New-York tribune., 1911-02-18
VEGAS FORCE DISPERSED
General, with Fatal Wounds,
Reaches Old Camp.
ONLY FIVE SOLDIERS LEFT

Lower California Said To Be at
Mercy of Rebels-Federal
Troops Have No Leaders.
San Diego, Cal, Feb 17-As result OF
the defeat at Mexicali, the federal force
which Governor Vega spent several weeks
/ in organizing was hopelessly dispersed.
Vega. perhaps fatally wounded, has reached
his old camp at Las Juntas with barely
corporars guard cut of his former torce
special from Campo says:
With only I'VE soldiers, the remnant OF
force OF zoo men. Governor Vega arrived
at Las Juntas this morning. Couriers are
fastening 10 Ensenada for surgeons 70
treat the Governors wounds, which may
result fatally.
Vegas entire force, save the remnant
with him, has either deserted or is dis
organized and hiding in the hills near Mexi-
call or on the American side vega lest
sixteen men killed and several wounded IN
/ the battle.
This report was brought to Campo by a
courier. Later 1t was confirmed by Mexi-
can refugees seeking shelter on American
territory Vega was wounded early In the
/ encounter and carried to the rear by the
| five men who bore him to Las Juntas. lie
being disabled. the scattered federals nave
no leaders, and Lower California seems at
/ the mercy Of the rebels.
Further confirmation Of the condition OF
| Governor Vega was received at Campo TO-
/ day by Lieutenant Drake, in command OF
| the Fort Rosecrans detachment on duty
! there. Lieutenant Drake also reports that
/ Mexican courier passed Tecarle to-day
| bound for Ensenada with messages from
| Vega
! E1 Paso. Tex. Feb. l7.-Francsco l. Ma
dero. Abraham Gonzales and other officials
| Of the provisional government nave lel'
! Guadalupe and are now headed for chi
| huahua, according to information received
here tonight. Scouting parties sent out by
General Navarro to reconnoitre in the d.
I rection OF Guadalupe failed 10 find any con-
] siderable force Of insurgents
A cold rain which fell throughout this
| section to-day added to the difficulties and
| discomforts OF the troops in the field.
Navarro, after fifty hours OF inactivity
following his arrival from Chihuahua, sent
out from Juarez this morning 800 infantry
men. 200 cavalry and two field pieces, going
| east. in the direction Of Guadalupe.
Officials OF the Mexican Northwestern
Railway report that Orozco and Blanco
the two insurgent leaders, have finally
/ Joined forces ard IA now near Ascenclon
about sixty miles southwest OF Juarez. The
I rebels have cut all the telegraph wires OF
the Mexico Northwestern between Guzmar
and Casas Grand.s.
Brigadier General Joseph W. Duncan
commanding tte Department OF Texas ac'
companied by Colonel A. c. Sharpe, com
handing at FL Paso, and several fedora
civil officers, went west to-day on specia
train TO inspect border conditions.
Mexicau Mex, Feb. l7.-Under a RED
Cross flag. a newspaper correspondent Wis
tied the scene OF yesterdays battle. and
though General Leyva reported eleven fed
erals slain only four dead were seen-thre'
regulars and a volunteer. Leyva, who II
chief of the rebel force here. said: I'VE
could have held Mexicali against Thousand
men. Vega is no soldier. II he were n
would not have attacked us from TN
SOUTH
Before the battle on Wednesday the insur
gents cut the telegraph lines connectin;
Mexicali with Algodones and Andrade, nea
Yuma Permission was given yesterday u
repair the line hut after workmen had beei
sent over from Calexico Leyva received
information that the Mexican regulars wer
nearing Yuma and sent out detachmen
10 chase the electricians to the American
side again. AS result, Mexicali is withou
telegraphic communication eastward
OF I,eyva's 800 men fully half are Amer
cans Most OF them are boys. Four gav'
their residences to-day as New York, ant
one as Illinois, but all refused 10 tell thei
names The lad who killed spying regu
lar to-day goes under the name of "Chicag'
Slim" When asked for his right name m
replied. slim is good enough name u
fight under"
Washington, Feb 17.-The occupation O.
Juarez by federal troops under Genera
. Navarro meant victory, not defeat, Tor INT
Mexican rebels, in the opinion OF Gustav'
Nadero brother OF the head OF TIT
provisional government and confidentia
agent in Washington for the tnsurrection
ists. He credits General Orozco, command
or Of the revolutionary troops. with deel
laid plan Of military strategy drawn iron
study OF Confederate movements u
Northern Virginia during the Civil war
and saws that Navarro fell into tral
u.bsn ne marched 70 the relief OF Juarez
He said that Orozco's purpose was TO draw
awav from the vicinity OF the state capital
Chihuahua. the entire federal forces tnere
| eOuthWard
stronger than ever.
General Orozco, Senior Madero SAID na
, about nine hundred cavalry In his immeol
ate command, General Sanchez about nv
hundred men, all cavalry. and there was
force west Of Chihuahua consisting OF aoou
: thousand cavalry and another column I
the northwest OF about six hundred more
Mexico City. FEB. r.-Three hundre
rebels believed 10 be a portion OF Orozco'
hand. have made an appearance near IN
toun Of Oiitos, IN the Galeana district, an
near Noctezuma, on the Mexican Centra
raiIroad according TO advices received her
TO-DAY. They were said 70 have campe
there 10 await the arrival OF others and
vas feared an attack on Moctezuma va
planned.
dispatch from Torreon to "Ei Heraldo
satd that in response TO an appeal fror
N- Foster. assistant manager OF IN
American Smelling Securities Company, G
Azarco which was threatened by m arre
hand the Governor OF Durango had sen
c,e hundred soldiers 10 guard the propert
| of that company. The rebels fed on az
proach OF the troops. short distanc
north OF velardena they held up a passen
ger train and searched the passengers 10