Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-04
/; !GA!RR!!l!NZA A!R;!!!! SOLDIERS
HELD RESPONSIBLE
Mexican Authorities Admit It
Was Their Government Troops
Who Fired on U. S. Plane,
Wounding Aviator
NEW LIGHT ON INCIDENT
1t In Not Now Case OF Sending Troop.
Across border. but n Matter to He
Placed up to Washington for Diplo-
matte Action

Laredo Texas. Sept, ACCESSIBILITY of
an Immediate retaliatory action by Uni
ted States military forces in connection
with the attack yesterday on an American
airplane, has been eiminaed it was in
| dicated here tonight by the admission of
mexican authorities to-day that the at
tack was made by Carranza soldiers.
| Captain David w. McNabb was slightly
injured. but Lieut.. Won Deb. johnson. who
was flying with him, escaped injury
! While official information was lacking
the impression was gained in army circles
that this admission hasremoved the sit
uation from the hands Of the military so
far as emergency action is concerne and
placed 1t directly up to Washington for
diplomatic action.
| Mexican Consul Sarca in announcing
that Mexican soldiers on their own initia-
tive had fired upon the airplane, said a.
complete report had been made to Mex
leo City with a request for instructions
as to punishment for those guilty.
! one point in difference tonight between
mexican and American reports was the
location of the airplane when the OPEN
ing Volley was fired into it. Consul Gar
cia declared an investigation showed 1t
was one kilometer inside the Mexican
border, while unofficial American reports
! insist that the plane was in United
States territory at the time.
The exact nature of the report made
by Colonel Buck, district commander, to
Major General Dickman, southern de-
partment commander at San Antonio,
was not generally known to- night as the
former refused to make any statement
1t Is assumed he forwarded the testi-
mony OF American witnesses to the at
tack, who declared emphatically the
plane was near the Texas bank of the
Rio Grande.
Chihuahua City. Mexico, Sept 3.-Two
airplanes believed to be American and
bearing the numbers E-3A and B-335 flew
over Chihuahua City yesterday and dis
appeared toward the northeast. There
have been many unofficial protests from
all classes against what is considered
an unnecessary provoking act of the
Americans. This is said to be the second
appearance Of american planes here with
in a week.
FL Paso. Tex, Sept. 3-Colonel
Guillermo Valles, assistant chief of
staff and personal representative
General Manuel Dieguez, commander
Of the northeastern military zone, who
is here. stated to-day two American
airplanes flew over Chihuahua City
last Thursday. He said they were
much larger than the Mexican air
planes and were flying very high.
Mexican officials hepe said to-day no
formal protest had been made to
American authorities against the
crossing of these planes. A protest
was filed here in August, however,
against American airplanes flying
across the border
San Antonio, Texas. Sept. 3-Mexican
cavalry troops fired on the American
army airplane near Laredo Tuesday morn
ing because 1t was flying so low that It
frightened the horses while grazing,
causing them to be scattered. according
to an official statement received to-day
by the Mexican consul in San Antonio
from Consul Garcia at Laredo.
The attack resulted In the slight injury
Of Capt. David w. McNabb, who was
flying the plane with Lieut.. Won De B.
Johnson. Several bullets pierced the
plane.
1t was the purpose of the Mexican
troopers merely to cause the American
aviators to fly higher and cease soaring
the horses. the statement said. The
communication did not indicate the alti-
tude of the airplane at the time the
Mexican troopers fired into It, except
that it was flying very low"
These reports, it was said. showed that
the American aviators were in Texas
territory at all times except for a few
seconds when they attempted to ascend
rapidly to escape the bullets and circle
away.
A report from the aviators. according
to unofficial information, stated they
saw group of Mexicans near the Rio
Grande and descended to low altitude
to investigate and that as they passed
the point, the Mexicans suddenly rose
and opened fire on them.