New-York tribune., 1919-09-04
Mexican Consul Admits At
tack i'm Which American
Officer Was Injured Was
Made by Regular Army
South of Line, He Says
Action s'Unwarrantcd," He
Explains; Excuse Given,
Absence of Commander

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3.-Thc Mcxi-
can soldiers who opened fire on an
American army airplane engaged in
border patrol along the Rio Grande,
sixteen miles southeast Of Laredo yes
terday, were federal forces and not
bandits, it was admitted to-day by
Mexican Consul Garcia at Laredo, ac-
cording to dispatches received here.
The firing was "unwarrantcd" the
consul is reported as saying, and was
done in the absence of the detachment 8
commander. 1t WAS said the case had
been reported to the superior authori-
ties for instructions in regard to
punishment Of those guilty of making 2
the attack.
As result of the Mexican's admis-
sion. it was said tonight. the situation
has passed OUT Of the hands of the mill
tary and possibility OF sending another =
punitive expedition across the frontier
has been eliminated. 1t was said uu-
officially in army circles that o-dav'a
developments have put the matter
directly up to Washington for dipio-
matte action. Neither Secretary Baker
nor Secretary Lansing would comment
on the situation.
Location of Attack Disputed
Whether the hiers were above MeXi-
can or American soil ut the time Of
attack remained in dispute tonight. a
report from the avlators. according TO
unofficial information. stated they saw
group of McXicans near the Rio
Grande and descended to a low altitude
10 investigate, flying at all times within
Texas boundaries, except for few
seconds when, as the Mexicans sud-
denly rose and opened fire, the aviators
attempted to ascend rapidly and circle
away.
Consul Garcia, however, declared the
machine was one kiiometre inside the
Mexican frontier at the time of the at
tack, although he said that General
Cara. Mexican Federal commander in
the Ncuvo Laredo district opposite
here, "emphatically denies giving or
ders to his troops to fire at American
soldiers or airplanes. even if they are
on the Mexican side of the boundary"
Says Plane Scared Horses
According to an official report sent
by Consul Garcia to the Mexican Con-
sui in San Antonio, the American
aviators, Captain David W. McNabb,
who was slightly injured in the attack,
and Lieutenant Won De B. Johnson,
WHY ny lHk 81 iOW tHdl tUc uOlSC Oh
their machine frightened grazing horses
belonging TO the Mexican Fcderalists,
causing them TO scatter. 1t was the
purpose of the Carranzistas merely to
cause the American airplane to fly
higher and cease soaring the horses, the
report said.
The communication did not indicate
the altitude of the airplane at the time
of the attack except that it was crus-
ing very low"
Albino Gaitan, chief Of the bandits
who held up and killed Adam Schaefer,
an American citizen, has been killed by
members of the Home Defence League
of Pinos, who pursued the outlaws, the
Mexican Embassy to-day reported
Schaefer and his driver were killed
while travelling in carriage near
Pinos with 5000 pesos, which were
stolen by the bandits, the announce
ment adds.
Outlaws responsible for the murder
Of John X. Correll, an American citi-
zen, will be placed on trial at Tampico,
the Mexican Embassy to-day announced.
The outlaws were arrested near Los
Mezquites, and included Ramon Diaz, a
chieftain, and his followers, Rafael
Ruiz, Francisco Gamboa, Bias Vidal
and Francisco Valverde.