Our Troops Kill Mexicans.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 3, 1913:
Six of Huerta's Soldiers Die in Brisk Fight on the Border.
    DOUGLAS, Ariz., March 2.— For nearly half an hour this morning a force of 60 Mexican soldiers engaged sixteen troopers of the Ninth United States Cavalry under Lieut. Michaelson on the international boundary line here. Probably six of the Mexicans had been killed and several wounded when Troops E and F of the Ninth Cavalry arrived to reinforce the handful of Americans.
    City officials of Douglas who were in communication with State officials in Phoenix immediately after the fight, said the negro troops had killed six of their opponents, and urged the authorities to use every effort to protect the lives of Americans on this side of the border.
    The Attorney General at once reported the fight to the authorities at Washington, it is said, and asked that special orders be given the troopers on patrol duty for instant action in event of a recurrence of the Mexican depredations.
    Correspondents who reached the scene of battle soon after the firing had ceased, searched for possible dead and wounded, who might have been left behind by the Mexicans, but found none.

    EL PASO, March 2.— In a fight on the border near Douglas, Ariz., early to-day between Mexican soldiers and troopers of the Ninth United States Cavalry, four Mexicans were killed. None of the American troops was killed or wounded, according to the advices received here.
    It is said that four American army officers were walking on the border, three miles from Douglas, when they were fired on by forty regular Mexican soldiers, patrolling the line out of Agua Prieta, opposite Douglas. Sixteen negro troopers of the Ninth rushed to the place of firing and a spirited skirmish ensued.
    The American soldiers were holding their position at the international line, when reinforced by two troops of the Ninth. The Mexicans were routed, leaving four killed on the field and others straggling through the brush wounded.
    It is said that the American troops became so excited that they crossed the boundary and pursued the Mexicans for some distance.
    The fight caused great excitement at Douglas, to which the telegraph lines are not open to-day. The townspeople armed themselves and went to the boundary, believing the Mexican soldiers were trying to invade the United States.
    Within a few minutes hundreds of citizens were at the place, armed and ready, and cow boys rushed in from nearby ranches.

    WASHINGTON, March 2.—No official report concerning the fight near Douglas, Ariz., to-day between Mexican soldiers and United States troopers had been received here up to a late hour to-night.
    Major Gen. Leonard Wood promptly called on the commanding officer at Douglas for the facts. He expressed the belief that if there had been any such firing by the American troops the latter must have been attacked by the Mexicans.