File No. 812.00/17886
The Secretary of State to Special Representative Rodgers
Washington, April 17, 1916, 4 p.m.
Following is substance of General Pershing’s report on Parral incident. Furnish General Carranza paraphrase thereof, for his information and for comparison with reports received from Parral authorities:
On April 11, officer from Parral garrison visited Major Frank Tompkins, then ten miles from Parral, inviting him to enter city, which invitation accepted next day, 11 a.m., when Tompkins, at the head of his column, entered city, and was cordially received by military and civil authorities. Later, column left city, accompanied by military commander, General Lozano, on way to camp. Upon reaching outskirts, column attacked by native troops and civilians, who jeered, threw stones and fired on column, and whom Lozano vainly endeavored to disperse. Tompkins took defensive position north of railroad, but was soon flanked by native troops and forced to retire. About 300 Carranza troops joined in pursuit. Tompkins continued to withdraw until he reached Santa Cruz, eight miles from Parral. Reported apparently 40 Mexicans killed, all soldiers, including one major. One civilian wounded. Americans killed, two; wounded, six; missing, one. Major Tompkins slightly wounded.