Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-19
'FEDERALS OCCUPY AQUA PR|ETA
WITH REBEL FORCE DISRUPTED,
Threat of New Attack by Reinforcements
but Government Troops Appear Uncon=
cerned==Tension Manifestly Believed
at WashingtOn===Confer
REBELS AGAIN THREATEN CITY

Aqua Prieta, Sonora, Mexico, April
1S.-When darkness fell over Aqua
Prieta tonight it was undetermined
whether the Federal troops of Lieu
tenant Colonel DiaH would retain un-
disputed possession of the city which
the rebels evacuated early today. ~
whether rebel reinforcements. appear
ing suddenly from the westward this
afternoon would start another battle.
Watchers We're surprised after a day
of quictude to see a column of troops
move out of the mountain passes. l.
miles 10 the west Of Aqua Prieta ana
debouch on the plains in front of the
city. II was at first uncertain Wheth-
er this was a new rebel force or Fed
eral rcinforcements from Canen.
The doubt was sGon dispelled. The
column began riding rapidly toward
the city. Soon glasses showed that
the approaching force was of Insur-
rectoS.
AS they approached the outer breast
works the Federal outposts opened a
lons-range rifle fire. which fell short
The column halted, seemingly sur
prised.
Apparently the approaching rebels
We're unaware that the rebels had
fled from Aqua Prieta and that the
border town was held by the Federals.
Finally the column wheeled and start
ed toward the mountains. Then It
halted again, and there appeared at
the mouth of the cannon from which
the first troops had emerged a second
and longer column. Inis detachment
moved slowly across the desert and
joined the first. Apparently there
Were more than 800 men in the COM
binei columns.
Cowboys came into Aqua Prieta
about this time and reported that
the force was that of Juan Cabral
Insurrccto leader of Sonora, who at
different times in th1 last few weeks
has Wreaked muah havoc on the Fed
erdl forces. With him It was re-
ported was the Insurgent Commander
Senor Talamantes, the Mexican Joan
of Are"
The Mexican Insurrecto on foot
crossed the line west of Douglas and
surrendered to an American citizen.
He said he was a member of Cabrals
band advancing from the west He
said Cabral had no knowledge that
the Federals had taken Aqua Prieta
and had been moving forward, expect
ing to join the rebel garrison, and
that ne was fired on. This rebels
horse was shot from under him while
he was scouting far in advance. and
he escaped on foot to the American
side.
The Federal forces in Aqua Prieta
took small notice of the column when
it appeared. The unsaddled horses re-
main tethered in the bull pen.
The rebels after uniting. marched
west parallel with the city limits, but
evidently with no intention Of APP
preaching near enough to offer battle,
at least before night,
When darkness fell it was imposs-
bic to make out whether the moving
rebels column would come in contact
with the Federal garrison or not
Questions as to whether the troops
would go out and engage the rebel
command We're unanswered.
The Federals tonight brought into
the bull ring at Aqua Pricta - Fed
erals wounded in Yesterdays battle.
In official reports. given out by Col
onel Diaz, the total dead and injured
in Yesterdays battle, rebel and FEEDER
al was said To be about So but it is
believed that this figure is far too low.
From daylight this morning moth
ing was seen of the rebel troops which
i vanished before dawn from Aqua.
Pricta. They fled. following the cX
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