New-York tribune., 1919-08-22
Open Fire on
Soldiers From Block
house and Fight Des-
perately Until Killed
Two Others Cain
Safety in Flight
Continue in Pur-
suit of Band Leaders;
No American Casualties

MARIA, Tex, Aug. 21--Four Mexi-
can bandits we're killed by American
troops in Mexico yesterday, Captain
Leonard Matlack, who arrived here by
airplane tonight, reported. They were
surrounded in an adobe blockhouse
that the Mexicans had constructed in
mountain pass.
The bandits fought desperately when
they found they were trapped, and two
escaped. When the American troops
approached the blockhouse with the
intention of searching it the Mexcans
opened fire from the portfolios.
The fire was returned and the block
house charged by the American cavalry
troops.
Three of the four Mexicans killed
have been identified as Jesus Janir.
Francisco Janir and Jose Fuentes. The
identity of the fourth bandit has not
been ascertained. All four are known
to Captain Matlack as bandits oper-
ating along the Big Bend border for
years.
Trail Lost in Canyons
The two ment who escaped were pur-
mountain canyons.
1t was definitely established that
Jesus Renteria, leader of the outlaw
band that captured Leutenants Har-
old G. Peterson and Paul H. Davis
American aviators, was NOT among the
dead.
Captain Matlack said he passed n
column of 200 Carranza troops below
the border yesterday. The Carranza
commander asked where the Ameri-
cans were going. When he was in
formed they were pursuing bandits he
waved his hand and said GO ahead"
Captain Matlack came from Mexico
at sunset in an airplane driven by
Lieutenant Eugene Eubank, who landed
in Mexican mountain valley, picked
up the captain and returned with him
to report the progress of the punitive
expedition to General Dickman Mat
lack said the American troops are in
high spirits.
Everyone in the expeditionary force
is WE'LL" he said. 1--WE have had no
casualty except one man who had a
cactus thorn III his hand
Storms Checked Speed
"We are making progress in the pur-
SUIT. Hard storms have slackened our
speed somewhat, but we consider that
we made good time.
"After leaving the Rio Crane Tues
day morning soon after daylight the
expedition followed a fresh trail. The
four men to whom the money had been
paid had a start Of more than five hours
on us.
eve followed them through high
mountain pass, where they scattered.
one going north and three southwest,
as indicated by the fresh tracks They
cult to follow them because of the faint
trails.
"The fight with the bandits in the
fortified blockhouse started as soon as
the American troops commenced to
search the place. fire being opened by
the Mcxicans from loopholes. The
troops returned the fire.
Pursuing Two Fugitives
-Four bodies were found Two of
the bandits escaped. They are still be-
ing pursued. These two latter outlaws
are believed to have been members of
Renteria's gang, but the aviators could
not identify them.''
Captain Matlack will return to his
troops in Mexico tomorrow. He held
a long conference with General Dick
man and Colonel George T. Langhorne.
commander of the Big Bend district,
tonight.
Fear of clash between isolated Car
rama troops and the American troops
was relieved by telegram from Gen
eral Manuel Disquez, whose command
includes the Ojinaga district, to Gen
eral Antonio Pruneda, commander of
the district, saying the American
troops were wholly within their rights,
under a treaty of 1882, in pursuing
bandits.
The treaty is said to have originated
when American and Mexican troops
were pursuing an Apache leader back
and forth between the two countries.
Sending Money to Troops
Major General Dickman announced
tonight that he would remain here
tomorrow to go over the Big Bend
district situation with Colonel Lang
horne. He had planned to return to
San Antonio tonight.
While the exact location of the
troops was withheld for military rea-
sons, it is known they have gone so
far into the interior that it is neces-
sary to send money to commanders
so they may purchase supplies. The
line of communication is getting too
long to transport provisions, it was
stated.
Colonel Langhorne, American army
commander in the Big Bend dis
trict, to-day suggested to Cosme
Bengoechea, Mexican Consul at Pre-
sidio, Tex, that the consul com
municate with General Pruneda,
Mexican commander, who now is near
Cuchillo Parade. and suggest to Pru-
media that American and Mexican troops
cooperate in pursuing the bandits who
captured Aviators Davis and Peterson.
Langhorne informed the consul that
it was easier for American troops to
pursue the bandits than for the Mexi-
can troops, because of an early start
and the availability Of great facilities.
The Mexican Consul assured the