6 "ROOKIES" ARE PUT THROUGH THEIR PACES; TRAINED TROOPS DRILL AND RECRUITING IN FULL SWING IN THE CITY FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR FIGHT TAKEN BY OBREGON;. ACT AMAZES WASHINGTON f By International News Service. Mexico City, June 22.—Fu1l respon sibility for the attacic upon American soldiers at Carrisai is assumed by Min ister of War Obregon in an official statement Issued at the war depart ment. This says that the Americans were trying: to occupy the railway sta tion at Carrizal. General Carranza has called a full meeting of the cabinet for this after- Boon. At this General Obregon will make a complete report on the sit uation. The statement Issued by General Obregron follows: "The ministry under my charge by the first chief's orders instructed Gen eral Trevlno on June 18 that if Gen eral Pershing's forces forming the punitive expedition which penetrated pur national territory after the Co lumbus incident moved southward. Westward or eastward from where they Were, they should be attacked. "Early this morning (Wednesday) an American force tried to occupy the station of Carrizal. on the Mexican Central railway. General Trevino or dered it to be attacked. The fight that resulted Is described in official reports rendered to this ministry by General Trevino as follows: " 'June 21. 1016. " 'Headquarters, Chihuahua City, to Minister of War and Navy, General Alvaro Obregon: " 'General Francisco Gonzales re- Jorted to me last night from Cludad uarez that American forces were ar riving at Santo Domingo. Therefore. I ordered them attacked to-day, and I am informed the fight began at 8 o'clock this morning in Carrizal. I have Just been informed that the American forces were repulsed. " 'General Felix Gomez was seri ously wounded. He commanded our forces. We have others killed and wounded. HANDLE GUARD SUPPLIES FAST Real System at State Arsenal; Organization Rivals Ger man Plan When Col. Livingston V. Ra"u-=ss. as Quartermaster of the National Guard of Pennsylvania, left his office at the State arsenal in Harrisburg to go to Mt. Gretna to prepare camp for the j coming of the National Guardsmen ordered out in response to the call of President Wilson for troops to guard the Mexican border, he was absolute ly certain that the vast and varied supplies he would need would follow him promptly in a steady and constant stream and in the order required. When the European war broke out correspondents of American news papers in Berlin marveled at the sys tem of the German army which per mitted each man to report to his ar mory, open a locker marked with his name and take therefrom a complete I equipment, and at the rapidity with j which the camp equipage was as sembled and dispatched, each lot to Its own regiment and destination. But j the German system excels in no way ! except in extent that of the National Guard of Pennsylvania. The State arsenal in this city, which | attained a high state of organization under the late Col. Richardson, has j been greatly improved under the ad ministration of Col. Raucii. There is j no guesswork and no hunting in timej of haste. System supplimented by a well-trained and efficient corps of em ployes leaves nothing to chance. With in an hour after an order to entrain is given the wagons are moving in a steady stream from the arsenal grounds to the freight sidings of the Pennsylvania railroad, eight or ten squares distant. When the new ground Is added to the State capitol park ar mories and an arsenal will be located directly on a railroad siding, but in the meantime a well organized wagon train force loses little time in hand ling the equipage. In a new building, now nearing completion, most of the infantry can vas is stored, the remainder In large tents pending the finishing touches now being put upon the new structure. The tents and poles are kept In mois ture proof, concrete bins, each bin of sufficient size to accommodate the tentage of a regiment and each com pany's equipment assembled so that at It may be detached at & moment's no tice for separate shipment. Each bin Is numbered and when the tentage of any regiment or fraction of a regiment is desired an army wagon is brought up in front of the bin and loaded. This is followed by another and another in a long line unti la.ll is on its way to the cars. A regiment's tents can be loaded without difficulty In an hour. Much of the smaller equipage is stored in the main building nearby. Here, as carefull cataloged and as easy to reach and separate as the tents, are field ranges, rifle, uniforms In large quantity, cavalry equipment of all sorts, raw