The border vidette., 1913-07-05
THE ROUT OF OJEDA.
Joe PoIIin Tells of the Battle of Ortiz

.
 Monday, from Joe Pollin, the
 well known American capitalist of Hermosillo, who personally
 witnessed the battle of Santa
 Rosa and the defeat of the federal forces at Ortiz:
 General Pedro Ojeda started from Guaymas to capture Her
 mOSillo with force of $500 men,
 an armored train taking the lead
 with four inch cannon in front of the engine on a fiat car, and
 three military trains carrying artillery, provisions, men, etc. General Alvaro Obregon of the state troops fell back, as the federalS advanced, until he reached Moreno, General Ojeda arriving at Ortiz on the 12th.
 Here General Oregon blew up a mlne, killing and wounded eighty of the enemy.
 General Ojeda remained in Ortiz until the 18th, or which date, feeling sure that he domin- ated the state troops with his heavy artillery, he advised Mex icO City Of his success and in vited party of Guaymas friends to banquet. They came, but 1t was to be a bitter experience, for Oregon quietly sent three fOurths of his troops west and south of Ortiz, destroying brid- ges and telegraph communica- tions fifteen miles south and effectually cutting off the feder-
 ol lc,
 at the same time closing in on all sides and cutting off all water supply with the exception of the railroad well, which he knew was insufficient for federal use.
 General Ojeda, aware of his precarious position, after five days siege, with both food and water getting lower daily, and his heavy artillery fire not eff fecting the state troops, made up his mind to go south. On the 26th, abandoning his trains, and with canteenS half filled, he started on his march to Santa Maria, sixteen miles away, where he expected to get water for his troops. The start was made at about 12 o'clock at night, but he was discovered and stopped at Santa Rosa, six miles from hic goal. Here his men were fore ed to fight all next day, in a sun that will fry an egg if broken in the sand.
 That evening, after a terrific bonn bardment with his artillery, Ojeda quietly drew off his troops which were in d terrible condi- tiOn for want of water, to the east, making a detour to get to Santa Maria. Close to his goal, about 10 o'clock that night, he was received by the state troops, in fortified position, with ma chine guns cutting him to pieces. In desperation he tried to break through with his artillery, but the state troops held him for four hours when his men, com pletely exhausted, abandoned and were driven fast into a desert country by the con- cavalry.
 Here General Ojeda and Bar ron abandoned their men, get ting into Guaymas at 12 o'clock the next day. During that day about 1000 men struggled in, their condition being pitiful. The state troops, on the morn ing of the 18th, when going over the battle field and following the trail of rOut, met with horrible sights lying down with their mouths filled with sand, their hands and faces a mass of cactus spines, collected during their mad rush of the night, men moaning pitiful for water. Dur ing all the next day and even up to today, prisoners are com ing in with Sunken eyes, black rned lips, their tongues swollen to a fearful size, making signs for water.
 At all the various camps the loss was 230 killed, 1900 leaving 1O5O who died of thirst or will be made prison CTS. Captured four military trains, composed of fifty eight ears and four engines; ten can non. seven machine guns, 1000 shells for artillery and 3OO,OO0 rounds of MauSer cartridges; 1900 MauSer rifles, with complete camp equipment, etc. The con loss was but Sev- anteen killed and forty two making another com