The Topeka State Journal

TO RETAKE TEXAS!
Mexicans Plot to Grab Slice of Lone Star State.
Captive Says Raids Are to Equip Many of Conquest.
Brownsville, Aug. 10.—An explanation of the purposes and extent of the Mexican raids of the past three weeks in southern Texas was obtained today from Jesus Garcia, a Mexican wounded and captured in the Sunday fight at Norias, who is expected to die.
He said many Mexicans, especially the lower classes, hope to regain possession of that part of Texas between the Rio Grande and the Nueces river, or, roughly, the strip bounded by Brownsville and Corpus Christi, and return it to Mexico.
Garcia said a political party having this aim exists in the southern part of Texas. The recent raids were intended to equip Mexicans for organized conflict to reconquer the lower end of south Texas.
Horses, guns and ammunition appear to have been the objective of all these raids.
Garcia said he was forced to join the band which attacked Norias.
It is claimed that for the last two years Mexicans have held weekly meetings at Garcia's home. American neighbors assert that many members of the present bandit gangs were among those attending the weekly meeting.
The habit of peaceful Mexicans in this section of going armed constantly has made it difficult for the authorities to distinguish between the bandits and inoffensive citizens, and has made it easy for Mexicans going home from raids to pass as peaceful farmers.