materials, camp sup plies and soap, in boxes of fifty and bearing the brand of the State service. The first floor of this building re sembles nothing so much as a great store. Here in a few minutes may be assembled anything from a campaign liat and trousers to a complete equip ment for a company or a regiment, stored according to size and arranged for quick handling. Broken lots are kept in stock to fill emergency needs such as companies in the field may re quire in the regular wear and tear of camp life, but there are also huge quantities of supplies of all kinds in bulk, the boxes marked with black paint as to contents, set away as pre cisely as card index systems will per mit and even marked with their weight as to permit of weigh-bllis be ing issued by the railroads without the time usually required for weighing shipments. William L. Hicks, foreman In charge in the absence of Col. Raurt, said In commenting on the system in use: "We never hunt for anything here. We know where it is without asking, and we know the quantity and how to get it to the desired point in the least possible time." This Is verified by the fact that there *has -been no hurry at the arsenal since the troops were ordered out. "How soon can you begin to ship," asked an anxious Guard officer over the phone last Sunday night. "within an hour, if you need the stuff." came back the reply. And when the Guardsmen reach camp on Saturday they will find Col. Rauch there before them with their camp equipage all on hand and ready to be set In place. Regular army men attached to the State Guard have agreed that there Is no more complete nor better equipped urmory oven In the United States ser vice than that of the Pennsylvania militia at Harrisburg. Preparedness, efficiency and system are ColT Raii'-i's watchwords. THURSDAY EVENING, " 'Seven Americans were taken pris oners and just now T received another message reporting the death of Gomez. I am giving the necessary orders. " 'General in Chief Jacinto B. Tre vino.' "Another message quickly following this read as follows: " "Headquarters, Chihuahua City, to General Obregon, Urgent: " 'I have Just been informed from Cuida Juarez that when the forces were reorganized it turned out that seventeen Americans were captured, not seven, as stated in the foregoing report. The Americans' interpreter was captured. He confessed that the American leader was responsible for the conflict. I have ordered that the prisoners be brought here. Respect fully, General in Chief Jacinto B. Trevlno'." By International News Service. Washington, 0. C., June 22. An nouncement from Mexico City that the de facto government in the person of General Obregon, war minister, ac cepted full responsibility for the at tack upon the Tenth Cavalry was re ceived in official circles to-day with amazement. It was everywhere ac cepted as forcing a showdown by the administration. Up to 9 o'clock Sec retary of War Baker to be without any official word of the fight ing. He refused to say what action was being planned in view of the Obregon announcement. Everywhere in administration circles, however, a declaration of war against Carranza was considered certain should the official reports bear out the Information at present available. This is due to the fact that Carranza had precipitated the warning contained in this government's note on Tuesday. That is the situation, officials say, and the United States must defend its authority with all its armed forces. FUNSTON WAITS REPORT EAGERLY Anxious For Pershing's Report of Battle; Staff Officers Study Situation By Associated Press San Antonio, Texas, June 22.—Gen eral Funston's headquarters reflected early to-day the unrelieved strain in the American-Mexican situation. The night had passed without news from General Pershing and army offi cers here professed to see a remaining chance that war might be' averted, al though unwilling to believe that the commander of the American force that clashed yesterday with General Tre vino's men at Carrizal had been the aggressor. Frank skepticism vai aroused by the suggestion that General Gomez might have been attempting to enforce the Carranza edict bv force and it was pointed out that liis determination to force the Americans back to their own line was indicated by the official ad mission that he had sent a messenger to the American commander advising him to withdraw. General Funston spent the night in efforts t.o learn mere details of what occurred at Carrizal, but In conformity with the known altitude of the ad ministration not to precipitate war without orders or sufficient