An American landing brings reaction to the border – Part 2

Continued from the March 2008 issue of LareDOS.

Immediately after the news broke of the American landing and subsequent shooting at Veracruz, the border area (as did all of Mexico) received a patriotic jolt. Carrancista and Huertista forces roaming the vicinity conducting skirmishes against each other momentarily ceased hostilities. Reminded of their heritage, they uttered contempt for the gringos whose actions professed a moral superiority. Heads turned to watch with intense interest their next move. This meteoric rise of nationalistic fervor proved short-lived, however, fizzling out quickly as the Carrancistas and Huertistas returned to fighting.
All along the border rumors ran rampant. “There were at least ‘57 varieties’ of rumors,” according to the Laredo Weekly Times. Rumors telling of interesting, although far-fetched occurrences, such as Carrancista and Huertista forces combining to form a grand army ready to oppose the “foreign invasion” of the Americans. Another one placed Mexican troops crossing into American soil and chasing soldiers towards the interior of the United States. Still another told about the American invasion of Mexico City and the subsequent capture of that former Aztec capital.
The rumor Americans worried most about was on Huerta declaring war on the United States. When it reached South Texas, citizens buzzed with inquiries. Was the story authentic? If true, what would be the reaction of the government? How many additional soldiers would be sent to the border to protect them?
Still trying to salvage the situation, President Huerta urged all Mexicans to “refrain” from organizing demonstrations against the Americans. The jolt, while short-lived, had been strong. In Piedras Negras, a federal band stationed in that hamlet rose to the occasion, by playing several renditions of patriotic music as Huertistas placed advisories all over town championing the actions of “El Presidente” for standing up to the “gringos” of the north by refusing to salute the American flag. Residents of Piedras Negras believed this to be a time for “rejoicing” because their president “called the Yankee bluff.”
In Nuevo Laredo, a spontaneous demonstration, said to have “great currency” with the people, came about shortly after the American landing at Vera Cruz. This celebration, ostensibly held to celebrate a victory over the Carrancistas at Monterrey, created a war of words between the two riverbanks. A Mexican officer accused United States soldiers posted at the bridge area during the demonstration of panicking in the face of the “anti-American” zeal the Mexicans were displaying and running back to Fort McIntosh. Only when the Americans convinced themselves the demonstrations were “pacific” did they have the courage to return. The Americans strongly protested the allegations. It was all a “ridiculous yarn” fabricated with the absence of fact, the very foundation of which rumors are born.
In addition, residents of Laredo caught a chorus of abusive language directed at all Americans, including President Wilson. Gritos after gritos permeated throughout Nuevo Laredo and onto the American side as a Mexican military band played their instruments hoping to excite the populace. During the exhilaration of the moment, a shot was fired, but what direction the bullet took remained a mystery. Soon “patriotic Carrancistas” standing on the American side of the riverbank lashed out with strong words of their own. The two sides gravitated closer to the river and a “yelling war” ensued, with only the river to protect them from an international incident. In the end, cooler heads prevailed and no violent acts were reported.
Sources: Articles found in Laredo Weekly Times. April 1914.
“Piedras Negras Rejoiced”
“Huerta’s Advice to Mexicans”
“Senseless Rumors”
“Had Parade across the River”.