Milford chronicle., 1914-01-02
MEXICAN REBELS
ROUT FEDERALS
Hundreds Flee into Texas When
Ojinaga is Attacked
THEIR POSITION DESPERATE
Dazed by Defeat of outposts, Many
Mutineers Were Shot Dead by Off
GERS to Maintain Fighting Front.


GERS to Maintain Fighting Front.
Fighting has been resumed between
Mexican Federals and the COnstitu
tionalists at Ojinaga, opposite Presi
dio, Texas.
The rebels advanced upon the Fed
eral trenches, where the remnant Of
Huerta's army in northern Mexico had
taken refuge after a disastrous defeat
in the first onset.
A desultory fire opened by the reb
els indicated that the rebel forces in
tended to push the fight right into the
Federal stronghold and make the con-
fict decisive. The Federals had re-
treated to the innermost trenches, ap-
parently without hope of repulsing the
attacking force.
Only a few shots came from the
Huerta lines in the early stages Of
the fighting. As viewed from the
American side the situation of the
Federals seemed desperate, as they
had no ground for further retreat.
General Ortega, commanding the
Constitutionalists, has received orders
to execute summarily Generals Sala-
zar, Orozco, Rojas and Alanis, com
manding volunteers.
In the darkness many of the terri
fed Federals crossed the Rio Grande
to the American side, but all, except
the badly wounded were forced by the
United States troops to return into
Mexico.
The final rout was preceded by
three-hour battle. begun after dark, in
which the rebels, marching through
the deep canyons south of Ojiniga
completely wiped out the Federal out
posts. The news Of the defeat at La
Mula Pass and La Mulato, giving the
rebels an unobstructed pass to within
firing distance of Ojinaga itself, caus-
ed a frenzied retreat among the Fed
erals.
Dazed and demOralized by this dis
encounter, eleven Mexican
generals and the remnant of
their army crouched in the trenches
of Ojinaga, uncertain whether they
should put up a resistance against an
other attack or scatter in disorder
In the village were all that remain +
ed of the northern division of Huer- |
ta's army. About them on the hills |
was the advance guard Of General Or
tega's rebel army. and still further
back were more rebels.
After Monday nights rout when I
many terrified soldiers crossed to the /
American side or were shot dead for /
mutiny at their officers feet, on the
side, the Federals apparently
we're in no position to maintain a
lighting front Upon the ability Of the
generals to rally their soldiers VIII de.
pend whether the Huerta army is to
keep or lose its last remaining foot
hold in the northern part OF Mexico.
Meanwhile the United States troops
On the American side of the river
we're scouting the border for any Fed
erals who might have crossed in the
light and to check any geneal rush
lcross the river, as seemed imminent,
when, during the panic in the garrison
It Ojinaga, about 500 Federals, carry
HB tuSlL guns Juuupou Auto lhe river
o seek safety on the American side.
If this number at least 400 we're driv-
N back before they got out Of the
water.
One hundred Federal soldiers we're
ound on the American side six miles
Iown the river. They still had their
rms. Major McNamee Immediately
isarmed them, marched them to Pre- ]
lido and forced them back to the
dexican side.
The badly wounded were the only ]
mes allowed to remain on the Ameri- ]
an side and these were cared for by {
)r. Burnside, of the United States
rmy. The number killed on both sides
vas small, but many were reported
rounded.