Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-12-28
u. S. SOLDIERS
"pV floloos lpoliols,,,AkINITO
MILL IL LstVvUuO
Cavalry Pursues Raiders Ten
Miles Into Mountains
of Mexico.
THREE AMERICANS KILLED
Rumors That Germans Were
Responsible for Attack on
Brite Ranch Refuted.
MEMBERS OF VILLA FORCES
Important Papers Have Been
Removed From Dead Body;
May Fix Blame.

MARIA. Texas. Dec. 27.--After
pursuing the Mexican bandits who
raided the Brite ranch and store
Christmas morning, for a distance or
ten niles into the mountains OF Mex
leo, the American cavalry troops re-
crossed the Rio Grande to American
territory at noon today and made
complete report TO Colonel George
7. Langf Irrr. of the expedition across
the border.
The American cavalrytuen killed
is members of the bandit band.
wounded twenty and scattered the
remaining bandits In the mountains
south of the line. They brought back
80 horses which had been 80 hard
ridden they had to be abandoned at
the river when they were ridden into
quicksand by the bandits. The total
number of bandits now known to
have been killed is eleven. altho Il Is
believed that more than twenty were
killed and the bodies buried along
the trail to Mexico.
Rumors that Germans in Mexico
were responsible for the raid were
Langhorne, district commander, who
has ordered an investigation of the
political aspects of the raid.
II IN believed here the German ru-
NOR originated In the minds of local
men and is not substantiated by facts.
Colonel Langhorne IL awaiting the ar
rival of Captain Sprinkle. who OBJ
tanned important papers from the
bodies OF the bandits killed before
reaching decision az to the identity
Of the raiders.
lie TX also making an effort to de-
termino whether the raid at the Fitz-
gerald ranch Christmas night was
made by the same band that raided
the Brite ranch and looted the store
and post office.
Facts Are Lacking.
The theories that the raiders we're
regular Mexican troops, villa follow
ers and Chico Cano's outlaw band
have been advanced here, but suffi-
cient facts have not yet been devel-
oped to fix the responsibility, IL was
announced at military headquarters.
a wounded Mexican. who said he
was "A Mexican federal soldier. was
brought here tonight from Valentine
and entered i'm the base hospital lie
told army officers at Valentine he was
wounded during a skirmish between
villa followers and "A Mexican federal
patrol opposite Boquillas. He is be-
ing closely questioned in an effort To
establish his identity.
Truck drivers running between Pre-
sidio and Maria reported to Colonel
langhorne late today they had viewed
the body OF the bandit leader VINO
was killed ut the Brite ranch. and
stated they had seen him In Presiaio
and that he lived near Ojinaga. They
insisted he was one of the interned
Mexican federal soldiers taken from
Preside to Marta after the capture
of Otinaga on November IA, by villa.
At Valentine thirty miles west Of
mere, automobiles patrolled the river
roads all last night, cavalrymen
| guarded the town and citizens re-
manned up all night in anticipation of
a raid \ report that the bandits
were. preparing to attack caused "A
general alarm TO be sent out In all
directions. All army trucks plyinG
Detwocn here Valentine and the river
are heavily guarded TO prevent their
capture by narluding bands
| After a careful check OF the num-
ber of Mexican bandits killed by the
| american troops and ranChers follow
| ing the Brite ranch raid. 1t was Off
cially announced tonight that Is ban
dts had been killed by actual count
How many more crawlcd off in the
desert underground to die of their
wounds can not be ascertaincd. The
aumber Of wounded is impossible To
estimate as they were rarried away or
hidden In the Rim Rock country. An
estimate Of the stock taken from the
Brite store fixed it's value at $500.
! Tonight Colonel Ianghornc issued
an order complimenting all soldiers
and officers who participated In the
pursuit for :heir efficient and untir.
ing work and the civilians who fur.
nished their automobiles to transport
troops 10 the Rim Rock field base our
| ing the bandit chase. Three Amer-
can civilians ana one Mexican Amer
lean were killed.