The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-04-17
Were Attacked When They
Accepted Invitation to
Enter the Town
MAJOR TOMPKINS
AMONG THE WOUNDED
It Is Believed Carranza Troops Got Be
yond officers Control Americans
Reiterated Eight Miles, Having Two
Killed and Six Wounded.

Reiterated Eight Miles, Having Two
Killed and Six Wounded.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas. April II. y
1t was force of Carranza soldiers
which engaged the little detachment of
American cavalry at Parral. Wednes-
day, in regularly organized action, ac-
cording to n detailed report written by
Mai. Frank Tompkins and forwarded to
GEN Funston by Gen. Pershing.
Mai. Tompkins and his command
were invited to enter the town by a
Carranza officer, the report says, and
when they had accepted the invitation
we're set upon by soldiers and civilians.
Forty-one OF the Mexican soldiers, in
Guiding one major and one civilian,
were killed by the retreating Ameri-
cans.
The American casualties were two
killed and six wounded, the latter in
Guiding Maj. Tompkins. His wound
was slight.
Gen. Pershing also gave the first re-
port on a series of skirmishes with Villa
outlaws near San Borja and Balleza, in
which Mai R. L. Howe, with a de-
tachment of the 18th Cavalry, had one
man killed and two wounded.
Mai. Tompzins account of the ac-
ton was received at Gen. Funston s
Headquarters and served to clarity Gen.
Pershing's report, in which the identity
of the attacking force was not stated
and in which he left the inference that
the cavalry was under Col W. C.
Brown.
The Americans now are north and
west of Parral, reinforced by
squadron of the 10th, under Mai
Young, accompanied by Col. W. c.
Brown and a picked squadron under
Mai. Robert L. Howe.
Fear for their safety has been dis
PEELED by his report and by troop dis
positions that Gen. Pershing has or
dered, but the character of which Gen.
Funston did not wish to reveal
Mai Tompkins' story of the fight in
dicates lack of control over the troops
by the commanding officer of the Parral
garrison, Gen. Lozano, and bitter an
tagonism by the public and troops.
The fighting took place outside Of
| Parral and was continued over route
| of eight miles to Santa Cruz, a station
| eight miles northeast of Parral on the
| railroad.
Gen. Funston said that while Mai.
/ TompIins undoubtedly acted in accord
ance with his best judgment III retreat
| ing, he regretted that he had not made
stand on account of the ill-effeet the
story of his retreat would have on the
Mexican people, who will naturally re-
gard the incident as an American de
feat.
Maj. Tompkins arrived outside Par
raj ON the forenoon Of April II with
two troops, NJ and K of the 18th Cav
| airy.
Reduced in number the total of these
/ two troops was approximately 100 men
| The report that unarmed men went
| into Parral appears to have been CHROME
Gus. Maj. Tompkins reported that hi
marched his small detachment. quit,
| openly, along the trail into the city
| where they were met by Gen. Lozauo
| who received them most graciouslv
The civil authorities arrived -
a. joined in the courteous reception of e
major and his troops. The incident 4
peared to be progressing without IA
pleasant features. Gen. Lozano and tn
civil authorities discussed with Maio
Tompkins the question of campin
sites, he and the local officials decidin
on one just outside the city, to whic
Maj. Tompkins was directed.
Maj. Tompkins entered the town upo
the invitation of an officer OF the Pal
raj garrison. He stated that the Office
met him 10 miles from Parral, intro
II X
the hospitality of the military and civ
J authorities.
This fact, coupled with Maj. Tomy
eT kins 8 report of the subsequent attael
to caused officers here to express tn
tn opinion that he and his men had bee
es deliberately led into a trap, althoug
y. perhaps not with the knowledge Of Ger
Lozano, commanding officer.
Maj Tompkins was preparing t
=
soldiers and civilians began to thro
: stones and to shoot at the Americans.
a Realizing that the action was tht
. of a mob of civilians and of soldiel
=, who had gotten beyond the control
their officers. Maj Tompkins made J
stand, but retired his men without maj
ing resistance toward the city limit
Il Shouting crowds followed him, bl
H without doing great damage.
II It was after noon when Tompkins le
his men into a defensive position b
II hind a railway embankment outside Il
town. The mob respected the advantas
the Americans had taken, but SOC
II there appeared on their flank for
Of 300 Mexican troops, who began
military fashion formal attack.
Mai Tompkins was still aversc
fighting in anything but a defensi'
manner against this force, since ever
. officer who has entered Mexico with Il
punitive force has had it impresst
4 upon him that clashes with the troo
of the de facto government, who a
supposed to be cooperating with the
in their pursuit of Villa and his ba
dts, must be avoided.
Also it soon became apparent that Il
Mexicans superiority in numbers ma
retreat from the position behind t
II embankment imperative
A retreat was begun that was end
only at Santa Cruz. The Mexieans pu
sued them almost the entire distance
the intervening eight miles, the Anne
n cans contenting themselves with
rear guard action.