Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1911-03-16
U. s. ARMY 10 PREPARED TO
LEAVE FORT SAM HOUSTON,
HOWEVER, ON AN HOURS
NOTICE.
SECRETARY OF WAR DICKINSON
HAS ABANDONED HIS TRIP
TO PANAMA CANAL FOR
THE PRESENT.
Americans Witness Battle and Help
to Carry Wounded From the Field
of Battle in Automobiles.

and eleventh regiments OF cavalry nave
received orders to be ready to move
their regiments at an hours notice.
The troops of these two regiments
will be distributed along more than
500 miles of the frontier and will
materially augment the third cavalry
patrolling force now doing field serv-
ice. Officers of the maneuver divi-
sion express the opinion that the pro-
posed wide distribution of the troops
shows that no concentration of move
l. an invasion of Mexico is
contemplated at this time.
AL the railroads leading from San
Antonio to the border points are &C
cumulating and holding in readiness
equipment TO transport the troops
and accoutrements Immediately on re-
ceipt of ouch orders. The preparation
is being made by the railroads on
instruction direct from the war de-
partment According to one report
it is planned to mobilize not less than
5000 troops on the bank of the
Rio Grande in the next few days.
The quartermaster's department has
ordered large quantities of supplies
to be delivered on the cars at Fort
Sam Houston, the specific date of de-
livery to be ascertained later. Major
General w H. Wood and his divi-
sional staff are rapidly mapping out
the program of the war game.
With Gen. Carter at headquarters
are Col. Steven Mills, chief of staff :.
Capt Henry G.. Leonard, aide-de-camp
to Gen. Carter; Capt. Malin Craig, Of
the divisional staff; Lieut.-Col. Eu-
gene F. Ladd, adjutant-general;
Lieut.-Col Harry p. Birmingham.
chief surgeon; Lieut.-Col Daniel E.
Mccarthy, chief quartermaster; Maj
George Bell, Jr., inspector-general;
Maj. Blanton Winship. judge advocate
general; Maj. Harry E. wilkins,
chief commissary; Maj. Paul Straub,
sanitary inspector. Lieut.. f. B. Gar
ry, Fifteenth infantry, who is in
charge Of transportation, guard and
mess for headquarters, will provide
for mess of 90.
Most of the divisional staff will
draw mounts from the mounting sta
tons scattered throughout the coun-
try. The chief quartermaster has
word that several hundred high-class
mounts for officers are en- route to
San Antonio.
About 1000 horses for cavalry re-
cruits and army wagons are on the
way here and more will follow.
Gen. Carriers famous mount, Tom
Bass, it is understood, was left in
Washington. A veterinary advised
against shipping his mount from the
post.
Americans Care for Wounded Soldiers.
Americans in automobiles rushed to
the aid of the Mexican soldiers
wounded in the battle fought near
Aqua Prieta between a force of 500
rebels under General Blanco and
federal force of 300 men.
Some of the most daring OF the
Americans arrived on the battle field
while the engagement was still in
progress. When they reached the
scene wounded soldiers and officers
were lying about and the federals
could not remove them because they
had no stretchers one soldier lay
dead and with the permission of the
Mexican officers the body was taken
to Aqua Prieta In one of the auto
mobiles.
other Americans also in automo-
biles who arrived later had difficulty
In securing permission from the Next
can officers TO act in similar capacity,
but permission was finally granted.
The wounded were taken to Aqua
Prieta. One soldier, who was shot
through the breast, died on the way.
In all II dead federals have now
been brought in, and the bodies lie
In the bull-ring. The wounded were
placed in the barracks at the head
quarters of the commission.
When the Americans attempted to
relieve the. wounded OF their guns
and heavy cartridge belts TO lessen
the burden, the soldiers refused to
give them up. They held their guns
to their breasts as they lay on the
cushioned seats Of the automobiles.
Eleven federals were wounded. but
the number of rebels wounded is not
known, as they took their injured
with them on their retreat to the
mountains.
After mystifying both the Mexican
officers and the Americans on the
border for a week Blanco sudden
ly broke out of the canyon leading
from Cenises Springs and engaged the
federal troops that had been rushed
into Aqua Prieta last night on a spe-
cial train. under command of Colonel
Mora.
Except for a few prisoners taken
by the federals, the rebels retreated
in good order
1t is understood that Blanco's en-
tire force did not participate in the
engagement
Banco's first move was to throw
out a skirmish line to draw the fed
erals into action to ascertain their
strength.
The battle lasted an hour and IL
is believed that the retreat that fol-
lowed was to draw the federals into
the canyon, where the main body OF
Blanco's force was stationed. The
federalss however. after a spirited
pursuit, rallied and returned to Aqua
Prieta, refusing to be entrapped.