Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-04-19

Aqua PRlEr.N. sonora Mexico April
lS-The battle OF Aqua Prieta. which ragged
almost without mtcrmission for nearly
twenty -four hours. was won by the McNi-
can federal forces who occupied the town
at daylight today.
The rebels, their supply of ammunition
and provisions exhausted. evacuated Aqua
Prieta an hour before the government
troops arrived.
Part Of the insurrecto garrison was dis
ruptod in the abandonment Of the town.
Throwing away their guns and leaving
their horses, they fled in disorder in diff
fcront directions. The principal portion Of
the rebel command, however retired In
good order toward the mountains south OF
the city. Two nsurrccto commanders.
Balazarc Garcia and Colonel Medina, de-
serted their men and fled across the border,
where they surrendered to the American
troops Lieutenant Colonel Reynaldo Diaz
led the loo triumphant federal troops into
Aqua Prieta.
The actual casualties Of the battle can
only be estimated, but the federal loss
was given out as five killed and twenty
one wounded and the rebels as eight
killed and four wounded. II is certain that
the complete casualties far exceed this
total.
The ports Of Douglas and Aqua Prieta,
which had been closed, were roopened to-
day
FederRls Approach Cautiously.
The federals approached the town from
the south and east during the early hours
coming in slowly and cautiously, lest they
encounter an ambush. Great was the sur
prise OF the commanders of the govern
ment troops on finding. when they reached
the outer works of the rebel entrench-
ments, that the trenches had been aban-
doned and no insurrectos were In sight
The federals continued to come in more
slowly. presumably expecting at every mo-
ment TO encounter a surprise. but they
found no rebels anywhere The latter had
vanished as completely as the night There
was no indication even bf the direction
they had taken.
The reason for their deseption of the
city after thhelr all day desperate defense
Of IT, was not at first apparent The most
logical conclusion seemed to be that they
had exhausted their ammunition,
Rebel Army Disrupted.
Later developments showed the rebel
army to be badly disrupted Its leaders
gave up the fight and the men in the
ranks appear to have fled in directions
of their own Individual choosing.
! Colonel Medn. who had assumed com
mand in Aqua Prieta last night, made his
way to the American line before dawn
today and surrendered TO the United States
troops. lie was the Jefe poltico (mayorD
Of the town. lie was Immediately placed
| under guard and held at the headquarters
| of the American cavalry at the ball park
! The victorious federal force which Occur
pied the town this morning numbered about
loo men. Lieutenant Colonel Raynaldo
Diaz was in supreme command Under him
were Major Luis Medina Barron Of the
rurales. and Commando Francisco Chiepa,
/ formerly prefect of the town of Mocte-
| yuma.
/ The government losses in yesterdays
| fighting may never be known. The fsderals
declined the assistance of the red cross
today, stating that the army would care
| for Its own wounded.
During the fighting yesterday tho fed.
! erals removed their dead and wounded 10
| the rear II is understood that those killed
were buried on the field None was brought
| into the bull ring al Aqua Prieta today.
| I'VE are now making up the list but as
yet cannot tell what they are, either in
dead or wounded" Ma jor Rarron told the
! Associated Press correspondent we have