New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-31
AMERICANS BLOCK
ESCAPE OVER LINE
Force Fleeing Men to Re-
turn to Mexican Soil
Unless Wounded.
BATTLE LASTS ALL DAY
Federals in Desperate Straits,
Defeat Certain and All
Marked for Slaughter.
rBy Tclcgrap- to The l'rtbure.

lBy Tclcgrapr C. The tribune
FL Paso. Tex. Dee. 90 Handicapped
by mutinous soldiers, attacked on three
sides by the rebel army Of Terrible Or
tega. and with escape cut off by AmeFi-
can troops lining the border General
Francisco Castro and the seven Fed
era generals with him at Ojinaga are
forcing their men to fight against fear
ful odds and in the face Of apparent
certain defeat.
The battle which started in earnest
at noon to-day after the Federal odt-
posts were driven in last night. con
tinued until long after nightfalL and
defeat m the death OF every COM
manding officer in the Federal army
and of every soldier who formerly
fought against Francisco /. Madero.
Warning that defeat and capture
would mean immediate execution was
sent early to-day by General Ortega.
of the rebel army TO the Federals n
Ojinaga This warning was carried To
Ojinasa by civilians who had been dep
utized by Ortega TO carry il to Castro
and then 10 g 10 the American side.
That a wholesale massacre of Fed
erals will be tn, final outcome Of The
Ojinaga battle tonight appears in vi
able. The Federals are in a trap from
which escape seems impossible. The
IL.
cerned as their commanders. for many
Of them. especially the regulars, could
escape il the generals would surrender.
To surrender means the facing Of iir-
ing squad for the Federal commanders.
and while there is a fighting chance 1t
is not believed they will give in.
Generals on Death List.
ON the death list OF Ortega are GEN
erals Pascual Orozco, Ynez SalaZar,
Antonio Roiss. Manuel Landa. Fran
cisco Castro, Marcelo Caraveo. Bias
Orpnal and Salvador Mercado. the Lat
ter the deposed commander of the gar
rson.
General Jesus Mancllo and Colonel
Alberto Terrazas, Il the Federal
forces. also are on the rebel black list.
but are not condemned 10 execution.
Fighting continued at Oiinaga to-
night. the rebels being within y!ose
range, but prevented from taking ne
town because OF the Federal position
on a hill which commands ne outlying
country and constitutes a natural :cr-
tifcation.
Incessant firing on both sides con
tnued throughout the day, and hun
dTeds Of Federals attempted TO cross To
the American side and safety At
Pres lido. and for miles up and down ;he
river, American soldiers are stationed.
with orders to permit the crossing OF
none without permission Of Major Nc
Nance the American commander. and
Major McNamee is permitting none to
cross who is not wounded.
During the day more than two hun
dred Federals who had thrown down
their guns and had waded the shallow
waters Of the river. were forced back
o the Mexican side by the American
soldiers at the points Of loaded guns.
In Oinaga Federal commanders went
about all djy with revolvers. forcing
wavering soldiers TO remain i'm the
trenches and shooting those who did
not Immediately obey.
Fighting Foot by Foot.
When day dawned this morning Or
tcga's men had gained the foot Of
hill three miles from the village, where
the Federals had planted a fort. They
spread in open order along the hill
sides and opened a spirited fire, which
was maintained all day and which was
supported by the ten machine guns
which they had dragged across the
desert from Chihuahua.
Foot by foot the rebels approached
the Federal trenches, until their fire
became too severe for the Federais. and
they retired until. when darkness fell.
ali the Federals who had not fed were
huddled in the shelter OF the town.
4 small Federal force made q gallant
stand in the Custom House. which
stands on an elevation midway be-
tween the village proper and the plain.
| Thev swept "A hail of bullets across the
plain. which offers the main approach
| TO the town. and for a time held the
rebel forces i'm check. AS The day wore
| on. however, the sputtcring fire from
| the loopholes of the Custom House
gradually diminished and finally ceased.
When their last cartridge had been
fred the little handful Of Federals, one
of them hugging bright brass bugle.
| deserted the building and scurrled
across the mile and half which sepa-
| rated them from their comrades in the
| town. Their retreat gave the rebels an
| additional advantage of position.
1t is impossible even to approxim