Rebels alarm the Mexican Government

Nº 143

ALISRE L-E-936 F. 197

The San Francisco Call, San Francisco, California

28 de junio de 1908

Rebels alarm the Mexican Government

Direct Appeal From a Consul Shows Seriousness of the Situation. Casualities in Clash at Las Vacas Number More Than Forty.

Firing Continuos and Many Deputy Marshalls Sent to Guard the Border. Special dispatch to The Call.

San Antonio, Tex., june 27.- Official reports received here tonight from Del Rio, Tex, and Las Vacas, Mex., state that the casualties in yesterday's clash between the insurgents and the troops at Las Vacas will number between 40 and 50. This is the estimate given by telephone tonight by Sheriff Robinson at Del Rio and Collector of Customs Dowe.

"Firing has been continued all day," Sheriff Robinson telephoned, "and 1 tried to cross the border under a flag of truce, but was stopped by Mexican troops, who are guarding the border and threatened to tire on us. All communication is cut off between Texas and Mexico, and the Mexican government will permit nothing but censored news to this country. We have heard that trouble has broken out at various points and that towns have been attacked down the river. Reinforcements for the troops at Las Vacas are expected tonight. It is stated that 3,000 troops will arrive. Just what will happen then, no one knows."

Fifty are captured

A special from Del Río this evening says that 50 Mexican, revolutionists were captured shortly after noon today, about five miles north of Las Vacas, Mex., the town attacked yesterday. The revolutionists were evidently making their way to cross the Rio Grande into Texas when overtaken by Mexican rurales. A fight resulted, but the revolutionists had but little ammunition. Ten miles out of Del Rio a sheriff's posse discovered a cave in which nearly 1,000 guns were secreted by the revolutionists. While the officers were removing the arms they were surprised by a band of Mexicans, who had crossed the Rio Grande, and a few shots were ex-changed, but the Mexicans were too many for the five deputy sheriffs, who were soon overpowered, and the revolutionists recovered the guns and escaped back into Mexico. The entire border on the Mexican side is in sympathy with the revolutionists.

Nearly 200 Mexicans were rounded up last night by the Texas sheriffs posses, but were released this morning upon instructions from Governor Campbell that Texas was without jurisdiction for the present.

Marshalls guard border

The federal authorities have sworn in 2,000 deputy United States marshals, who are mounted and are guarding the border.

Later reports say that the town of Jimenez, 30 miles above Diaz, has fallen into the hands of the revolutionists and that the former city will be attacked.

Consul A. V. Lomeli, representing the Mexican government at El Paso, Tex., today telegraphed United States Marshal Eugene Nolte at San Antonio, asking him to put on more deputy marshals in El Paso to enforce the neutrality laws. Such requests are generally made through diplomatic channels, but because the consul wired direct to the United States marshal it is indicative that Mexico considers the revolutionary movement serious.

Complaint was made at El Paso today against J. W. Ruiz, charging a violation of the neutrality laws, and in default of a bond Ruiz was committed lo jail. He was arrested by the police follonwing a raid on a house suppossed to be the head quarters.