The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1916-06-30
Forty of Uncle Sans Boys Are
Slain In Battle
SCOUT PARTY ATTACKED
Requested to Enter Village They
Were Fired Upon BY
Greasers
United Press Dispatch.

United Press Dispatch.
r. ON Thursdays Daily.
Ell Paso, Texas, June 22.-Confirma
ton has been received of the report
of battle occurring between Ameri-
can and Carranza forces in Mexico.
This battle occurred at the village OF
Carrazal. 1t was direct result OF
the message that General Trevino
sent to General Pershing not to have
the Americans make any further ex-
petitions in Mexico against bandits,
and the defiance that General Persh-
ing showed in ignoring this message.
The fight occurred on Sunday, June
IS. 1t is reported that the Americans
were forced to retire on account OF
the vastly superior number OF their
foes. Forty Americans were killed
and seventeen were captured, accord
ing to information that has been re-
ceived 1t is claimed that the MeXi-
cans lost twice as many men as the
Americans. Among those killed was
General Feliz Gomez, in command OF
the Mexican force at Carrazal.
The Americans who were thus de-
feated comprised detachment of the
Tenth cavalry, and were about 500 in
number. General Pershing had sent
this force on scouting expedition.
Lurcd Into Ambush.
The latest reports are to the effect
that the Americans were lured by
treachery OIL the part of the de facto
troops into ambush. 1t is. alleged that
they were attacked after being lured
into trap under flag of truce.
General Bell has made ready
force of Americans in the region of
Ell Paso opposite Juarez, ready for
any attempt at invasion on the part
of the Mexicans from JuareZ. The
American defenses bristle with At
inch guns.
Further reports in regard to the
fight at Carrazal are to the effect that
the American force comprised five
troops of the Tenth cavalry. These
were on scout duty, when General
Felix Gomez, in command of the
Mexican forces in that region, learned
of their proximity. He at once or
ganized detachment of Mexicans to
advance towards the Americans and
get them to entar Carrazal under a
flag of truce and with a show of CO.
operation in running down the Mexi-
can bandits.
Concealed Machine Guns.
While his messengers were gone
on their errand of treachery, Gomez
caused machine guns to be placed in
concealment here and there in the
village and thousands of Mexican
troops were likewise concealed.
Unsuspicious of any treachery the
Americans, 500 in number, entered
the village. They were scarcely in
side, when, at a given signal, the
Mexicans opened fire. The Ameri-
cans fought with tremendous energy
and courage, charging the gunners,
and killing them. The number of
their ambushed foes was so great,
however, that the officers soon decid-
ed to retreat, after inflicting on the
Mexicans twice as great a loss as
their own force had suffered
later development of the situa-
ton is the news that Carranza agents
have been making friendly overtures
to the bandits against whom the
American expedition has been di-
rected, and has been endeavoring to
get the bandits to join the Carranza
forces to fight the invading Ameri-
cans. 1t is reported, however, that
these overtures have met with prac-
ucally no success, the bandits prefer
ring to fight alone, and regarding both
Americans and Carranzaistas as their
enemies
Mexicas Aiming Themselves.
Washington, June 22.-Dispatches
from General Funston state that the
citizens of Northern Mexico are fast
arming themselves, and seem to ex-
pect to have fight to resist Ameri-
can invasion. President Carranza has
issued orders that all of these men
nave been supplied with arms and
ammunition, of which the Mexican
government appears to have an album
dant supply on hand. Special Agent
hodgers wires that the Mexican stu
alton in general is very bad, and war
is liable to break out at any moment
Will Rush National Guard.
washington, June 22-Secretary of
war Baker stated today that the Ma
tlonal Guard troops would be rushed
TO the Mexican border as soon as
they could be modified. The mill
tlamen of California, Missouri and
Kansas are about ready and will be
rushed with all possible speed. These
are remarkably fine bodies of men.
and number altogether in the neigh
borhood of 5000. The railroads in
these states have already made every
provision for the transportation of
these troops in comfort and safety.
Funston to Await Report.
UNITED Press Dispatch
San Antonio, Tex, June 22.-Gen-
eral Funston will issue no new or
ders until he has had al report from
General Pershing in regard to the
night between. Americans and Carran-
zistas at the village of CarrazaI.
Statement BY BurIeson.
UNITED Press Dsnatch1
washington, June 22.-Postmaster
General A. s. Burleson today gave
out the statement that the American
government would not act on the sup
position that the Mexican government
had opened hostilitiee on the United
States, until official reports of the
fighting at Carrazal had been re-
ceived and the question who was to
blame had been satisfactorily and re- |
liably answered.