El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-06-13
.MEX|CANS FIRE
At U.s.. TROOPS
No One Injured; 1000 Sol
diers Rushed From the
Fort to Aid Patrols.

Following an attack on an outpost
Of troop c, Eighth cavalry. by band
OF % or more armed Mexicans at the
Ysleta ford. three miles south Of
Ysleta, at II o'clock Tuesday night
and an attempt by the Mexieans TO
invade the United States, approx
mately 1000 troops were rushed from
FL Paso to Ysleta during the night
The troops were sent from Fl. Bliss
to prevent any invasion or further
assault on the American border pa
troll by the Mexicans. 1t is believed
that the attack on the American out
post was a ruse TO allow an ammuni-
ton smuggling party to cross NUM-
tions at some other point along the
river and the attack was conducted
TO draw the attention of the patrol
to the ford crossing.
As soon as the attack was reported
to the headquarters OF Troop c,
Eighth cavalry stationed at Nsleta,
a detachment Of 20 troopers from the
organization rushed to the ford but
the MexicanS had disappeared
send Machine Guns.
The provisional motorcycle machine
gun companies were rushed to the
scene from Ft. Bliss with all possible
speed and arrived about an hour after
the incident was reported to head
quarters. Company 1 Of the newly
organized Gath infantry arrived soon
after It was the first active duty
in which any Of the new regiments
Fifth cavalry was also sent TO the
scene and the second squadron of the
Eighth cavalry arrived soon after.
The troops were sent out with two
days rations-
First reports reaching military
q q # al FL D1Gn that
the Mexicans were attempting raid
on small settlements near Ysleta
and that Troop c had had an en-
gagement with them. Later reports
were that troop c had followed the
MexicanS into Mexico and this re-
port resulted in the sending OF the
heavy reinfOrcements. Lieut. John I
?. Lucas, aid to Brig Cen George /
Bell. jr., commander o. the district, I
was rushed to the scene 10 make al I
investigation.
There were three patrols stationed 4
It the ford when the Mexicans APP 4
)eared. With the patrol was Sergt- /
J. McDada The Mexicans opened /
ire on the patrol. according to re-
ports made to military Headquarters
Being outnumbered, the patrol was
forced to retire. but returned the
dexicans' fire as they did so. As
he AIexicans started across the ford.
he troopers say that they saw one
All from MS morse he IS pelltNeQ 10
AVE been hit by an American bullet
As soon as possible the patrol re-
urned to the headquarters Of the
roop at Hsleta, and reported the at
ack by telephone to Maj. John O'Shea,
Eighth cavalry, stationed at Fabens,
no commands the border patrol. He
n turn reported to headquarters,
skiing for the achievements.
Nsleta People Alarmed
People in Ysleta became alarmed
Y the call to arms of the troops at
iidnight. Soldiers were stationed
long the county road and notified
utomobile parties to be careful as
was reported the Mexicans might
lvade the United States As a result
he automobiles rushed back to FL
asO-
The midnight attack on the patrol
t the Ysleta ford followed two pre-
iOus attacks made on the border
yards Tuesday evening The patrol
I Cinecus crossing was fired on
bout Z o'clock and about s o'clock a
1Uple Of Mexican bullets whizzed by
he patrols at the Ysleta ford. These
lots were answered in each case by
he American forces.