The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1911-04-18
In Greatest Battle Of Campaign, Lasting From
Daybreak Until Shutdown, Federals
Are Repulsed.
AMERICANS IN DOUGLAS ARE IN GREAT DANGER
Force OF Sixteen Hundred National Soldiers Attacks In
sirrectos, but Is Twice Driven Back-Machine Guns
Captured by nsurgents-Excitement Intense
Over Injurng of Americans

Aqua pricin, April II, via Douglas,
Ari2 U'rom the Associated Press cor
respondent IN the field. )--'rhe most i'm
portant battle OF the Mexican revolu-
ton was fought here today between
], 500 fcderals, under command OF Lieu
tenant Colonel Diaz. and 1000 rebels,
under Balnsario Garcia, and resulted In
the reprlse Of the former. The battle.
however. vas not finally decisive. 1t
lasted from $3.50 n. IN. until sundowi,.
Al nightal two federal machine guns
were In possession of the enemy. and
they had suffered loss estimated BY
fhe rebels as AT least 200 killed and
wounded. The rebels gave their own
loss nt 20
From the beginning of the battle.
regardless Of the warning given by the
United States government to the lead
ers of both forces. n rain OF bullets
poured into the American town of
Douglas. and when the day was over
y was found that seven non combatant
residents of that city had been wound
ed II was u day almost of terror In
At Oaybreak.
When day broke. II revealed the fed
eral forces formed In fam shaped battle
line In the level country about mile
distant from Aqua Prietn, with their
machine guns In the center. They gave
notice to the enemy of their purpose
with hail OF bullets from the machine
guns. supported by their musketry,
their evident intention being to gain
the international line with Its adobe
Guardhouses. and from this vantage
ground turn their fire upon the rebels.
The Insurrcctos directed their fire
at the crews manning the machine
guns. But the fire of the federals was
so fierce that 1t forced them back TO
their second line of intrenchments. The
federas advanced slowly As they came
nearer. the tire of the rebels became
more concentrated
Rebels Scorn Protection.
They seorned the protection of their
breastworks and went out into the
open. They kept up their concentration
Of attack upon the machine guns. After
three hours fighting their defense
carry the trenches. The federals began
To retreat. Presently the machine guns
were sllenced. Sharpshooters had
made II impossible to longer man them.
Sheer exhaustion occasionally caused "A
partial rest of the contending forces
Federals Reform
Al IL o'clock the repulsed federals
had reformed and again advanced in
support of their original purpose to
gain the boundary line. making their
movement with heavy rifle fire. The
machine guns were silcnced. The
rebels, made more confident by their
early success. returned eagerly to the
encounter The interval had been en-
ployed In the erection of new trenches.
The advance guard of the federals In
this attack consisted of 80 cavalrymen
and 800 infantry. Behind them was Il
supporting force under protection Of
trees and bushes. The federals reserved
their fire, but from the rebel trenches
poured an unceasing stream of bullets
These striking the dry earth made 1t
appear as II a dust storm was raging
and oftimes obscured the view OF the
conflict. The advancing fcderals again
found the strength and determination
OF the insLrrectos too great for them
They fell back, but in god order, firing
as they retired, and left the field, their
TWO machine guns in the possession of
the enemy.