Arizona republican., 1917-12-27
PURSUING
 MEXICAN BANDITS
LRepublIean A. P. Leased wlrel

MARTA, Tex. Dec 26- United States troops crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico late today in pursuit of the bandits who raided the Brite ranch house Christmas. morning and killed the United States mail carrier and two Mexican passengers in the mail car The report of the crossing which reached Colonel George Y. Langhorne, in command here, said that one Ameri- can soldier and an unknown number of MeXicans had been killed in running fight
 Mexican bandits raided the Fitzger- ald ranch, between here and the river, late last night and drove off all of the horses from this ranch also taking large quantity of provisions, according 10 report received here from the Fitzgerald ranch tonight. The raiders were believed to have been a part of the band which raided Candelaria yes- terday and were attempting to get back across the Mexican border.
 Eight bandits were killed yesterday when ranchers and American cavalry troops fired upon the Mexican raiders after they had killed Michael Welch, the United States mail carrier. and his two Mexican passengers and had footed the l.. C. Brite store at Candelaria, Texas. This was the official report re- ceived here today but reports of fight ing between scattered bands of the bandits and the American cavalrymen and Texas Rangers have been brought here all day from the river front. It was believed here a number of the raiders were overtaken and killed when they resisted the state and army forces
 Tonight troops guided by Texas Rangers were securing the rim rock district in search of scattered bands of the bandits and endorsements were being sent from here in commandeered civilian automobiles and trucks.
 It is now believed the bandits were a part of Francisco Villas force which has been operating in the ojinaga dis trict. The report received here today that they were Mexican federal troops from the Ojinaga garrison was refuted tonight by later developments. This report started from the fact number ot the dead bandits wore Mexican fed artl uniforms and carried federal swords But this was explained to- night by the fact that, when Villa cap- tured Ojinaga, he obtained quantities of uniforms and side arms and it was believed his men had disguised them ~ 10 make the Americans believe they were federal soldiers and embroil the United States and Mexico. Assurances were received at military headquarters here tonight from Mexican officials that no federal troops were in the Mex ican district opposite Candelaria.
 Ranchers who arrived here tonight froro Candelaria brought the first con- nected story of the Mexican raid on the Brte store and the little ranch settle ment in the elbow of the Rio Grande.
 But two men were at the Brite ranch house Christmas morning when the Mexican raiders arrived there. They were T. T. Neill, manager of the ranch and his son, sam Neill. Their wives and children were also at the ranch house. The father saw the men ap- preaching, awakened his son, the wom on and children were put Tn the most protected room and the two lone men opened fire upon the bandits riding wildly toward the house A desperate rifle duel was then fought between Sam Neill and the leader of the Mexicans at 100 yard range.
 Neill killed his man while his father covered the approaches from the rear 4 and fought off the Mexicans who were Attempting to gain entrance through a rear door. Two more bandits were killed whereupon the remainder re- tired for a conference. A Mexican was then sent to the house with a demand that the Nells surrender This was refused but T. T. Neill finally de- lvered over the keys to the Brite store nearby and sent a hired hand to assist Q In rounding up the horses in order tC
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