The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-04-18

possession There is heavy firing In
the vicinity of Jaurez and the peo-
pie of that city are becoming alarmed.
Douglas, Ariz., April 1S.-The most
important battle of the Mexican rev.
olution thus far was fought at Aqua
Prieta, Mex, yesterday between 1900
federals under command of Lieut.
Col Diaz. nephew of the president,
and 1000 rebels under Balasario Gar
cha, and it resulted in the repulse of
the former. The battle, however, was
not decisive. 1t lasted from $3.50 a.
M. until shutdown. AT nightfall, two
federal machine guns were in the
possession of the rebels and the feder-
ais had sustained loss estimated by
the rebels as at least 200 killed and
wounded. The rebels gave their own
loss as 20.
From the beginning of the battle,
regardless of the warning given by
the United States government to the
leaders of both forces, rain of bull.
lets poured into the American town OF
Douglas, and when the day was over
it was found that seven noncombat-
ants. resldents Of that city, had been
wounded. II was a day almost of
terror in Douglas.
Dawn revealed the federal forces
formed in fan-shaped battle lines, in
the level country about a mile dis
tant from Aqua Prieta, with their ma.
chine guns in the center. The insur.
rectos directed their fire at the men
at the machine guns. But the fire OF
the federals was so fierce that II
forced the rebels back to their second
line OF intrenchments The federals
advanced slowly. AS they came near.
er. the fire of the rebels became more
effective
Leaving their breastworks, the reb.
els moved out into the open, continu
ing their fire on the machine guns
The federals. finding the rebel de-
Tense too strong, after three-hours
fighting gave up the attempt to carry
the trenches and began to retreat
Presently the machine guns were sill
enced. Rebel sharpshooters had
made it impossible longer to man
them. Sheer exhaustion occasionally
caused partial lull in the fighting
during the day At II o'clock the re
pulsed federals reformed and again
advanced toward the boundary line
masking their movement with heavy
rife fire. The machine guns were
silent. The rebels, encouraged by
their early success, eagerly returned
the federal fire. The interval haC
been employed by the rebels in digg
ing new trenches
The advance guard/of the federals
in this attack consisted of 90 cavalry
men and 300 infantry Behind then
was a supporting party that kept I'm
der cover of trees and bushes. The
advancing &ederals again found the
strength/a determination of thu
insurrectos too much for them. Thel
fell back, but in good order, firing al
they retired. They left the field ant
Hheir two machine guns in the pos
session of the enemy.
More than half of Douglas was I'm
! der fire from the beginning until tn,
end Of the battle. The American Gus
toms house was In the direct range o
the attack and the American soldier
near there were forced to seek shel
ter. When the battle began, Col
William A. Skunk, commanding tn
: United States force, rushed his fou
troops of cavary to the line and tool
every possible precaution for the safe
= ty of the citizens of Douglas. H
kept them out of that portion of tn
city which was most exposed but thi
did not save Americans from injury.
Every indication points to re
sumption of fighting by today If tn
federals should prove successful,
means that the battle will be carrie
r to the streets of Aqua Prieta with il
t creasing menace to the citizens G
/ Douglas.