The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-17
FIERCEST BATTLE OF
WAR NOW IN PROGRESS

| parently more than holding their
own. The wounded were taken 10
| the tc"h nail and the Congregational
church where the temporary hospital 9
have been established.
| Among the wounded brought in
was Oscar Coll. reporter for the
Douglas Dispatch. who had slipped
over the border into rebel trench.
He was wounded by a mauser bullet
I'm the left temple.
| The ambulance attendants declare
! the Federa1s. repulsed In their frs,
attack. reformed and attacked a sec
ond time. capturing a few buildings
at the outskirts of Aqua Prieta
Americans Watch Fray.
| Defying the order to stay out Of
! danger. 2.00o citizens of Douglas
| climbed 10 tho housetops here and
watched the progress of tho engage
/ ment
! The Federal rife FIRE was at right
/ angles to the international border,
! making the position Of the spectators
/ extremely hazardous. The Federal
machine gun fire was parallel to the
| border most of the time during the
early stages Of the engagement. but
| later in the day, to the south firing
| over Douglas.
I Tho Second street. school building
! was literally riddled, but In antici-
/ patton OF this danger, the school au-
tboritiee had declared a holiday for
the children. The seventh street
school building was also struck sew
eral times, but there were no pupils
there.
The officials in the American Gus
toms house which Ii on the border
were driven out and took refuge near
bridge behind railroad embsnk-
ment.
When the first shot was fired Cap
tain Gaujot's troop Of cavalry was
called TO arms and stationed hun
dred feet back from the border
Nurses returned from the battlefield
say both General Garcia. the rehel
commander and Red" Lopez. who
led the insurgent trcsbps when Aqua
Prieta was captured week ago, dis
played great feariessness during the
engagement. ~
Garcia rode about n~edlessly expos
I ing his life, Will. Lopez personally
led the force which repuised the Fed
eral attack on the insureent cavalry
corral.
Rebel loss Yet Light.
Shortly before neon. after the hat
tie had been raging almost txpnrtnu-
onsly for five hours. Red Lopez. the
insnrgent chieftain, made n tour OF
hts trenches and reported fourteen
Insurgents wounded and none killed
up 10 that time.
He declared he saw at least fifty
federals wounded on the battlefield.
and he believes the federal losses SO
far are about fifty killed and 100
wounded. The federal loss will proo
astS exceed that of the insurgents
because Dtaz's troops have been com
PEELED 10 fight in the open,- while the
rebels have fought from rifle pits.
keacher section sunday Night.
The federais marched from the
southwest toward Aqua Prieta all Of
yesterday hating at night about i've
miles from the city. The irsurgeny
commanders sent q few scouts out 10
reconnoiter the enemy's posts, bu,
the bulk of their forces remained
within Aqua Prteta working fever
ishly upon the new entertainments.
lnsurgcnt Forcc 1900.
According TO statements by Gem
erai Basalaria Garcia. commanding
the rebels. the total insurgent forces
prepared to give battle In and around
Aqua Prieto is a little more than =
goo men. The federal force, com
manded by General Barron and Col
onel RaNnaldo Diaz. Ia believed ito
comprise between 1900 and 1900.
Both are we'll equipped.
In Aqua Prieta proper are 1000
mounted Insurgents. commanded by
Garcia personally In addition there
are three forces-to the west and the
rear of the lines numbering about sec.
These aer commanded by General An
tonic Garcia and Colonies Cahral ana
Giron The force commanded per-
sonaliy by Sonora Talamantes, widow
or Colonel Talmantes, and her three
daughters, Is supposed to be to the
rear of the other rebel troops. Ii
hers about 500. Report sreached
Douglas to-day of several other force,
of insurgents prepared TO participate
in the battle In the rear OF the federal
camp. but these reports are vague.
Rebels Well Entrenchcd.
The insurgent trenches have been
dug to the southeast and west OF
Aqua Prieta on the plain which
slopes gradually towards the federal
position. The trenches to the@ west
Will be used tn prevent flank move
ment by the federals to permit them
to get between Douglas and Aqua
Prieta.
All of Easter Sunday there was
great excitement In Douglas. At day
light to-day the five troops OF United
States cavalry here We're distributed
along the border and In the streets
of Douglas to prevent American citI-
gems from lining up on the boundary
line when the battle begins. as they
did last Thursday,
Will Keep Bullets on Own Side.
III