Arizona republican., 1916-07-24
MEN ON GUARD SAY ARE FIRED
 ON BY MEX|CAN{
Republican A. F. Leased WireI

FL PASO. July 23.-Firing occurre, tonight at the point on the Rio Grand. below Fl Paso where the outposts o the Ninth Massachusetts infantry ar stationed, but without any casualties according to the official report of tn, incident received by General Bell Tn. men on guard said that party ol the Mexican side of the boundary hat opened on them, whereupon they re turned a smart fire. It was at thi spot, known as the island" that few shots were exchanged last week.
 General Bell said tonight that tn, report he sent to the war departmen to the effect that General Luis Herreri was to succeed General Jacinto Ire vino in at least temporary command o the northern army of Mexico wa based on information given him b, men out of Mexico whose word he be lieved trustworthy.
 However, sharp denial was givel to this report in Juarez tonight. Gen. eral Francisco Gonzales said he hat heard of no such rumor since the ont officially denied at Chihuahua City and at Mexico City some days ago Ii, said his understanding was that Gen. eral Trevino has been given solt charge of the task of exterminatinl Villistas. Routine orders were received from him at Juarez today.
 Closer and closer the cordon O, Carrancista troops is being draWr about Villa and the remnant of hi. main band, beaten and scattered in the river in northern Durango, according to private despatches here today | These despatches, however, added lit | tie to previous reports from Chihuahua | City that the forces of Generals Ra mos, Garcia and Lares are vigorously pursuing the Nilhstas down the head
 waters of the Rio NaZas, and that 'th,
 capture of the bandit chieftain, ,ac- | cording to de facto governmental Te- ports, seems imminent
 A German reaching the border today said that several merchants in Chi 1 huahua City, who refused to accept
 the new Carranza currency at the val uation placed on it by the govern
 ment, had been forced to work as lab
 orers on the streets. The merchants explained, he said, that to do SC meant their financial ruin.
 Mexicans reaching here from the vii cinity of the American field base al i Colonia Dublan. Chihuahua, said that 5000 900 rounds of ammunition had
 reached there recently from Colum- bus and that the expeditionary troops
 for the past week have been engaged in target practice. Unofficial reports from the base at Columbus said tha' announcement has been made there that the planes of the first aero squad ron have been equipped with steel pro- pellers and are all now ready for fielC service. The planes have been under
 going test flights for more than two months, the propellers with which the! lwere equipped being found unadapteC to the climate.
 For the first time since the Colum bus raid, Americans crossed int Juarez tonight in large numbers. The.
 did so in response to an invitation
 from General Francisco Gonzales ant
 Consul Garcia to attend a fiesta t
 raise money for the Queretaro floO' sufferers. The fiesta was held in tn
 main square of the town. which wa decorated gaily and filled with booth
 and sellers of refreshments. Man
 Americans remained for the dance held in the open.