Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-03-15
TO SAVE AMERICAN TOWN
THEY COULD HAVE REMAINED
IN INTRENcHMENTs HAD
THEY so DESIRED.
THEY CUT A WIDE SWATH
LATEST REPORTS THIS AFTER
NOON SHOW THEY WERE
MAKING GOOD BATTLE.

Naco, Ariz., March 15.-Defying a
force twice their strength the feder-
ais defending Naco, Sonora, today
marched out to meet the insurgent
state troops. At noon the battle was
in progress two mics below the Ar17
zona border, with the federals holding
their own by advantage of their artll4
lery.
Determined to avoid danger to res.
idents on the American side, and at
the same time refusing to surrender
or flee over the Dorder, General
Ojeda is making the last stand for
the Huerta government in northern
Sonora. Despite the precuation one
American was wounded early in the
fighting.
Startled by the unexpected assault
of the federals, Gales forces at noon
began to fall back. Bracamonte's
group arrived but failed to stem the
time of retreat. Ojeda continued to
force the fighting, advancing his po-
sition slightly.
The Red Cross banner is seen on
the field. The wounded we're many.
The fighting this afternoon was near
ly three miles south, with the fed
erals doggedly pressing forward,
showering the rebel positions with
shrapnel and machine gun lead.
Oieda has two rapid firers besides
his field pieces.
Fearing for American civilians and
troops on the Arizona side or the line
here General Oieda shortly after 10
o'clock gave the command to evacute
the town. With his AIS men he
marched away to the southeast, leaV-
ing his Notifications and facing an
enemy twice his strength.
Daybreak found the contending for
ces in relatively the same positions as
last night. Failure of the state troops
to move on Naco was explained by
the tardy arrival of Pefecto Braca-
monte's group. On the approach OF
Bracamonte about o'clock, making
the constitutionals nearly 900 strong.
the two leaders sent in a request to
Oieda asking him to move south to
meet the enemy and so prevent any
danger to Americans. The federal
commander with less than 500 men
under his command, declined the in
vitation, saying that he would defend
his position only whereupon Gales
and Bracamonte prepared to move on
the town.
Nearly every Mexican family spent
the night on the American side and
the Mexican town was given over to
oieda and his troops. At $50 o'clock
this morning two troops of the Fifth
cavalry arrived fom Forest, Ariz, to
reinforce three troops of the Ninth
(negro) cavalry on the ground.
Sheriff wheeler, Of Tombstone with
six deputies, arrived late and demand
ed on the part Of Arizona state that
no fighting occur on the line.
BY II o'clock the battle was in pro-
gIess two miles below the border
ojeda's men charged to the top of a
ridge OF hills, dismounted and took
slirmish positions. Gales group ad-
vanced from the south and threw a
grueling fire against the federal posi-
ton Despite the distance of the
Eghting, one American was wounded
on the line. He is A. A. Hopkins, dep
uty marshal, and was wounded in the
leg.
The firing was furious from the
start The federals at once brought
into play three field pieces. The
state troops outposts retreated in the
face Of the artillery fire. The fed
erals pressed forward, encounterine
the main group Of the Gales constitu
tionalists. The result was a deafen
ing fire from both sides Each held