Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-06-22
BOTH SIDES WAIT
FOR BATTLE COMMAND
[Continued From First Pagel

where opposing machine guns almost
rubbed noses across the international
bridges, to the field guns in back of
El Paso and Juarez the ragged SOL
dters of Carranza and the trim cam
paigners of the United States army
were ready for instant action to-day.
Await Only the Spark
1t was said an enormous conflagra-
ton waited only for the spark of fire
that would send roaring flame along
the border. The American troops, en-
ragged by the story of barbaric treach-
cry at Carrizal, were eager to avenge
their fallen comrades of the Tenth
Cavalry. The Mexicans, jubilant over
the reports of victory that were posted
in the Juarez plaza, were intoxicated
with the visions of another triumph
and the possibility of attacking Ell
Paso.
Early to-day two battalions of the
Seventh Infantry began throwing up
sand bag redoubts along the American
bank of the river. Mounted guards
patrolled the American side. Machine
gun crews slept beside their guns in
the camps at strategical points along
the twisted course of the river.
In the streets of Juarc" Carranzista
cavalry was massed al. night. Six
hundred Mexican troops were marched
east along the river before sunrise.
on the west bank a similar force
tramped to take positions. In the
with full steam up under orders from
General Gonzales, commander at
Juarez.
"Whipped the Gringos" Boast
The confidence of the Carranzista
officers and men was great. There was
TO Disgusting the swagger in their
manner as they discussed Carrizal
| 9 kN1Y. hot h aaN1 n1
they boasted that they had whipped
the hated "gringos."
This was especially marked in the
actions of the leaders who are sup
pos ed to disguise what they may feel.
They took particular pains to convey
to the American authorities news of the
| Carrizal battle. There were those who
saw in this action the result of Cen
eral Trevino's arrogance in ordering
| General Pershing not to move east,
south or west. They saw in 1t a sneer
for President Wilson's statement to
! Carranza that the execution of this
threat will lead to the gravest conse-
quence."
Oficers at Fort Bliss would not dis
cuss t.: their official capacity the &C
ton that would follow Pershing
anxiously awaited report. But since
last Friday none of them has been
away from his command and all OF
them are ready for the order that has
been so long deferred.
Bell Ready For Anything"
General George Bell, Jr, in COM
mand of Fort Bliss, returned early in
the day from long inspection of the
soldiers posted about the city.
We're ready for anything" said
General Bell. at am awaiting orders
from General Funston. l have for
warded to him what information
was able to gather OF the Carrizal
| fighting. Now I can do nothing but
wait"
.Up to the time General Bell made
this statement most of the informa-
ton about the Carrizal incident had
come from Mexican sources.' These
reports placed the American dead al
between IT and 40, together with the
capture of large number OF prison
ers. They still placed the blame Tor
the start of the fighting on the Am.
orleans. Incidentally, they admitted
heavy losses on the Mexican side.
Mexican reports located General
Pershing himself and also assert his
forces had seized Casas Grandes and
Neuvas Casas Grandes after violent
after both towns had been evacuated
by their garrisons.
Troops May Be Under Way
Fort Bliss officers think that the
troopers of the Tenth Cavalry engaged
at Carrizal were assigned by Perish
ing to run down a new bandit outfit
This, of course. would be a tacit an
swel to General Trevino's demand
that Pershing's forces move in no di-
rection but north. The Carrizal battle
would be Trevino's redemption of his
pledge and would leave the next
move would be as convincing as II
was harsh. Perhaps, 1t was sug-
gosted early to-day, by this time he
has a new force already or the way
to Villa Ahumada, nine miles north
east of Carrizal. and ready TO support
the action that might come at Juarez
NIexicans Mass at Ahumada
| General Gonzales to-day refused tc
discuss the number of troops at Villa
Ahumada, but for the past few weeks
| 1t has been known that large num-
ber of soldiers from the south were
being massed there. The possibilities
of position as military position have
interested the Mexicans for sometime
Two months ago the international
News Service correspondent saw rife
pits being dug there and these have
been strengthened by series of new
trenches. These trenches would throw
protecting fringe around the string
] of adobe houses that run along the