cause, he remained steadfast in his determina tion not to authorize moves that would remove all doubt si to the American army's future relations with that of Carranza. Staff officers studied every report that came from officers in command at border stations, for while wholly cognizant of the significance of the Carrizal fight, they realized that in the event of military or, - rations on a big scale the great problem would be in dealing with the various big units of the Carranza army stationed within striking distance of every port of entry from Brownsville to Lower California. Juarez Evacuated News that Juarez was left, being evacuated by the Mexican garrison, did not 3urprlse the headquarters staff, which yesterday learned that General Rlcnut had removed his forces from Matamoros, and that similar action had been taken at one or two other towns. In no case, however, have the Mexican forces moved far south of the border. Apparently, the intention of the Mexican amy officers is to make such disposition of their men that a defense could be maintained beyond towns that lie under the guns planted on the American side. Garrison Reinforced Instead of evacuation at all points, however, notable exception was offered at Negras, opposite Eagle Pass, where the garrison was increased by the ar rival of General Francisco Murgia with 2,000 troops. Additional troops also were added to the garrison at Oiinaga, opposite Presidio, and from Nogales also was reported a heavy concen tration in the interior and in position to menace a rich valley on the Ameri can side. , None of the reported Mexican troop movements caused anxiety at army headquarters, however, where con fidence Is felt In the ability of the American forces to carry out without hitch any orders they may receive. 3,000 Guardsmen Assemble in Armories of Philadelphia By Associated Press Philadelphia, June 22. —Three thou sand officers and Kuardsmcn are as sembled at their armories here to-day in preparation for mobilization at Mt. Gretna. On Saturday the men and their equipment will entrain for the State camp where 7,000 additional guardsmen will gather. The troops here comprise the First, Second and Third infantry. Company B engineers, field hospital company No. 2 and ambulance company No. 2. A squadron of cavalry composed of the First and Second City Troop, Troops A and G will leave for Mt. Gretna on Sunday. The guardsmen passed from civilian life with the call of the bugle at 8:30 a. m. at the various armories. The men will spend the night there, but will be allowed to return home to morrow night and take Ilnal farewell of their families. The entire First Brigade, under General W. G. Price will ho seen In farewell parade to-morrow. Fresh impetus was gtven to the re cruiting to-day when the news of the clash between American and Mexican forces had resulted in casualties among General Pershing's men. The news also served to increase the eager ness* of the guardsmen to get into ac tion. Mgggggmk ft 1 • Enlisting at the Armory for service in Company D, Eighth Regiment, National Guard of Pennsylvania. Ot the left is First Lieutenant Josiah P. Wilbar, of Company D. and on the right Howard M. Zimmerman, who has jus passed the final examinations for enlistment. He has Just signed his name to the paper which makes him i guardsman In Company D. • • MEXICO SENDS OFFICIAL WORD Wants to Know Why U. S. Troops Were So Far From Base By Associated Press Washington, June 22. An official communication from the Mexican Foreign Office, announcing the clash between Mexican and American troops at Carrizal and saying the de facto government found it difficult to under stand why the Americans should have been so far away from their base was delivered to Secretary Lansing to-day by Eliseo Arredondo, the Mexican ambassador designate. The communication telegraphed by General Aguilar follows: "Please bring to the attention of the Department of State that an en gagement occurred to-day (21st) at Carrizal near Villa Ahumada, Chihua hua, between American forces num bering about 200 men with a force of our government during which en gagement General Felix Gomez and several of our troops were killed. There were several casualties among the American troops, 17 taken prison ers. "According to the statement made by the Interpreter who was acting as guide for the American forces, the for the encounter. "Please make proper representa tions to the department and say to the Secretary of State that this gov eminent finds it difficult to understand why the American troops that took pari in the engagement should have been at Carrizal, a