Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-12-31
Rebel Forces, in Overwhelming
Numbers, Drive FederalS to
Last Defense in Northern
Mexico,
DEAD AND WOUNDED
MANY ON BOTH SIDES
Desperate Stand Being Made
by Remnant Of Huerta's
Army Which Retreated
From Chihuahua

IsY soHsse loussAl SPECIAL lFAsso sisai
Preside Tex, Dec. 30--A battle in
which 5000 or more rebels are seek
ing Go cxtcrminate. or drive across
the United states border. the north
crn division Of the Mexican federal
amy was sul Ina progress around
elnaga, Mexico, opposite here, after
dark tonight
For thirty-siN hours the opposing
forces had been under fire which
brought 90 the ground dead and
wounded ON both sides Gen. Toribio
ortoga's rchel army reinforced by
fiaukers to right and LETT, kept stead
ily on the offensive, gaining and hold
Ing feot by foot the approaches 90
the federal stronghold
The federal armS. dazed and dis
organized hy the first pun OF rebel
smoke, chung 60 the trenches dug ON
the hIllsides whore they had decided
to make last stand Though
whipped and manned In the first
rebel onslaught which drove their
outposts 90 cover and though some
Of their wounded with doserters
jumped into the river and waded waist
deep to the American side, the fedcr-
nls put up d plucky fight against In
lsupcnhie odds. Something Ike
rally from the panic az the shout
and cannonadng Of the rebels oc
cwcl among ihe federtls when da,
ight diatluspl le ppsa34n ~ The
enemy and encouraged the federal
generals to promise a slight hops
The net results uf the battle. ~
far as they were ohtainable on this
side. were
Many dead and wounded fell ON
each side, it was impossible even 10
approximate tile number
Several score deserters jumped into
the river and waded TO the Ameri-
can side They were dimrmed and
sent back bY Major McNamee com
manding the border patrol About
fifteen Of the deserters. however, were
wounded and were permitted 10 re-
main on this side Oh the grounds OF
humanity They were cared for hy
Emitted states army physicians.
The fact that fifteen wounded we're
able 10 reach the opposite side Deb
army officers TO believe that the cas-
ualties were heavy The Req Cross
saclcty therefore sent requests for
more help and more hospital supplies
and asked permission 10 cross 20 the
Mexican side 10 attend the wounded
ON the battlefield.
Both the federal and the rebel
armies were without field hospitpl
facilities So that the wounded were
left where they has fallen. stretched
on the hills among the cacu and mes
quite.
SO bullets cume across the border.
About 5000 rebels were engaged,
much 81 their firing however being
without effect because of their posi-
ron below tho villnge. bat they COM
sanily gained ground and tonight
appeared 10 BE- within reach Of vic-
ien
1'he federas Withdrew within IN
buildings ana Qualifications in the vil-
aee. where they operated whnt guns
ihrv had from behind the high walls
of an adobe horse corral built like
d uockade Thcy also directed their
fire from the customs house which
siood on an elevation midway be-
tween the village and plain.
Across this plain three miles wide
the gallant little federal garrison IN
thc customs house swept q hau Of
bullets 20 check u laree force Of reb-
els who f they gained that loadwny
would have an unohstrueted march
toward tbe Very heart OF the village
I'd proved to Doe "a little Alamo ou'
there n lhe ohscurIty uf the deseft
for as the daY wore ON the sputterins
fire from the rifles In The mud walls
mmnehcd until u eeascd altogether
Thc ammunition had given out A
handful OF federal soldiers ono Of
chem hueane bright hrass buelc
radged across the mile and half
which separated them from the~
comrades Tbw move save the reh.
els another Tend
Tonight although Che rebels apg
pourcd to have much advantage thr
ogtcome OF tba firnl struggle was not
posit.vely defined the fedbrus with
tholt eleven generals al that is lett
m fIuWtas military control Of the
fW north, still having 10 win success
agniust apparently hopeless odds, o
fetreat
'rhut the fedcrals VIII surrender Is
Improbable because General 0rtesa
has explicit orders 60 execute the 500
called volunteers and their com
inanders GeHMAls Fasnual uHa4ces
Yuez saaSaN Antonio Kpias Elias
0rplnsi. Iuzara Aianis and Reque
Cpnpz Elgheen hundred volunteers
ALSO o1mo laader tile sentenae of afash
imposed py if1ef villas
That eh6 sedefale Wlsh al stlss
eencrals txeaIsl psEha IRAN