File No. 812.00/18142
Vice Consul Blocker to the Secretary of State
Piedras Negras, May 8, 1916.
Sir: I have the honor to report to the Department that on Friday night May 5, the Columbus raid was repeated at Glen Springs, and Boquillas, Texas.
As has been reported in my telegrams of May 7, 11 a.m. and May 8, 11 a.m., Mexican bandits estimated to number 200 men entered Glen Springs, Texas, some 20 miles from the border. Only 9 American soldiers were in the town, which were routed after a fight lasting two hours, resulting in the killing of 3 soldiers, a nine year old boy, wounding 2 soldiers and carrying away 2 Americans by the name of M. J. Deemer and L. Coy.
After the raid they then returned toward the border and attempted to raid Boquillas, Texas, on the next night (Saturday), but [Page 545] were driven off by the armed employees of the mining company at that place. When last heard from they were headed toward the Sierra del Carmen ranging along the Coahuila-Chihuahua border.
A recent report states that Deemer and Coy have been found dead with their throats cut from ear to ear near the boundary line.
Army trucks have been despatched to the scene to carry away the women and children, and two troops of cavalry, one machine gun platoon left yesterday from Fort Clark, Texas, commanded by Colonel F. W. Sibley.
Reports that have been received here are only meager, but orders have been telegraphed the custom inspectors at Marathon, the nearest town on the railroad and Boquillas, Texas, to telegraph a full report on the matter at the earliest possible moment. Their reports are expected to arrive to-day.
The Vice Consul has communicated such information as has been obtained to the Carranza commander, Colonel Peraldi, in Piedras Negras who refuses to believe that the band numbers over twenty men, but has despatched troops from Muzquiz across the mountains, some one hundred twenty-eight miles from Boquillas, to endeavor to locate the bandits. Military officers in Eagle Pass, as well as this Consulate, place very little faith in receiving any results from Carranza troops, basing our beliefs on past instances in Chihuahua and other parts of the Republic where bandits have always successfully committed their depredations without danger of Carranza soldiers. The number of troops in this district at the present moment will also be a great drawback to any speedy action of Carranza troops. At Muzquiz, Boquillas, Mexico and Las Vacas, the nearest points to the scene, there are only small garrisons, probably two hundred in all.
A report is current that Rosalio Hernandez, ex-Villa commander is in command of the band, that he left Sierra Mojada several days at the head of five hundred men in the direction of the border. The Vice Consul does not place any faith in this rumor and neither do the military. It is believed that this band is connected with the small bands reported to be using the Sierra Del Burro as a rendezvous and are commanded by ex-Villa officers or Diaz supporters, who had rather see intervention than submit to Carranza as head of the Mexican Republic; and making such raids with that end in view.
Yesterday, May 8, another car of munitions arrived in Eagle Pass consisting of four hundred forty-three thousand rounds of five metal patched ammunition.19
The car was discovered by an American noncommissioned officer in charge of inspecting cars at the Southern Pacific depot, who broke the seals in the presence of two employees of the railroad company. The commander of the American forces at Eagle Pass took charge of the car and has moved the contents to the post. The amount of ammunition now on hand at Camp Eagle Pass is approximately one million rounds, all of which has arrived since April 1. The car containing the last shipment of ammunition [Page 546] had no marking as required by law, showing that it contained explosives. The shipment came from the Western Cartridge Company of East Alton, Illinois.
The Department will be advised daily of all reports received, by telegraph followed by despatch.
I have [etc.]