point on the line of the Mexican Central Railroad some distance from Ciudad Juarez and rather far from the point which is alleged to be the base of the rest of the American troops which entered Mexico by Columbus. Further details will follow." Occupation Hostile Mr. Arredondo also sought an ex planation of the reported action of General Pershing In occupying the towns of Casas Grandes and Nuevo Casas Grandes, saying such an act would be one of open hostility. Secretary Lansing had no official Information on which to discuss the Carrizal affair, and according to Mr. Arredondo also was without knowl edge of whether any Mexican towns actually had been occupied. Official Mexican dispatches were described to Secretary Lansing indi cating that the Mexican forces thought the American troops who approached Carrizal intended to take the town. Mr. Arredondo said he called Secre tary Lansing's attention to the dis tance traversed by the American troops from their base and to what he called 'the larik of prudence of the American commander in ap proaching the Mexican Railway." He said his reports showed that 17 American soldiers had been captured but did not give the number of casualties among either the Americans or the Mexican forces.* Prominent Columbia Men Go Into U. S. Service Special to the Telegraph Columbia, "Pn„ June 22.—Columbia will send to the United States service with the National Guard of Pennsyl vania some of its most prominent citi zens. among them being Colonel Ed ward C. Shannon, commander of the Fourth Regimeijt; Chief Burgess Wil liam S. Detweiler, who ie second lieu tenant in Company C, Fourth Regi ment: Major Cleon N. Berntheisel, district attorney of Lancaster county. Judge advocate on the staff of Major- General Charles M. Clement-, com mander of the division; Dr. Andrew H. Haxter, captain of Company C, and H. W. Zeamer ,a druggist and former burgess, who is first lieutenant of Company C. The company will leave the armory recruited to full peace strength and the second lieutenant, will remain at Columbia to bring the com mand up to the war footing of 150 men. Changes in Noncommission Staff of Eighth Announced Official orders issued last night pro vided for the following changes In the Eighth's noncommissioned staff: "Private Charles L. Crist, Co. I, ser geant major, vice James B. Wheeler, is hereby appointed regimental ser geant. "Regimental Sergeant Major James B. Wheeler is hereby appointed bat talion sergeant major, vice Battalion Sergeant Major F. P. Whare, dis charged. "Private Henry M. Gross, Co. I, is hereby appointed regimental commis sary sergeant, vice Commissary Ser geant F. W. Houston, discharged. Mr,. Gross Is a son of Park Commis sioner E. Z. Gross; Mr. Wheeler, who is more familiarly known among the younger people of the city as Jimmy Wheeler Is a former second lieutenant of a Corry company of the Guard. He .is employed on the Hilt HARRISBURG t&f&t TELEGRAPH ENLISTING AT THE ARMORY TOLD THAT CAPTIVES WILL BE HANGED AT By Associated Press El Paso, Tex., June 22. —A story brought to El Paso by J. C. Hubble, an American who has been employed by the Compania Agricola at Boqull la«, bears out several of the details of the engagement presented by Gen eral Gomez. Hubble's story was cor roborated by James Maxey, another American, who also was on his way to El Paso from the interior. Hubble and Maxey said that while their train was stopped at Villa Ahumada they noticed numbers of dead and wounded being brought in and were told by a Carranza captain that a battle had taken place. The captain Informed them, they said, that a number of American prisoners had been locked in a cattle car and were to be taken to Chihuahua City to be hanged. They mentioned Mexican soldiers who told them that several hundred Americans and 120 Mexicans had been engaged. "The Mexichn * officers at Villa Ahumada treated us with the greatest ccturtesy," said Mr. Hubble. "They answered our questions quietly and with no show of antipathy or excite ment. "According to the story they told ui, BUGLE PLAYS THIS WEDDING MARCH INSTEA Dan Cupid was routed horse, foot and dragoons to-day by grim vlsaged Mars which ruthlessly tore John E. Shade from the arms of his bride of a few hours and forced him to report to the armory with the other members of the Governor's Troop. The girl, whose wedding march was played on the bugle instead of the traditional organ, was LOCAL MAN WITH "FIGHTING TENTH" Captain Rutherford Adjutant of Regiment Attacked by Mexicans When the "Fighting Tenth" Cavalry, a detachment of which was attacked in yesterday's engagement at