Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-19

Aqua Prieta. Mex, April 1S.-The
rebel army after almost IS hours of
incessant fighting yesterday in de-
fence of Aqua Prieta. quietly eVacu-
ated the town during the night. 1t
moved out silently and when day
broke was nowhere to be seen. The
Mexican National troops entered the
city at dawn, encountering no resist
anee.
The Federals approached the town
from the south and east during the
} early hours. coming in slowly ana
cautiously lest they encounter an am
bush. Great was the surprise of the
commanders OF the government troops
on iindinS. when they reached the out
er works of the rebel entrenchments,
that the trenches had been abandon
ed ana no Insurrectos We're in sight.
Tho Federals continued IL come in,
still more slowly. presumably expect
ing at every moment to encounter Il
surprise but they found no rebels any
where. The latter had vanished as
completely as the night. There was
no Indication even OF the direction
they bad taken.
] ne reason ttI TIT tNdtttft tio! VI tIIt
city after their all-day defence Of it
was not at first apparent The most
logical conclusion seemed 10 be that
they had exhausted their ammuni-
ton.
Letter developments showed the rebel
army to be badly Gisrupte1. Its lead
ers gave up the fight aud the men
IN the ranks appear To have fled in
all directions of their own individual
choosing.
Colonel Medina who had assumed
command III the rebels last night,
made his way to the AMI riCan line
before dawn. and surrendered To the
United States troops. He WAS the
mayor of the town. He vas imme-
| diately placed under guard and held
| at tn. headquarters OF the American
Cavalry at the bah park. The vic
torious Federal force which occupied
the town this morning. numbered 1900
men. Lieut.. Col. keynoldt DiaZ was
| in supreme command. Under him We're
| 10" Luis Medina Barron of the
| Rurales and Commandant Francisco
| Chiapa formerly project of the town
Of MoCtezuma.
| The losses in yesterdays fighting
may never be known. The Federuls
| declined the assistance II the Red
Cross today stating that the army
would care for its own wounded.
| During the lighting yesterday the
Federals removed their dead and
wounded to the rear. 1t is under
| stood that those Killed were buried
on the field. None was brought into
| the buli ring at Aqua Prieta today
We are now making up the list
but as yet cannot tell what they are
either in dead or wounded" Major
| Barron told The Associated Press cor
respondent I'VE have not gathered
the dead from the rebel trenches as
yet, hut later We will give YOU this
| infornIation.''
| The correspondent passed in the
| streets of Aqua Prieta Il few bodies
NJ rebels lying in the streets. At the
bull ring there was everywhere cvi.
den"es of yesterdays lighting and
ampl'' signs that the Federals had
had accurate information of tht
strpneholds occupied by the rebe
forces
The main towers at the bull ring
entrance were literally shot into
sieves. Thousands of bullets pierced
them. For a time the machine guns
poured hail steadily into these tow
ers ana over the tops of the adobe
walls. from which the garrison was
| firing.
In the west section of the bull rims
were two bodies. one was that of an
4 American. At the entrance 10 tht
hrst story of the tower Was IA rivule,
OF irving blood which poured Out
through the doorway ami into tht
dust "f the ban rirg. Sitting against
The west wall OF ne bull ring ant
heavii% guarded by Mexican troops
sat , lone American. who had no,
@oI away with :he retreating rcbc