Arizona republican., 1911-04-19


evacuated Aqua Prieta last night and
the city was soon occupied by the
federals who captured a few strag-
glers and part Of the arms and
ammunition of the rebel garrison.
Notwithstanding the situation Of the
Insurgents was apparently untenable
after the government troops had es-
tahlshed a position near the inter
national line. they declared that they
could hold their post But prepara-
tions for evacuation We're made i'm
mediately after the heavy firing about
ten o'clock last night in which the
town was riddled by Mausers and
machine guns.
The rebel defeat was due to over
Indulgence Of the insurrecto soldiers
Ia the Intoxicating liquids found in the
saloons and other stores in the cap
tured city, according to the statement
Of Colonel Jean Medina. commander
in chief of the rebel forces who fled
into this city and surrendered to the
American authorities.
Recounting the story of the battle
and its ending Col Medina said
Shortly after we occupied the city
] issued orders for the destruction Of
the liquor supply in the various
stores. When the federals arrived and
the battle opened. I took a position
on the east of the town. Balasaria
Garcia commanding the center and
Rice and Escandon the right wing
10 the west.
The enemy began to feint for po-
sition moving first in one direction
and then in another. / figured first
ou an attack on the center At the
same time a column Of the enemy
swung around toward the American
line On the east and opened fire. one
machine gun was used at this point
and another in the center and on my
right wing.
Il gave orders TO my men not to
fire until the enemy was within five
hundred yards. except those who had
AIauser rifles Of long range. With
me. in the center. was one sharpshoot-
er. who cut down all who attempted
to man the machine gun in the at
tack on the center. The officer who
commanded this gun was among those
shot down Another took his place.
but l SAW Immediately that ne could
not handle the gun effectively.
i ordered my troops TO withhold
their fire and permit the enemy to
advance. This was done until they
were within 500 yards when we open
ed fire all along the line, 400 men in
action All Douglas is witness to
the fact that the federals fell back
under this fire. The federals in this
advance were iufantrvmen
Twice again the federals reformed
their lines and twice were repulsed ]
After the third repulse l returned to
Aqua Prieta and found the men who |
had been left in the town had been !
drunking and were in bad shape. l
ordered the destruction of boxes of |
beer and left a guard over others that
were unopened. / found one Of our
officers drinking and allowing other 4
soldiers to drink l had him dis /
armed and placed in the guardhouse |
before again going to the front. Dur /
ing the day ] had no opportunity to /
return to the town.
In the dusk the enemy concen- /
trated a heavy attack on the center /
Of our line. Discovering that his men /
had been drinking and had deserted 1
their trenches. Garcia left his posi- 4
ton and rushed into the camp to get 1
ammunition and round up his men I
found them dispersed through the /
town and so drunk that they could /
not return to the trenches.
Before he could get back to the /
central trenches the enemy had ad- 1
yanced and had taken them. In /
formed Of this by a scout l gave or
ders for our troops to mount their /
horses and prepare to evacuate so ,
that We could form a new stronghold |
in the adjacent hills.
At this juncture, a man with a /
shattered hip appealed to me for help /.
] picked him up and started toword |
the line. The American patrol had 1
been moved TO Fifth street and l be- /
lieve the ground between was neutral |
Just beyond the line an American /
soldier arrested me From this time /
on | hardly know what happened. 1t /
was then almost two O'Clock in the |
morning"