Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-04-20
REBELS REPULSE
FEDERAL ATTACK
Severe Engagement Takes Place
on Mexican Border.
TRY TO RETAKE Aqua PR|ETA
Rain of Bullets Falls in Douglas, Ariz.
and a Number of Americans
Are Wounded.

Aqua Prieta, Mex, April 1S.-The
most important battle of the Mexican
revolution was fought here between
1000 federals under command of Lieu.
tenant Colonel DiaZ and 1000 rebels
under Balasario Garcia and resulted
in the repulse Of the former.
The battle, however, was not finally
decisive. 1t lasted from $50 a. m. un-
til shutdown. At %nightfall two federal
machine guns were in possession OF
the rebels and the federals had sus.
tanned a loss estimated by the rebels
as at least 200 killed and wounded.
The rebels gave their own loss at
twenty.
From the beginning of the battle
regardless of the warning given by
the United States government to the
leaders of both forces, a rain of bull.
lets poured into the American town
OF Douglas, and when the day was
over, it was found that seven non.
combatant residents of that city had
been wounded. 1t was a day almost
of terror in Douglas.
Dawn revealed the federal forces
formed in fan shaped battle line, in
the level country about a mile distant
from Aqua Prieta, with their machine
guns in the center. They gave notice
to the enemy Of their approach with
a hail of bullets from the machine
guns, supported by rifle fire, their evi,
dent intention being to gain the in.
ternational line with its adobe guard.
houses and from this vantage ground
turn their fire upon the rebels.
Federal Fire Very Severe.
The insurrectos directed their fire
at the crews manning the machine
suns. But the fire of the federals was
so fierce that it forced the rebels back
to their second line of intrenchments.
The federals advanced slowly. AS
they came nearer the fire of the rebels
became more effective. Leaving the
protection of their breastWorks they
moved out into the open, continuing to
concentrate their fire upon the ma.
chine guns.
The federals, finding the rebel de,
Tense after three hours fighting toe
strong to enable them to carry the
trenches, began to retreat. Presently
the machine guns were silenced.
Sharpshooters had made it impossible
longer to man them. Sheer exhaus,
ton occasionally caused a partial lull
in the fighting.
At II o'clock the repulsed federals
had reformed and again advanced to
gain the boundary line, masking their
movement with heavy rifle fire. The
machine guns were silent. The rebels
encouraged by their early success, re.
turned the fire eagerly. The interval
had been employed by the rebels in
erecting new entertainments.
The advance guard of the federals
in this attack consisted of fifty caval
rymen and 300 infantry. Behind them
was a supporting party that kept I'm
der cover of trees and bushes.
Endless Stream of Bullets.
The federals reserved their fire but
an u%nceasing stream of bullets poured
from the trenches. These, striking the
Sry earth, made it appear as though
a dust storm were raging and for a
time served to obscure a view of the
conflict.
Advancing federals again found the
strength and determination of the in
surrectos too great for them. They
fell back, but in good order. firing as
they retired, and left the field and
their two machine guns in the pos
session of the enemy.
More than half of Douglas was III
der fire from the beginning until the
end of the battle. The United States
custom house was in the direct range
of the attack and the United States
soldiers near there were forced to
seek shelter.
When the battle began, Colonel Will.
lam A. Skunk, commanding the United
States troops, rushed his four troops
of cavalry TO the line and took every
possible precaution for the safety oil
the citizens of Douglas, keeping then
out Of that portion of the city which
was considered to be most exposed
This, however, did not avail to save
lAmericans from injury.