El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-06-03
REBELS ATTACK
MATAM0RAS, MEX.
Continued From Previous Paze)

CONTINUED From Previous PaEe.)
Of Mai. Ramos. Capt. velez and two
Eeutenants, a score of federal soldiers
were killed in defending the Mata-
moras light plant A federal deserter
said that the federals were pushed
back to the main plaza with heavy
losses
Details are not known regarding the
surrender, but It IS presumed to be IN
conditional. as the federal commander
had offered to surrender prior to the
attack if he was permitted to withdraw
with his men, arms and ammunition.
The fact that this was not accepted and
that the rebels attacked, leads TO the
belief that the federals have surren-
dered Internationally.
Eighteen hundred rebels were in the
attacking party and they moved up
within a few miles Of the town during
yesterday and last night ready to open
battle early today The rebels were
armed with machine guns and hand
made bombs besides their rifles.
HIectric-CharEed FOrtificatiOns.
Besides the usual Qualifications Of
the city, MatamOras was surrounded at
vulnerable points by barbed wire, TO
which had been attached the power
wires Of the electric light plant OF the
Mexican city. Last night all lights
were turned off in the town so that the
power could be used to charge the
fences, against which the federal com
mander, Maj. Ramos, had hoped the
rebels would charge In the darkness.
The rebels mostly avoided these in the
attack today and slipped into the town
in small bands at unprotected points
The first Few shots urOYe in the fed
eraI OuupOsIs. As the federal troops, as
usual, were huOdled in the principal
buildings and did not advance to meet
the rebels In skIrmish formation, the
rebels were able TO slip inside the town
af.u lOrUlfy themselves IN buildings in
the outskirts. They then slipped from
IN a u her n
and closer TO the federals, yet protect
ing themselves largely from the federal
lire.
Federal Fire Ineffective.
The 1ederals operated machine guns
ana "a plece OF artillery, but the
machine gun fire was Ineffective be-
cause of the shelter the rebels were
able to obtain in the houses, and the
held piece in most Instances OvershOt
the ranks OF the rebels, the shells eX-
plOding in the air and doing but little
damage TO the attacking army.
LLl leCcrul COMMAND WAS compare
lively small, numbering only a few
hundred men. while the rebels were 50
large IN numbers that they virtually
SWarmed over the town
To BE Rebel Headquarters.
The captured town is to be used by
the rebels as general rebel headquarters
lOr operations IN southeastern Mexico.
The 1ali OF MatamUTas sun leaves the
ports of Eagle Pass and Laredo, the
TWO Mexican ports OF most importance
on the Texas border between the Gulf
Of Mexico and FL PasO, in federal hands
MatamOras will be Important 70 tne
rfebels in the matter OF smuggling IN
ammunition anu provisions
1t is understood THAI all foreigners
got OuL o. lDe Gown ln ample time TO
escape harm during the battle. Almost
all the noncOmbatant Mexican families
also beat a retreat during the night 10
Brownsville and We're safely out Of
range of the rebel bullets. The Ameri-
can consul remained in Matamoras dur
ing the fight
Town Little Damaged.
Owing to the short time Of fighting
it is SAID that little damage was done
in the town of MaJamOras. Some loot
ing by the rebel army followed their
appearance in the town, as many OF
them were hungry and without clothes
The teUuila and other liquids also APP
pealed 10 them and for q time there was
general hilarity among the victorious
men Of the rebel army.
Some OF me retleTaI officials are to be
executed. Many Of the federal privales
have already embraced the cause OF the
rebels and are now in their ranks All
viii be given a chance to join the rebels
and il is considered likely that they
will accept the opportunity.