File No. 812.00/16041.
The Secretary of State to the Confidential Agent of the Constitutionalist Government of Mexico.
Washington, September 10, 1915.
Sir: The Department acknowledges the receipt of your letter of September 6, 1915, addressed to the President, in regard to the insinuations of the press which, you say, involve the army of General Venustiano Carranza in the disturbances along the Texas border.
In reply I quote below, for such explanation as you may care to make in connection therewith, the substance of a telegram which General Frederick Funston sent to the Secretary of War under date of August 27, 1915:
Mexican armed parties on Mexican side have fired on detachments United States troops every day since last Sunday. With exception of firing at international bridge, Brownsville, all other incidents of firing across river have occurred at or in vicinity of Progreso ferry opposite Mercedes, at which point Mexicans are entrenched firing American side. Casualties so far have been one soldier killed, one officer badly wounded, three soldiers wounded, two horses killed. Officer in command in Brownsville district reports this date he is convinced Carrancista soldiers are taking part disorders on border and that Carrancista commander of district of Matamoros either can not or does not desire to control his men. Carrancista commander Matamoros could easily stop these outrages if he so desired. I fear that if something is not done to prevent our soldiers being fired on from Mexican side, serious international consequences may result. Mexican armed bands continue to cross river at various points going into interior, robbing and terrorizing American citizens. Carrancista commander Matamoros has taken pains to leave impression that these bands are deserters from his forces. It is noted, however, that when pursued they cross river and rejoin their commands. Situation appears to be gradually growing worse and unrest is extending all along border up to and including Del Rio.
According to another telegram from General Funston, dated September 4, quoting a message from Captain Frank McCoy, it appears that on the morning of September 4 a sheriff, certain rangers and civil officials were fired upon by about fifty Mexicans at Cavazos crossing. The telegram adds that on the night before these same Mexicans raided Ojodelagua, a small Mexican village on the American side of the international line. Captain McCoy’s message concludes with the following statement:
Certain business men of Ojodelagua inform me that the band was made up of well-known smugglers and horse thieves with about six Carrancista soldiers. From the volleys fired today and the Mauser carbines used as well as Winchesters I would surmise that Carrancista soldiers were engaged. A detachment of Carrancistas has been stationed at Anzalduas, a small village on the railroad in sight of Cavazos Crossing.
It appears from telegrams received from General Funston that an American aeroplane has been repeatedly fired upon from the Mexican side of the line. The following is the substance of a telegram received from General Funston under date of September 4, 1915:
Following just received from Colonel Bullar, Brownsville: “Aeroplane now in air in vicinity of Brownsville has been fired on three separate times; some 100 shots in all were counted. It has been over United States territory all the time. Our outpost at international bridge and the one at Brownsville pumping-plant locate firing as coming from big bend in river just west of Brownsville, probably Mexican outpost, as the firing on aeroplane reported on September 1st was from same locality. The troops occupying south bank of river are Carrancistas. At same time that firing on aeroplane was going on our outpost at Brownsville pumping plant was fired on.”
I am [etc.]