The Topeka state journal., 1911-04-17

state army, OOHNeESII
rebels toward Aqua Prieta however,
was steady. Many had fallen on both
sides.
United States Autoists Forced to Fly.
At 7 o'clock an automobile carrying
United States Marshal Overlook,
United States Secret Service Agent
Thompson and the Associated Press
correspondent passed through the
guard line on the American side to the
International line. The hail of bullets
at this moment drove the party to the
shelter of the American custom mousse
but this building also was in direct
line with the heavy firing from the
southeast.
One bullet struck the automobile.
Others dug up the ground on all sides
and there was a continuous Wh1zz or
the leaden missiles overhead. 1t was
considered too dangerous position
and the observing party retired across
the line to Fourth street
Suddenly and for some unexplained
reason, the federal machine guns were
silenced. The rife fire, however, kept
up without intermission. 1t was ap-
parent that the rebel sharpshooters
were concentrating their fire on the
machine gun operators and were slow
" picking them off. Time and again
the guns appeared TO De uhIhailIleo. '5 AZ
7:45, however, an hour and quarter
after the battle opened, the machine
guns were again in action and were
raking the rebel position on two sides.
The Red Cross volunteers crossed
the border and went upon the field at
this hour. DR.. Shine of Bisbee was
chief surgeon of the volunteers.
Every surgeon in Douglas and many
from Bisbee were being brought to the
line to attend the wounded. Women
and girls expressed their willingness to
act as nurses It was certain that the
list of killed and wounded would be
very heavy
Associated Press Reporter Hit.
Oscar X Coll who accompanied
the Associated Press correspondent,
was struck by a bullet on the side of
the head while watching the progress
of the fight from Fourth street.
A long cash was cut in his scalp
and blood streamed over his face. He
was not seriously wounded, however
Coll was the first American struck
on the side of the line in today's fight
ing. He is a newspaper man, employed
in Tombstone. and was formerly i'm
migration commissioner of Cochise
county, Arizona. He was treated at
the Red Cross hospital.
The Associated Press correspondent
crossed the line and found Red"
Lopez one of the rebel chiefs, who
commanded the garrison of the town.
All of Lopezs men had been engaged
since the early firing began.
Will Hold City. Says Lopez.
Said Lopez:
I'VE concentrated our fire of sharp
shooters on the two machine guns that
the federals brought into action and
succeeded in putting them out of busi
ness. The loss of life is undoubtedly
heavy. At this hour we have beaten
the federals badly. AS fast as the
government troops were thrown into
the draw Immediately south of Aqua
Prieta, the fire of our troops moved
them down. Our men are holding
every position taken by them so far
and have repulsed the right wing of
the federal army which attempted to
swing around the American border.
We expect Juan Cabral to arrive at
any moment and reinforce us. But we
are going to hold Agua Prieta any
way"
By this time firing Lad been re-
newed. The rebels in the bitches along
the American line were engaged and
the American party in the automobile
was compelled to retire hastily into
Douglas. The federal troops paid no
into the United States, but, fighting
from low ground, elevated their aim
and the bullets carried far into the
city of Douglas.
On a little knoll, where a Mexican
cemetery is located, the rebels had
erected a dirt tort 3OO teet long. Ine
federal fire directed at this point
skinned the ground and whizzed into
the streets of the American town. The
whole section of the city between
Fifth and the international line was
deserted
The American customs house was
under fire continuously and the citi-
zens sheltered there took refuge in
deep ditch.
Federals Driven Back.
The firing of the rebel trenches was
having it's effect on the right wing of the
federal force and this portion of the
advancing nationals was driven back
In falling back. however, they swung
around to the east and north far enough
to come into contact with the rebels
lying in the trenches which had been
dug to prevent a left flank movement.
Here a heavy body of rebels was
posted to prevent the federals gaining
the American line. AS the fire belch-
ed from these entertainments the rebel
bullets sped across the line into the
southeast section of Douglas and into
two school buildings.
As the federals fell back the rebel
commander-in-chief pushed forward
his men and with others coming up to
support them continued to engage the
retiring federal right wing. The firing
grew fainter when the 1ederals retired
in this quarter. Following this move