
fetal reports received by Mexican
military authorities in Juarez tonight.
According to the, report, which the
Mexican authorities are investigating.
forty Americans were killed by ma
chine gun fire ir>a surprise attack.
The Mexican casualties were said not
to have been so heavy, but General
Felix Gomez is named as being
among the Mexican dead.
Part of Scouting Patrol.
The American command is said to
have been part of scouting patrol
from Guzman, returning to General
Pershing's line of communication.
Carrizal, named as the place of the
encounter, is about nine miles south
west of Villa Ahumada, the Mexican
field base in northern Chihuahua.
Later General Francisco Gonzales,
Mexican commander at Juarez, gave
out statement in which he an-
nounced officially that the Mexican
command had taken seventeen Amer
: lean prisoners.
He also said that General Gomez's 8
I, death had been confirmed, but said
! he had no official reports as to the
number Of casualties on either side.
!, The wounded, both American and
/. Mexican, the exact number Of which
is not known here, were taken to
Villa Ahumada.
Gonzalez Statement.
: General Francisco Gonzalez made
: the following statement:
S Immediately upon learning of the
= presence of the American troops ii
the vicinity of Carrizal, General Felo
e Gomez dispatched messenger witt
a request that the American com
rnandes withdraw to his camp. Wher
, the American troops remained mo
: tionless he sent a second dispatch
= bearer, who was fired upon by tn,
American troops after he had deliv
cred his message. The American
Immediately moved forward and at
tackled General Gomez command.
, "All the prisoners admitted that tn
| blame should be put on the American
commander for having ordered tn
Il attack. The prisoners were sent Il
e Chihuahua City with the customar,
IS protection"
r Rivas Makes Report.
> General Gonzales said that the re
. port of the engagement was made I
e him by Lieutenant Colonel Genec
!. veso Rivas, who succeeded to tn
" command of the Carranzistas wit
the fall OF General Gomez.
General George Bell, jr., who wa
r first informed Of the fight by Me,
m ican Consul Garcia said that no mi
A. itary action would be taken in T
n Paso while orders were awaited froi
d. General Funston. In the meantime,
NJ NJ said, his forces were ready for an
n demonstration from the other sid
n OF the Rio Grande.
"a, General Bell said there was n
,s. question, but that fight had take
mt place, but was inclined to disbelie,
Ak the report that any Americans ha
been taken prisoners.