Carrizal, goes into action a Harrlsburg officer will be riding with the colonel and his staff. This man will be Captain Samuel McPherson Rutherford, son of J. E. Rutherford, Paxtang, and a brother of Robert M. Rutherford, president of the Steelton National Bank and Steel ton Trust Company. Captain Rutherford is regimental adjutant Of the "Fighting Tenth" and was formerly stationed at Fort Hua chuca, Ariz. When the present crisis arose his regiment was one of the first ordered to join General Pershing's command "somewhere in Mexico." From accounts of yesterday's skirmish It is likely that the honor of "starting things" will fall to this crack fighting organization of colored men, which Is officered by some of the best United States commanders. The "Fighting Tenth" is a regiment that is known by many Harrisburgers. It was just two years ago that this crack fighting crowd marched through this city and camped near Wormleys burg. i Those same soldiers who made ac quaintances with many Harrisburgers are now encamped amid the sand dunes "somewhere in Mexico" wait ing for the word that will send them on their way to Mexico City. • Lack of Cooks Causes Wail From Pittsburgers By Associated Press Pittsburgh. Pa., June 22. Enlist ments are numerous in Western Penn sylvania's many National Guard units and the entire Second Brigade in full strength will move to Mt. Gretna promptly Friday, night, commanders say officially. "We can get all the privates we want, but nobody who can cook Is en listing and competent enlisted cooks are our greatest problem," declared several commanders last night. "It might sound like levity, but it's no joke, this lack of cooks and nobody in our outfits are able to cook," walled the captains of the Pittsburgh ambu lance company and the radio com pany of the signal corps. Numerous prospective recfults have been turned 'back because of defective teeth. the Mexican command was concealed In the underbrush when it discov ered the American cavalrymen riding toward them over the sand. General Felix Gomez, the Mexican commander, immediately sent a courier asking for a parley under a flag of truce with the American commander. The par ley was arranged and as the Mexican leader and two aids started forward, the Americans suddenly deployed in a semicircle skirmish line. "General Gomez, apparently believ ing he was about to be attacked, raised his arm and signalled a machine gun in the rear to open fire on the Ameri cans. The machine gun swept the cavalry ranks, causing heavy losses. "Immediately, however, a detach ment of American troopers dashed for ward, under heavy fire, to the center of the field where General Gomez and his staff were sitting on their horses. In the resultant encounter one of the cavalrymen killed the Mexican leader with his pistol, while the remainder of the Carranza party escaped to their own lines." The two Americans said their infor mation was that the American dead numbered 17 and that the Mexicans had taken forty prisoners. Miss Katherine E. Mattis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles C. Mattes, of Mid dletown. The ceremony was performed at 8 o'clock last evening by the Rev. Fuller Bcrgsiresser, pastor of St. Peter's Lu theran Church, in the parlor of the Mattes home. Wright and early this morning Trooper Shade bade farewell to his weeping bride and started for the armory, Mt. Gretna, Mexico and ? ~ Vast Stores of Supplies and Ammunition Already in Mexico For U. S. Troops By Associated Press San Antonio, Tex., June 22.—Vast quantities of ammunition and supplies are already in storage in Mexico and at points along the border for use of American troops, a high army officer at General Funston's headquarters de clared to-day. Factories are in a position, he as serted, t6 keep supplies going as fast as they are needed. He pointed out that the government had taken the precaution to make large preliminary purcnases as well as to increase the output of its arsenals. During the three months American troops have been in Mexico, such im provement has been niade in the army's organization and equipment that officers here admitted that it is far better prepared than if a break with Mexico had come immediately after the Villa raid. The greatest forward step hks been made in the transportation depart ment, the army experts declared. When General Pershing started his pursuit of Villa in the middle of March the quartermaster corps did not have a single motortruck as a part of the supply system; now there are upwards of five hundred machines in the service. Not only have the trucks been used for the