New-York tribune., 1911-04-18
FEDERALS SUFFER REPULSE
Their Loss Placed at More than
200 Killed and Wounded, ss
Against 20 Reported by
Insurgents.
REBEL sHARPsHooTERs WIN
American Troops on the Border Line
70 Preserve Order Are Forced
TO Seek Shelter from
Hail Of Bullets.

DovaIss. Ari,. April f7.--ht s;aS scr
niaht the federals broUoht irto play
three pound field piece ard began ham,
r,erino swsY ~ Aqua pr'efs WIN sN-'>'
At c;5O a terrific explosion shock the e"'
tire town. n occurred near ~" bull riro
and /. believed 10 have o-er m'n~
pjsced there by the rebels immediately
after they captured Aeus Prieta.
A. 1o.45 o'clock ell firing had ceases
along the limo Of entrenchment' ana
quiet reisnsd.
Aqua prieta. Mexico, April 1.-THE
most important battle Of the Merlce"
revolution thus far was fought here to-
6sv between I 500 federals under CONF
mand Of Lieutenant Colonel Diaz, and
900 rebels. under Balasario Garcia, ana
resulted IN the repulse 81 the former
The battle however. was not finally
decisive. II lasted from $50 q. m unti'
sundovn. At nightfall two federal ma
chine gur- were in the possession OF the
rebels and the federals had sustained a
loss estimated BY tho rebels as az Least
two hundred killed and wounded. The
rebels gave their own loss at twenty.
From the beginning OF the battle, re-
cardless OF the warning given By ths
United States government 70 the leaders
of both forces. a rain Of bullets poured
into the American town Of Douglas, ard
when the DAY was over II wss found
that sever non -combatant residents OF
that city had been wounded II was .
day almost Of terror in Douglas
Battle Begins a. Dawn.
Dawn revealed the federal forces
formed IN fan-shap ped battle line IN the
level country about mile distant from,
Aqua Priets, with their machine guns IN
the centre.
They gave notice 10 the enemy Of their
approach With 2 hail Of bullets from
machine guns. supported by rife fre
their evident intention being 10 gain the
international line, with ito adobe guard
houses and from this vantage ground
turn their fire on the rebels
The insurgents directed their fire a.
the crews ot the machine guns Rut
the fire Of the federals was so fierce that
it forced the rebels back TO their second
line Of intrenchments The federals ad
vanced slowly. As they came nearer, the
fire Of the rebels became more effective
Leaving the protection OF their breast
works. The rebels moved ont into the
open. continuing TO concentrate their fire
ed
erals. finding the rebel defence too
strong. after three hours OF fighting, gave
up the attempt 70 carry the trenches and
began TO retreat.
Victory for Shsrpshooters.
Presently tho machine guns were ST.
lenced. Rebel sharpshooters had made
i, impossible longer 10 man them. Sheer
exhaustion occasionally caused 2 partial
lul in tho lighting during the day.
The rcpused federals reformed at II
o'clock. and again advanced toward the
boundary line. masking their movement
with heavy rife fire. The machine guns
were silent. The rebels. encouraged by
their carly success. returned the federal
fire eagerly The interval had been en-
Moved By the rebels in digging new
trenches
The advance guard Of the federals In
this attack consisted Of fifty cavalry
men and 300 infantry soldiers. Behind
them was supporting party that kept
under cover OF trees and bushes. This
federals reserved their fire, but an un-
ceasibg stream II bullets poured from
the rebel trenches. These, striking tho
dry earth, made il appear as though n
dust storm were raging. and for time
obscured the conflic,.
The advancing federss again found
the strength and determination CT tho
insurgents too much for them. They
fcll back. but in good order, firing as
they retired They left the field and
their two machine guns In the possession
Of the enemy.
The wounded IN Douglas are:
q. X. Coll. scalp wound on the side Of
| the head. while watching the battle from
4th street Douglas. Mr. Coll had accom- l..
panied a newspaper correspondent 10 ths
fro earlier In the day. and had fallen
back TO that point of observation.
Epido Arce. wounded in instep.
Frank Williams. blacksmith's helper.
Copper Queen Mining Company. shot in
back while standing outside Of the pre-
soribed danger zone.
John Hamilton, Douglas, wounded In
back, while watching the battle with
forty others from the top of an abode
house several blocks from the interna.
iional line.
Jesus Alcantsra. flesh wound In leg
Mrs Larson. severely cut by shattered
glass of kitchen window.
John Keith. wounded in leg while
walking in street.
More than half OF Douglas was under
fire from the beginning until the end of
the battle. The United States custom
! house Was i'm the direct range OF the at o.
tack, and the United States soldiers
near there were forced 10 seek shelter.
when the battle began Colonel VIII.
lam A. Skunk, commanding the United
States troops. rushed his four troops of
cavalry to the line and took every pos
sible precaution for the safety of tha
citizens OF Douglas. keeping them out OF
tnat portion of the city which is most
exposed. This, however, did not avail
t. save Americans from injury
! Every indication points to a resumr.