The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-10
Every Restraint Necessary
to Keep Troops Off
American Soil
CHIHUAHUA TAKEN
BY REBEL FORCES
Future of Huerta's Army of the North
Said to Depend Upon Nature of
Responses to Demands
for Money

Preside. Tex, December 9.---With
Gen. Salvador Mercadoa northern di-
vision of the federal army in bank
ruptcy and with the soldiers threat
ening mutiny unless they are paid.
every restraint was enforced today to
prevent a general rush of the federals
across the river from Ojinaga into
United States territory
Driven from Chihuahua City, where
they were besieged by rebels. to point
where communication could be opened
the Huerta government in the north,
reached the border with an empty treas
ury. The future of the army was said
to depend upon the nature of respones
to urgent demands for money sent TO
Mexico City.
General Mercado himself. before
evacuating Chihuahua and thus turning
1t over to the rebels, gave as one rea-
son for his act the lack of money with
which to pay his troops. The appear
ance of his financial agents on the
American side, soon after the arrial Of
the troops at Ojinaga. and the fact that
Gen. Ynez Salazar and other officers
had communicated with Mexico City,
were no surprise to American army Of
ficials who were apprised of condi-
tions
u. S. Troops Reinforced
United States troops here, reinforced
by other troops along the border, We're
prepared for any emergency. having
been informed that the Mexican troops
purposed rushing across the border.
Rebel agents who went into Ojinaga
also reported that only the prompt pay
ment of the soldiers would appease
them.
Meantime civilian and federal refu-
gees from Chihuahua continued to pour
into Ojinaga. General Salazar. one of
the seven generals who left their gar
rsons, was temporarily in command of
the little .4aontier village. while Gen.
Pascual Orozco and General Mercado
were still outside the post bringing in
the rear guard of the caravan.
Reports brought by the refugees were
that the rear of the refugees column,
in it's slow progress on foot, was con-
tinually harrassed by the rebels. The
rebels, however, were in such a small
number they could do no more than
hasten the pace of the retreating fed
erals. Gen. Francisco Villas detach-
ment, sent out in an effort to overtake
the federals and confiscate the property
of some of the rich civilian refugees,
including that of Luis Terrazas, was
unable to accomplish its purpose. A
few rebels in the mountain passes
overlooking the plateau were able to
keep the marchers in constant fear.
Fear for Ojinaga
Another factor which tended to in
crease the predicament of the federal
troops was fear that the rebel forces,
which now hold sway over a great Sec
tion of the north, would not long allow
Ojnaga to stand unmolested. The nee
essity of reprovisioning the army was
apparent and unless this could be done
at once the troops would be insuffi-
GENTLY provided against a possible
rebel attack. 1t was thought that Cen
eral Villa, who recently occupied Chi
huahua, soon would prepare for a pur-
suit of the federals.
The federals have fortified Ojinaga
since their arrival. While firing has
been heard on the outskirts 1t was be-
lieved to have been done by small
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