Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-03-16
General 0jeda and Less Than
Five Hundred Huerta Sol
dierS Drive Back Superior
Force of State Troops,
VANQUISHED LEAVE
DEAD ON BATTLEFIELD
Victors Return TO Border Town
10 Rest and RepIenish AM
munition Supply More Fight
Ing Expected Tomorrow
m, Morning journal special Leased wIre.j

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Naco Ariz.. March 15.-lnstead of
waiting to be attacked bN nearly 1000
lnsureont state troops. General Ojeda,
with less than 500 federal soldiers,
went out today from Naco, met and
defeated the enemy In three hours
Of aggressive ightng peppering the
enemys lines with rife and machine
gun bullets and spraying lead from
shrapnel shells over hills adopted as
fortincations. the Huerta federals
drove the state forces five miles to
the southeast.
Late today. the government forces
returned victorious to the Mexican
border town and customs port, oppo-
site this point but the victors do not
believe the lighting had ended nor
that Naco is secure from assault
The state forces are assembling 80
night IN still greater numbers TO wrest
the only remaining port on the s..
nora border from the hands of the
Huerta national government. With
the advantage of unexpected aggres-
sion. and possessing i've artillery
pieces. the little brown barcfooted
soldiers. defending the military honor
Of the new Huerta regime, fought as
wild men against seemingly over
whelming odds.
Protected by the artillery fii over
their heads the federals scrambled
over the hillocks and fearlcssly
era aeked their ifl.s at lire lines Of the
enemy appearing on the Horizon Of
the rolling country along the border.
10 was the group under Bliss Gales
which first received the assault Ex-
pecting to attack rather than be at
tackled, the state troops soon fell back.
The other half of the constitutional
lst forces under Prefect Bracamento
rushed TO the rescue from the east.
And with a roar of artillery and the
continued rattle of Hausers the bat
he was on
For an hour desperate lighting cor
tnued. But little by little the stete
troops fell back from the biting fire
Of the aggressors. For full mile the
Huerta scldiery pursued closely the
retrcating enemy, advancing the ar
tilery from the rear of the skirmisli
lines. Bodies Of killed and wounded
state soldiers lay tonight deserted on
the Held.
On behalf of the state of Arizona,
Sheriff II. c. Wheeler. Of Tombstone
early in the day insisted there should
lc no repetition Of the shooting across
the line as at the Nogales battle. This
moved the federal commander so
abandon his fortincations and set out
after the enemy. Five troops Of the
Fifth and Ninth United states cav
airy were on duty along the borGcr
keeping back non-eombatants-
The only person wounded during
the fight on the American side was
A. A. Hopkins. a deputy United states
marshal He was shot in the knee
while doing neutrality patrol duty on
the line.
As at Nogales, American volunteers
in automobiles dared the fire to res
cue wounded under the protection OF
The Red Cross flag one American
physician is missing.
The battle ended at 2s15 o'clock
this afternoon Il don't think the
fight is ended" admitted the federal
commander. "but am still in posses
sion Of Naco and expect to contest
every inch of the ground. Every time
am threatened / shall put up "A
fight Ojeda states that his losses
IN the DAYS fighting We're only nine
Killed ana twelve wounded. He esti-
mates the less Of the enemy as nuch
greater owing to the artillery tire
None was injured on the American
SIDE except the Arizona deputy mar
snal, wounded early in the day Dr..
Randall. Of Douglas. however is miss
lns While assisting the wounded on
lhe field ne abandoned his automo-
ulle on the Mexican side A search
lor the missing physician is beins
made by sheriff Wheeler. That the
lighting Is not ended is Indicated by
reports that small groups Of state
troops are pressing in from interior
points
Four hundred Yaqui Indians are
wen ON the way from Nogaies. The
Warriors are said to be making rec
Org march 20 the assistance Of the he
slesers.