The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-15
Federal Soldiers Are Com pletely Routed From
 Strategic Position
ANOTHER BATTLE
 HOURLY EXPECTED
American Citizens in Douglas Are Terrorized After Casualties of Yesterdays Battle-Mor-
 rison to Investigate

Agua Prieta, Mex, April 14.-(Via
 Douglas, Ariz)-In full possession of
 60 armed rebels tonight, the town of
 Agua Prieta, the principal port of
 entry between Fl Paso and the Pacific,
 is to be made the headquarters of all
 rebel operations in the state of Son
 ora.
 It is openly declared by the rebel
 commanders that they expect to es-
 tablish here a provisional government
 for Sonora and that the insurrecto
 officers for this purpose are now in
 Douglas waiting for the word to cross
 the line.
 With Red" Lopez and his troops
 holding the town, following its cap
 lure yesterday, the rebels today were
 rushing their troops toward this place
 From three points of the compass-east, Mest and south. With their men all
 assembled they expect to have fight ing force of 1900, which. they believe, they can successfully withstand any Ne stack the federal forces may make. The hardest fighting which the Mex Jean rebellion has afforded to date Is
 
 hour in Agua Prieta.
 The first rebel endorsements to ar rive-100 mounted men-reached ed here late this afternoon. They were led by Eelasaria Garcia, one of the beet known headers of the insurrectos in Sonora. aIe had brought his force in hot haste from Serre Madere mountains to lend all possible aid to hold Agua Prieta. Garcia's real name Is Laguna. but he is famliarly known as "Pellili" He | took part in the Sahuiripa campaign and later in the campaign on the Yaqui | river and in Tonichi. Included in his command is small band of Yaqui In- | dians
 The arrival of the mounted column of Garcias command this afternoon riding al top speed across the plains and rais- Ing great clouds of dust. with the firing of shots by detachment oi rebel scouts which had gone out to intercept them, led to the belief that the expected attac. by the federals was on.
 Feverish Excitement Both Agua Preta and Douglas were thrown into fever of. excitement In Agua Prieta the rebels made ready to re- sist an attack, and in Douglas the citi-
 
 rences of yesterday. sought places of
 safety. The apprehension was lessened a. little by the knowledge that the ap-
 preaching band was rebel endorsements, but tonight Douglas was in state of
 nervousness and expectation. Bands of rebels led by Antonio Garcia, | Juan Cabral and Juan Gandalaria are 1 marching northward from the interior and 1 are expected to arrive in Agua Prieta within day two.
 Several forces of federals are scattered ' throughout the country from the south of
 Agua Prieta and they are massing for
 combined operation against the town. In-
 cluded in these forces are the commands
 of Colonel Ojeda, Commandant Barron
 Prefect Chiapa and Lieutenant Colonel
 piaz. The headquarters of these troops
 have been in Cananea but, for the last five days they have been in the field Tn operations against rebel bands Cananea dispatches give the total of these forces ct 400 men.
 Horses Arrive Late this afternoon Lopez brought his horses, 50 in number from Cabullona to Agua Prieta. The rebels have a tempor- ary supply of food and hay for their mounts which they say they can replen- fish from the ranches to the south. The Nacozari railroad will be used for this transportation
 The positions of this railroad running 75 miles from Agua Prieta to Nacozari, is of vast advantage to the rebels On the other hand however the rebels control of the railroad and the closing of the port of Douglas is serious blow to the great mining Interests of this section of Sonora Until the port is opened for entry and the rebel frees in Agua Pireta either are routed from their position or are recog- rfzed as belligerents by the United States government, the heavy shipment of ores
 Tor the El Paso and Douglas smelters
 must cease.
 This fact alone is expected to aid great 1y in the opening of the port in Douglas. If the rebels succeed in accomplishing in-
 gress and egress to Agua Preta and
 Douglas, they will have accomplished a
 very decided victory for their cause. It
 will enable them to bring practically un-
 limited supplies and ammunition into Mex leo. The matter is, in the hands of the
 treasury department in Washington The
 shipment of ores from one of the Phelps Dodge properties alone amounted to $50 cars per month. This is but portion of the large total shipped in by numerous
 other mines in Sonora, owned principally
 by United states capitalists. Many United M States mining men are at their properties X but no fear Is, felt for their safety "A Late this afternoon a young American N left in an automobile for Nacozari to in Nj form Americans in Sonora of the capture of Agua Prieta and of the closing of the
 port of Douglas. This messenger carried
 with him pass from Red Lopez to in-
 sure him safe transportation through the
 country.