transportation of supplies but they are being employed to rush troops from place to place. Experi ments have proven that entire regi ments can be moved in trucks much more rapidly than cavalry. A large increase has been made in the number of motorcycles in us* by the army. Some of these machines are of special construction, with ma chine gun attachments. High-powered aeroplanes, of the latest design, are now at Columbus and will be sent into Mexico as soon as new propellers have been provided. The long stretches of territory to be covered in Mexico have led to marked betterments in the Held wireless equip ment and "buzzer" telegraph lines. Pershing Seizes Mexican Towns; Disarming Natives By Associated Press El Paso, June 21.—Persistent ru mors were current In El Pftso to night that Gen. Pershing had seized the towns of Nuevo CasafKGrandes and Casas Grandes, abaut nine miles from Dublan, had captured a quantity of Mexican stores and was disarming the natives. It was pointed out that Casas Grandes, located on the line of the Mexican Northwestern railway, la an Impor tant strategic point TUNE 22, 1916. RAKE AMERICANS WITH MACHINE GUN AFTER THEY ARE TRAPPED IN PITFALL By Associated Press Ei Paso, June 22. A new version of the engagement was brought here to-day by a Mexican civilian, who was in Villa Ahumada early yester day afternoon and who said he as sisted In dressing some of the Mexican wounded. He said that General Felix Gomez, the slain Carranza leader, had been aware of the approach of the Americans for 12 hours and had sent a number of couriers to them warn ing them to return to their encamp ment. ' When they persisted in their ad vance, he said, a pitfall several hun dred feet in length was dug directly in the trail over which the cavalry men must ride. This was cleverly concealed with brush. As the Americans rode unsuspect ingly throOgh the sand dunes toward the entrenchment. General Gomez lay concealed some hundred yards away. The horses of the American vanguard plunged into the pitfall unseating their rides and injuring a number of tliem. Then, the Mexican asserted, the Carranza forces lying in ambush raked the American ranks with a machine gun. The heavy fire forced the Am ericans to withdraw to reorganize their line and the Mexicans captured 1 7 soldiers who had been thrown into the pit. He aserted that It was then that General Gomez went forward under a flag of truce, and that before the proposed parley had begun an ir responsible soldier again started the machine gun fire. Kill General Gomez A small detachment of cavalrymen charged toward General Gomez and his party, who were In the center of a field, directly between the wto com mands, their pistol fire killing the Mexican leader. According to the story both com mands withdrew. The Mexicans was unable to estimate the Mexican dead but asserted that the American dead numbered forty, his statement agree ing; with the Mexican official reports that the American dead numbered , forty. BOTH SIDES WAIT FOR BATTLE COMMAND [Continued From First Page] where opposing machine guns almost rubbed noses across the international bridges, to the field guns in back of El Paso and Juarez the ragged sol diers of Carranza and the trim cam paigners of the United States army were ready for instant action to-day. Await Only the Spark It was said an enormous conflagra tion waited only for the spark of tire that would send a roaring name along the border. The American troops, en raged by the story of barbaric treach ery at Carrizal, were eager to avenge their fallen 'comrades of the Tenth Cavalry. The Mexicans, jubilant over the reports of victory that were posted in the Juarez plaza, were intoxicated with the visions of another triumph and the possibility of attacking El Paso. Early to-day two battalions of the Seventh Infantry began throwing up sand tag redoubts along the American bank of the river. Mounted guards patrolled the American side. Machine gun crows slept beside their guns in tht camps at strategical points along the twisted course of the river. In the streets of Juaf", Carranzista cavalry was massed a> night. Six hundred Mexican troops were marche« east along the river before sunrise. On the west bank a similar force trf.mped to take positions. In the railroad yards five trains were held v/ith full steam up under orders from General Gonzales, commander at Juarez. "WhJpned the Gringos" Boast The confidence of the Carranzista officers and men was great. There was ni* disguising the swagger in their manner as they discussed Carrizal fighting. No matter what th 6 method, they boasted that they