Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-06-03
MATAMORls FALLS
INTO HANDS Or
MEXICAN
REBELS
Sharp Four Hour Battle for
Possession Of Town South Of
Rio Grande Results in De-
feat Of Federal Garrison.
DEFENDERS DRIVEN
BACK WITH LOSSES
[ny I.eaaea WIre % I.,enIng IIrraId.i

lby hleaaed Wire % hsteulng lIerRId.l
brownsville, Tex, June s. After
four hours lighting. h ~ reported the
city OF Matamoras. Mexico. has been
captured by the couatitutionallsts
The attack Of the forces OF General
I.ucio filanco, the Constitutionaiist
leader, on the city % Mefamoraa be-
gan az IO.gO O'Clock todny. the assault
being made IN skirmish line order.
Tho shooting was aeartsd by a small
line of COnattutlOnailsts Visible from
the American bank 81 the Rio Grande
who were Attempting 90 gain the Mat
amoras electric iight plant, mile out
of the city.
Al o'clock the first official report
from Matamoras stated thar the at
;acking lines had been repulsed three
times and that fous fadorals OF small
force fighting in the neighborhood OF
the light plant had been wounded
during the skirmishing there.
The shooting wna brisk from the
start and continued for three-quarters
of an hour Then ine nrlns was car-
ried on By both sides IN a desultory
manner.
The entlFe forces OF General Blanco.
numbering about 1900, are oeins
brought into the attack. The lines aru
approaching the city from the west
with apparently the heaviest firing TO
the south Of the city. The federais
are entrenched on the outskirts oil
Matamoras and In addition 20 the em-
bankment behind which they are
iirlng. they are protected 80 some ex-
tent by barbed wires charged with
electricity.
Major Estaban Ramos, commander
OF the federal forces WAS seriously
wounded In the charge Of The reyo-
luiionlsts on The Mainmoras electric
light plant which they succeeded IN
taking vi s.t5. o'@iae@4
There was luli In the dring, the
rebels taking new posts for Is hurry
attack ON the fortlncations south OF
the light plant. By capturing this
plant. they put out OF commission the
electric wire fence which the federals
had claimed killed sixty of the enemy.
one federal cannon was brought In-
To action az the very start of the iight
but was given up after one shot had
been ilred from II into several small
houses IN which Il was thought rebels
were hiding. The houses were blown
TO kindling wood out no men were In
them.
Ten thousand rounds OF ammuni-
tlcn were taken 10 Matamoras shortly
before noon today. and just after the
load was carried over the International
bridge. protest WAS made By DIR.
Antonio CARA Gonzales. Carranza
consul here. He was referred by the
military authorities In charge TO the
president of tho United states. a per-
NIT for passing the ammunition was
issued several weeks ago but Il has
been allowed 10 remain In this city
An old trestle owned by ,he Mexican
National railroad caught IRE during tho
hight and has been burning briskly
ever since. Three fires are visible in
ns many parts of the city.
one OF the federats captured few
days ago By the rebels. was forced by
them 10 give the location 81 dynamite
! mines lanted near the light plant.
one mine was nred without any Injury
so far as can be- learned.
Two Mexicans watching the lighting
from the American side were hurt oy
stray bullets. Both wounded men are
IN serious condition.
II was learned that besides the loss
OF Maios Ramos. Captain Ramex and
two neutenants and a score of federal
soldiers were killed In defending the
Matamoras light plant. A federal de.
serter said that the federals were
pushed back 10 the main plaza with
heavy losses.
Federal soldiers swan the Rio
Grande To- the American side. Firing
was heavy at 3:3O y. m.