Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-22
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Pershlng's Camp at Front, April i5
tvia Aeroplune to Columbus. ~ NJ,
April 21.)--The fight AZ parral. where
Cnrranza troops In force attacked tho
command of Maj. Frank Tompklns,
has changed the entire aspect of the
villa chase so far as immediate mill
tary plans are concerned. This at
tack upon an American force which
went IN perfect good faith into Parral.
In the most friendly fashion, blocked
what seemed TO be IN excellent op-
portunity for either the capture OF
villa or the dispersal OF one OF his
strongest bands
Heretofore the American troops
have reckoned only on meeting oppo-
sition from brigands, hut resistance
from regular armed troops OF the
Mexican army put the American mill
tary leaders Immediately under tho
necessity of preparing for serious diff
flculties. On April ia, about noon,
Mai Frank Tomplins, of tho Thif-
teenth cavalry, who chased the Willis
las across the international line at
Columbus, went into Parral with only
u small portion of his force, about
l50 men
Courteous Message.
Major Tompkins the night before
sent word by a messenger TO the pres
ident OF Parral, Luz Herrera, that he
would call upon him next day 10 ar
range for buying provisions and to
have the Pnrral military officials des-
ignate some camping place for the
Americans outside OF Parral
The president said he had not re-
ceived the message which Major
Tompkins had dispatched The mes
senger was Carranza petty officer.
After the Parral fight the authorities
there claimed they had discovered
the messenger had been captured and
killed by Villistas
The conference with the president
and with the Carranza general COM
manding IN parral. Gen. lsmuel To-
zano. was pleasant Promises were
made to sell the Americans food and
to show them q good camping place.
Attacked Pack Train.
When the Americans. accompanied
by Herrera and Lozano, we're out OF
the town, at their rear Major Tomp-
kins heard firing. Looking back he
saw that someone IN the town was
at the pack train. lie had
heard shouts OF viva villa" and
Viva MEXICO" and curses against
"gringoes.' The Americans were In o
column formed for defense when the
firing began. soon the firing became
out 70 cut off the road to the east and
the north. where he would have to re-
treat TO escape from the pocket at
the camp site.
Az the fight began, Major Tomp-
kins received word from the Carran-
"a general that civilians were doing
The shooting, that his troops were un-
able to control them, and advising the
Americans to fall back. This falling
back movement continued for five
hours and half. over Il distance OF
fifteen miles. During al this time
the American troops repeatedly
caught sight of men In Carran2a uni
forms shooting az them, but saw few
If any civilians.
safely Out of Trap.
After moving out from the trap OF
hills where the fight began, Major
Tompkins formed a line of dismount-
ed men. and retarded the attackers
until the pack animals and stores had
time to get back toward the American
rear.
Repeatedly during the afternoon
this defense line continued To form,
to fire from the cover of rocks,
ploughed ground and bitches. and
then fell back to its horses for further
retreat Tho Americans had no ma
chine guns. only their pistols and ri-
files, and every man was instructed To
save his cartridges until he could
make them count
AS the Americans fell back Major
Tompkins finally ordered that only
expert rifle shots should reply to the
Mexican fire. Shortly before dark
The Americans reached the adobe
Mexican village of Santa Cruz, whore
hey made very effective defensive po-