had whipped the hated "gringos." This was especially marked in the actions of the leaders who are sup poted to disguise what they may feel. They took particular pains to convey to the American authorities news of the Carrizal battle. There were those who saw in this action the result of Gen eral Trevino's arrogance in ordering General Pershing not to move east, south or west. They saw in it a sneer for President Wilson's statement to Carranza that "the execution of this threat will lead to the gravest conse quence." Officers at Fort Bliss would not dis cuss i:. their official capacity the ac tion that would follow Pershing's anxiously awaited report. But. since last Friday none of them has been away from his command and all of tl.tm are ready for the order that has been so long deferred. Bell "Ready FOP Anything" General George Bell, Jr., in com mand of Fort Bliss, returned early In th<; day from a long inspection of the soldiers posted about the city. "We're ready for anything," said General Bell. "I ant awaiting orders from General Funston. 1 have for warded to him what information I was able to gather of the Carrizal fitvhting. Now I can do nothing but Up to the time General Bell made this statement most of the informa tion about the Carrizal incident had come from Mexican sources." These reports placed the American dead at between 17 and 40, together with the capture of a large number of prison ers. They still placed the blame for t'ip start of the fighting on the Am ericans. Incidentally, they admitted hcuvy losses on the Mexican side. Mexican reports located General Pershing himself and also assert his forces had seized Casas Grandes and Ncuvas Casas Grandes after violent nnti-American demonstrations and after both towns had been evacuated by their garrisons. Troops May Be Under Way Fort Bliss officers think that the troopers of the Tenth Cavalry engaged at Carrizal were assigned by Persh ing to run down a new bandit outfit. This, of course, would be a tacit an swei to General Trevino's demand that Pershing's forces move In no di rection but north. The Carrizal battle woi'ld be Trevino's redemption of his pledge and would leave the next move would be as convincing as It was harsh. Perhaps, It was sug gested early to-day, by this time he hat' a new force already or. the way to Villa Ahumada, nine miles north east of Carrizal. and ready to support the action that might come at Juarez. Mexicans .Mass at Ahumada General Gonzales to-day refused to discuss the number of troops at Villa Ahumada, but for the past few weeks it has been known that a large num ber of soldiers from the south were being massed there. The possibilities of position as military position have Interested the Mexicans for sometime. Two months ago the International News Service correspondent saw rifle pits being dug there and these have been strengthened by a series of new trenches. These trenches would throw a protecting fringe around the string of adobe houses that run along the Military authorities here expressed no doubt that both commands suffer ed heavily in the fight but pointed out that no Information concerning the engagement other than that from Mexican sources has been received. Even the two Americans, James Maxey and J. C. Hubble, who brought the most detailed accounts to the border said that their informants were ail Mexicans. Hope was expressed that the American casualties will not prove as heavy as the Mexicans reports have indicated. It was not considered unlikely that General Pershiiig already has taken steps looking toward the reinforce ment of the cavalry command engaged and to a swift punitive action. It was also expected that he would take such steps as are possible to rescue the captive Americans, who now are on their way to Chihuahua City, to be held subject to the orders of General Ti evino, commanding Carranza's army of the North. Evacuating Juarez Reports of the evacuation of towns held by Carranza garrisons in the territory occupied by the expeditionary command, continued to-day and it was thought that General Trevino has ordered the redistribution of the troops composing the ring which had sur rounded General Pershing's forces for some weeks to offset a realignment which the American commander be gan yesterday. During the night up ward of one thousand Mexicans cross ed the border from El Paso to Juarez and to-day the exodus continued. Many of these left immediately for the south while the town itself was being rapidly depopulated. Through the night a steady stream of wagons carry ing the household goods of citizens of the town poured