Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-14
U. S. TROOPS MAY CROSS
BORDER TO MAKE RESCUE
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
HACH1TA. y. NJ. February IL
American cavalry troops may cross the
international line today in an effort to
rescue the three American Mormon
cowboys. a. p. Peterson, Hugh Accord
and Burton Jensen. who were carried
off Monday afternoon by armed Mexi-
cans under command of Prudencio
Miranda. said to be connected with Jose
Ynez Salazar's Villa force
Lieut.. Col. J. c. Waterman. command
ing squadron of the 18th United
States Cavalry, today dispatched two
troops of cavalry to the border from
Hachita to make a search for the miss
ing Americans.
Asked if he would follow a hot trail''
across the border, Col. Waterman said
he was under orders from his superior
officers and would await developments
before acting.
1t was believed here, however that
in the event, it became known for GER
tain that the MeXicans had the three
American prisoners on the Mexican side
of the border. cavalry troops will cross
in an effort to rescue them.
Authorities to Act.
Ell PASO. Tex. February 14.-lnter-
est in a raid by armed Mexicans on the
Corner ranch. below Hachita. N NJ. yes
| terday, Twas divided today between the
fate o1 the three Mormon captives
taken by the raiders and the possi-
bility of action by United States troops
a. P. Peterson. whose Andrew
was among the captives, has asked the
military authorities to take action
This would not be difficult from a ply
sical point of view, Is detached posts
are maintained at Ciengas and Alamo
hueco, comparatively near the ranch
while the Columbus garrison of $500
men is only sixty miles distant
Men Out After Cattle.
Young Peterson had been sent out
with two other Mormon cowboys to
collect stray cattle along the border
when they encountered the bandits,
who captured them, and later seven
Mexican ranch hands. The bandits also
took 100 horses and mules and $1,000
worth of supplies from the ranch, which
is the property of the Palomas Land
and Cattle Company.
The Mexicans were led. according to
reports here. by Prudencio Miranda. a
semi-independent leader allied with
Villa.
, The Corner ranch. or Richardson's
ranch as it is known in southern New
Mexico, is located in an angle formed
by the international boundary which
runs directly south from point half
between COlumDuS ana 1acnlla,
then turns at right angles westward.
The ranch is about sixty miles south
west of Columbus and an equal distance
from Hachita. This angle in the bor
der has been the scene of number of
raids during the last FIVE years. At
Lone Cabin, between Columbus and the
Corner ranch, Mexicans crossed prior
to the Columbus raid. fought skir
mish with American soldiers and fled
across the border. Raids have also been
made at Dog Springs and near Lang's
ranch.
Ideal Place for Raids.
The country between Hachita' and the
international line is ideal for successful
raids, as it is rough and barren and
creased with many arroyos or gullies
that cross the border at frequent in
tervals making it easy for smugglers
or raiders to escape pursuit from the
American side The old "Smugglers'
Trair' runs from Old Hachita south
west to Antelope Wells, and was re-
puted to be used for the purpose its
name implies before United States
troops were stationed along the border.
Patrols have been maintained at Lang's
Ranch, Lone Cabin. Doyle's Wells. Dog
Springs and other points near the bor-
der in. this. section. to prevent smug-
Cling and raidfnG. 4