New-York tribune., 1919-08-03
Attenpi to DrawU.S. Troops
Into Juarez When Villas
Army Was Winning, State
ment of Border Policemen
A.
Statements to La Cuardia
Men Assert Mexicans Turned
Guns on American Soil
as Bandits Advanced

WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-That Car
rama soldiers, called Federals, delib
erately fired into Ell Paso, Tex, OF
June 16 in order to draw America,
troops across the bridge into Juare.
and scare away the Villistas by whom
they were hard pressed is the sub
stance of statements obtained an,
made public by Representative L.
Guardia.
The first is joint statement by C
J. Henry, secretary of the Ell Pase
Civil Service Commission, and Police
Captain R. H. Phoenix, as follows:
Your telegraphic request of the 18th
inst. addressed to Captain of Police Harry
Phoenix FL Paso has been referred to the
ysiter. as the information you have re-
ceived originated from that source with
out the knowledge of Captain Phoenix
! Gives Sketch of Field
Enclosed you will find a small pen
sketch covering The terrain near the firing
in question While the sketch has not been
drawn TO scale the relative positions arc
approximately correct
Shortly. after The opening attack on
Jnarez, about II :05 o'clock Sunday morn
ing, June 10. Captain Phoenix and the
writer arrived at the Santa Fe Street In
ternatienal Bridge. At this time a lively
battle was in progress to the south and
east of the bridge and as the firing grad
evident that the Felerals were being
driven out of their trenches. Later the
firing receded to the east again. indicat-
ing that the Federals had rallied their
forces. Although there was skirmishinp
right at the bridge it was not necessary
for US to move from our position in front
of the little custom office. but I might say
that we did vacate suddenly on several
occasions when what We're evidently stray
bullets came singing through the night air.
high overhead. and, of course, it was i'm
possible to determine from which faction
they came.
At about a II. the firing had ceased,
and il was the general supposition that
the Nilistas would not make another at
tack before daybreak Captain Phoenix and
myself got in his machine, which was in
the position as located on the sketch for
little sleep.
Awakened by Shots
About s;15 we were suddenlw and
rudely awakened by hail of bullets
striking all around US, and needless to
say, we moved. Captain Phoenix took
refuge behind, the machine gun embank-
made use of the large billboard to the
ar of the auto for cover, but it finally
became too hot for comfort, and I was
forced to make a sudden retreat to one of
the entrances of the store building short
distance to the north of the billboard, and
y want to say that had lots of company.
including number of soldiers. At short
intervals this firing would cease, when we
would come out into the street, only to be
driven back to cover again. The bullets
ctuld be heard striking the surrounding
objects, and there is absolutely no ques-
ton as to the direction from which they
came.
Al the time the Villistas were in the
city and driving the Federals back toward
Fort Hidalgo. and the source from which
the above firing came is evident
This firing into Ell Paso at this point
was unques tionably deliberate, and at the
time the Federals, being the losing faction.
had all the motive necessary for such ac-
ton.
1t is very probable that some OF tho
stray bullets that fell in this city origi-
mated In the Vllista lines but they were
not deliberately fred in this direction
Captain of Police Fl. Phoenix joins
with me in testifying as to the truth of
the foregoing statement which, with the
accompanying sketch, it is hoped will be
OF service to you, and assuring you that
any further assistance we can render you
will be gladly given, we are sincerely
yours, c. ]. HENRY,
r. H. PHOENIX,
Captain of Police.
Ell Paso, Tex, July II, 1919.