out along the roads leading to the south. Whether the civilians had been warned by the military authorities to leave the towns could not be learned. Army officers asserted to-day that the Mexican leaders have long realized that In the event of hostilities with the United States they could not hope to ho'd Juarez against the Americans and have planned to withdraw to a more strategic point. side of the railroad track. The houses themselves might easily be shattered by artillery fire, but would make an excellent shelter against rifles. Artillery to Open Juarez also affords such shelter from rifle fire, but the effect of the American 4.7, fired from the Mesa be hind El Paso would undoubtedly make the town untenable .within a few hours. That artillery fire will open an en gagement here—if such an engage ment Is ordered—ls practically a cer tainty. One well directed shot could put out of service the water supply at Juarez and Its lighting system. The American officers have not been wast ing their time on the border. This seems so certain that there have been rumors that the Carranzista garrison there is on the point of evacu ating without waiting for the first gun to fire. If that had been the intention, the victory the Mexicans claim at Car rizal has put out of their minds all thought of retreat before having a chance to kill some more "gringoes." The Mexicans, too,have artillery and It would please their gunners Im mensely to take a few shots at the taller El Paso buildings that offer such a fair shot on the American side. Whatever the Juarez commander intends to do, the Juarez population does not relish the prospect of Amer ican shells dropping into their dusty town. Motley caravans of persons have been tramping out of the town, bojind rather vaguely for the hills and desert, stretches toward the interior. The sufferings of these refugees can better be Imagined when it is understood that food is scarce and water scarcer In Juarez. But the Dance Goes On Last night at a dance on the roof of Paso del Notre Hotel a report was brought to the gay crowd that the Mexicans were ready to "start some thing." On the balcony overlooking Juarez hung a crowd of men and wo men between dances. With the bright lights on the roof they were occupying perhaps the best target afforded the Mexican artillery. But they were willing to accept the risk for the chance of seeing the fighting start. Many families have departed from El Paso for the sum mer, but any, suggestion that they left to avoid the difficulties that might arise were indignantly denied. Great numbers of the Mexican pop ulation of El Paso have left for the other side of the Rio Grande following the example of Consul Andreas Garcia, who sleeps in Juarez every night and who has sent his family into Mexico. The police and provost guard are keeping watch for disturbances. There have been numerous reports of clashes between individuals and badly battered Mexicajns have limped into the Mexican settlements after unsatis factory efforts to debate the issues in question on the streets of El Paso. Foreign Service Veterans Offer Services to Flag More than 100 members of Calder camp. No. 31, Veterans of Foreign Ser vice in special meeting last evening unanimously offered their services to the nation. The officers of the camp are: Jonas T. Reist. commander; Howard Myers, first lieutenants; E. L. Wagner, sec ond lieutenant; Frederick Bryan, ad jutant. POST OFFICE MEN GET LEAVE Business houses, corporations, etc., iall over town have asked for leaves : of absence from scores of eager young i men who want to "go down to help avenge Pershing." James T. Long, Jr., Josiah P. Wilbar and E. H. Ander son, were among the post office em ployes who got leaves of absence Yes terday. Mr. Wilbar is first lieutenant of Company D. * HUGHES, JR., A CORPORAL By Associated Press Plattsburg, N. Y., June 22.—Charles E. Hughes. Jr., son of the Republican nominee for President, is to be a cor poral in the training regiment here, as shown by the list of officers given out by Major Murray. Archie Roose velt, son of Theodore Roosevelt, is to be a battalion quartermaster. End Battleship Campaign The Telegraph has completed its campaign for funds in support of Murjorie StcrreU's battleship idea and henceforth no collections from individuals will be made or author ized so far as this newspaper is concerned. This afternoon a check for nearly 1300, contributed through the Telegraph by the girls and boys of Harrisburg and vicinity, was sent to the New York Tribune, which is acting as treasurer of the fund for all the co-operating newspapers.