Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-02

northeastern sky low down, alone
| about p. IN
service, and the Red Cross officials on
this side were not allowed to ford the
river even under a Red Cross flag.
Shots Reach American Soil.
Those who ventured to help the
wounded from the river risked the
danger of being shot. A few shots
fired by rebels fell close to or on the
American side north of Presidio, but
no American was injured.
Major McNamee sent General Ortega
warning that any further firing
across the river might entail grave
consequences.
Major McNamee adhered all day to
a policy of sending back all unwound-
ed combatents. Should all of the
disarmed, but might be allowed to re-
main on this side on the ground of
humanity after being placed under
temporary arrest. The later disposi-
tion of the prisoners would be in the
hands of higher army authorities.
The battle, one mile back from tho
river proceeded uninterruptedly, with
the federals confined in adobe huts
in Ojinaga while the rebels, always
drawing closer fired artillery and small
guns from the hills and approaches.
Soon after daylight the federals
made a Desperate attempt to rally.
They extended their line of fire out
ward, but this brought only increased
firing by the rebels that sent the de-
tenders back to their inner defenses
Thereafter General Ortega drove in
shot and shell from three sides.
Half Nude Wounded Suffer.
Meantime the federal wounded and
deserters scrambled to reach the Unit
ed States. The rivers edge was
ragged fringe of smoke-begrimmed
manned and half-naked soldiers, some
rushing pell-meli into the river. some
crying with the pain of their wounds,
others crawling because Of shattered
limbs over rocks and cacti, some greed
lily stopping to dring the muddy water
and all begging the Americans on the
opposite side for shelter from the in
ferno from which they had fed
Major McNamee and other Ameri-
can cavalrymen, who risked th5 dam
ger of a fugitive shot, went to the
of deserters.
At one bend in the river 200 federals
waded across. They were surrounded
by a handful of United States troops,
disarmed and forced back
Hear the Wounded Groan.
Mingled with the roar of artillery
and rifles the sound most horrifying to
observers on this side was the inces-
SAINT groaning of wounded men who
were unable to reach the border.
The protest of the unwounded fed
erals against being forced back into
Mexico without arms was pitiable. Us
lally when the United States troops
seized their arms and sent them back
here was jargon of excited Spanish
They would surely be killed, they said, |
without their arms.
Presidio's little mission church of
Spanish type was made the asylum of
he wounded who crossed the river
Nuevo Laredo Battle Goes On.
Laredo. Texas, Jan. 2.-Fighting at !
Nuevo Laredo. Mexico, was renewed !
.oday The firing this forenoon was |
heavy.
20 Deputies Released.
Mexico City, Jan. 2.-Twenty-six for
ner Mexican deputies, imprisoned by
Iuerta last October, were releasd
rom the penitentiary today. The judge
ound no basis for the accusation of
'ebellion. Two former cabinet men,
,ers, Reyes and Estanol, were not re-
eased.
Order to Aid Wounded.
Washington, Jan. 2. Secretary
today sent the following to
Brig. Gen. Bliss, commanding the
iexico border forces:
'In reference to the possible situ-
tion at Ojinaga incident to people
rossing the river you will have to
Yhich cannot be forseen at present.
Extend such aid to the wounded as ;
dictates and permit refugees
D cross the river IL necessary to save
Ife In other words. it is not ex.
ected TO force people back to the
Iexican side IL they are liable to be
hot or otherwise injured on their re- I
urn. Cooperate with the Red Cross I
/ their work to such extent as neces-
ary to meet the urgent deeds of the |
ltuation in reference to the wound
d." I
The foregoing reiterates former or
ers on the same subject