The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1919-06-16

INTERNATIONAL NEWS sERyicEl
Ell PASO, Tex. June 16.-American
troops wer enga ged in battle with Mex
lean forces early today for the first
time since the occupation Of Vera Cruz.
Thirty-six hundred American soldiers
crossed the border shortly before mid
night and aged the forces of General
Villa They Immediately attacked an
attack 10 capture or dispense the whole
tIilists army.
Cavalry. infantry and artillery parti-
cipated in the activity. The cavalry
charging the rebel ranks and at tho
same time attacking In an encircling
movement The first casualties Of the
American troops were one artillersman
killed and another seriously wounded by
snlpers.
The $500 AnpHriean cavalry and in
fantry were supported by field g7ns
which opened up With shrapnel on the
forces of General villa. attacking Jaurez
Early today it was impossible 10 de-
termine whether Villa would continue
his attempt 10 capture Jaurez. Or would
Withdraw
The American crossing offlcially spe-
cihed not an invasion" was made
after woman had been killed and five
others wounded by shots from yillista
guns which whizzed across the border
into FL Paso
The American force consists of the
Fourth battalion Of the enty-fourth
tnesroD infantry. commanded BY Col
Hadsell, and the Fifth and SEVENTEEN
cavalry regiments under Col. S r.
Tompkins \ battalion of the Elghtyl
second cavalry IS also participating in
the action.
Less than ten minutes after the order
to cross had been given gy Gen. James
B Erwin. the entire $500 American SOL
diers we're on Mexican soil
The first action Of the artillery oc-
CURED al 1880 O'Clock this morning
when an army field piece hurled a
charge Of shrapnel over Jaurez toward
the race track where NiiIistas were con
cenrated The second shot. Ave MN
utes later. struck near the race track
These shots were followed at five minute
Intervals by shots from two guns placed
or the Mexican side near the internal
tional bridge
Soon shrapncl shell were bursting in
and around the race track grand stand
al the rate OF three a minute. After
getting the range artillerymen. com
manded BY Col Merrill. scored a hit
every shot
Meantime the cavalry brigade ad-
vanced as close to the race track as Col
Tompkins would permit. while keeping
out or range OF the American shrapnel.
An enveloping movement was started
Immediately with the aim of preventing
the Nillista army from escaping south
east TO the mountains or crossing the
49,
Early reports to American military
headquarters gave no estimate of The
number of villistas captured by the
American cavalry. but it avs expected
many would be brought back and in
termed at Fort Bliss
Col James c. Hornibrook. commander
Of the Fifth cavalry is in command of
the extreme left wing Of the American
forces. In conjunction with the other
cavalry il was expected to completely
envelop Villas positions. The cavalry
artillery and infantry are supported by
the Ninth engineers. two armoured
motor cars and other detachments
Cen James B. Erwin. in explaining
the movement. assorted the part tho
American troops arc playing Is thor
oughly understood by Gen. Gonzales and
officials Of the Carranza regime. and
that no resistance is anticipated from
the Carranza forces. and no strong re-
sistance from the Vilistas.
villa forces which irst attacked
Jaurez. were driven from the city early
Sunday. but renewed the attack yester-
day afternoon, Federal cavalry charged
the rebels and again repulsed them. Col
Gonzales Sscobar. commanding the fed-
eral forces, being severity wounded in
the en- ga cement
Federals claim $50 Villistas had been
killed, nifty captured and ten wounded
in the fighting UP to midnight last night.
Shortage Of ammunition is believed to
have been a factor in causing the Willis
tas to itwhdraw after they had entered
the city.
Additional United States troops have
been ordered to FL Paso from Douglas
Ariz.. to re-enforce the forces now
patroiing the border.