Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-07
Calls Halt on Naco Raids.

NACO, Ariz., April 6.-Capt. J.. N.
Rundel, courier for Brig. Gen. Frank ..
Cocheu. commanding United states
troops along the border, returned to the
American Army camp here this after
noon with assurances from rebel Gen.
Fausto Topete that no more bombs
would be dropped on the Mexican FED
eral garrison at Naco, Sonora.
Eight bombs were dropped on fed
eral entertainments here this afternoon
in a renewal of hostilities by rebel air
men. Gen. Topete had his troops con-
centrated Just out Of federal gun
range. Whether he was preparing to
assault Naco again was not learned.
Following dropping of the bomb on
the American side, Capt. 7. M. Rundei
was detailed to carry a message OF
warning to the rebels for Gen. Cocheu.
MAI. Charles Hazeltine Of the United
States troops asked Gen. Gonzalez 10
allow himself or Rundel to pass through
the federal trenches with white nag.
but Gonzalez refused, saying that such
action might be interpreted Is . sign
of surrender.
Rundel crossed the border several
| miles west of town and reached Gen.
Topete behind the rebel line.
In addition to protesting against the
bombing of American soil. the message
complained of the great number OF
bullets falling into NAco, Ariz, during
the mornings battle.
Topete said that he would instruct
his pilots to attack the federal town
hereafter only with machine guns.
A squadron OF Is United States pur-
suit and observation planes was ex-
pected at Fort Huachuca, Ariz.. late
today to guard against further crossing
of the international line by either rebel
or federal planes. 1t was expected that
some of the pursuit planes would be
sent to Naco, Ariz.
Attacking in force today the rebel
troops of Gen. Topete failed to defeat
the defending forces of Gen. Lucas
Gonzalez and were driven back with
apparently considerable losses. Al
though the casualties on neither side
could be definitely determined. the fed
erals were reported to have suffered the
least.
Preceding the opening Of the battle
early In the day an American trooper.
Prvt. John Finezee, colored, 10th Cav
airy, was shot in the chest in brief
encounter between . United States
patrol and Mexicans believed to have
been rebels at the border eight miles
east of here. Other casualties on the
American side of the line during the
battle were listed as two Mexicans, q
girl and a woman. who were slightly
wounded by rife bullets.
Bomb Dropped on U. s. Side.
A rebel plane attacking the federal
trenches dropped bomb on the Ari-
IONA side OF the line. It exploded so
feet from the Western Union Telegraph
office where newspaper correspondents
and telegraphers were working, shat
tering windows and starting a fire In q
trash pile Charles Newton was slight
~ wounded in the leg by fragment Of
the bomb which fell in the back yard
Of his home. Brig. Gen. Frank s.
Gocheu, in charge of the American
border forces here, reported this incl
dent to Washington and sent q pro-
test to Gen. Topete.
Airplanes, tanks, infantry and cav
airy of the revolutionary forces
launched the long threatened attack
upon Naco. The city was defended by
800 federal troops augmented to nearly
l 100 during progress OF the battle by
arrival of q train of Mexican soldiers
who had been interned at Fort Bliss,
Tex The rebel attackers numbered
upward of $500.
Two airplanes, two tanks. about 500
cavalrymen end columns of infantry
joined in the rebel onslaught shortly
after dawn. These forces by noon sue
ceeded in penetrating a cemetery east
of town and drove the federals from
the front line trenches, despite with
ring fire.
Rifle and machine gun fire from the
federal trenches was supported by
single piece of artillery, 1-pounder.
Improvised Tanks Used.
Rebel tanks, converted from farm
tractors, pushed their arrnor -platei
shouts Up to the federal entanglements
pouring out streaks of bullets from
concealed machine guns while federal