Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-01-21
Huerta General Alleges That
Former Rebel Chief Was
Both Insubordinate and
CowardIy in Battle
/ MEXICAN REFUGEES ARE
lNTERNED AT FORT BLISS
How Long United States Is to
Detain Federal Soldiers and
Camp Followers Cannot Be
Guessed All

taY noEniHo louasAL eFfelAl lgAtto west
El Paso. Tex, Jan. go Guarded by
United states eavalrymen, the S,aee
Mexican soldiers and their i,ass
women and children camp followers,
who were forced 70 seek asylum Ia
this country during the battle at OFT
nasa. Mexico. today were mterned ut
Fort Bliss for an indefinite stay on
the footing 81 prisoners Of war.
Gon. Salvador Mereado, when his
soldiers tumbled Off the trains whicn
brought them from Maria, Texas. was
siill commander OF his troops. but his
authority was subordinate "a that of
the American officers His dutieu
were largely to assist in organizing
The camp The former chief Of the
Huortn army, still wearing bits 81
sold braid on his unlform worked al
iteetlv under Brig Gen. Hugh l., Scott
of the United states army and showed
his gratitude for the treatment 81
himself ana his men hy telling the
Mexican soldiers to obey orders
simuar evidences Of gratitude were
lNhown by Generals Castro, imda, on
ipinal, Romero and Aduna, al o.
whom came on the long march on foot
/ from Preside. TeSas Go Marta and
+ thence hy train TO ri Paso
soon after their arrival the refu-
sees were spread over the rcserva-
+ tlon. mixing beans With chill and
making tortillas om Of -four furnished
VS. the American army How long the
Mexcans are TO be fed, sheltered AMI
clothed by the t'uited States Is not
known. but the arrangements We're
20 keep them hero possibly a long
time
Ia defense Of his Abandonment Of
OIinaga and in answer TO criticisms
from Mexico city General Mercado
detailed his reasons for taking asylum
IN this country.
He charged General Pascnal oro2oo
with eowardiec and INSTRUMENTATION.
'Ie Mid Orozco had repeatedly rohhed
the federal provision train, had he
come arrogant, and had refused TO at
tack the rebels. had abandoned his
own troops ana had run away under
tire 10 give the impression that ne
heroically would remain an the Mex
lea side to fight more battles, whereas
oiozco was afraid TO cross tho line
into The United States hecanse Of
an Indictment pending against him
here. He snid Orozco had demanded
money, and had placed drunken soi-
dlcrs az the head Of his forces.
General Mercado charged that Glen
Ynez Snlazar and Glen. Antonio Rojae,
volunteer commanders, were cownrdly
under fire and TINT they abandoned
their posts as soon as the rebels ap-
poared
THE appearance Of 0rozco at CHI
huahua before we left for Ojlnaga
was fatal to the federal cause. Cen
eral Mercad1 said "Hc had been
told by someone that he WIS to be
governor and military chief. Hence
his inaolenee and roticence. The sec
rotary of war ordered him 40 cover
The railroad from Juarez south lie
dlsobeyed this order because he WIS
afraid Of Vnla Roias also repeat-
edly abandoned his positions in a
oowardly manner There were quar-
rels Of all kinds.
I'm Chihuahua, Generals Mancilla
salaznr, Orpinal, and Rojas told mo
their forces were panie-sirioken and
would not fight That ted me t.
oYacuate chihuahua, for hal no
support The rich citizens. with the
exception of Luis Terrlgns who gave
"a, ,000 pesos, refused to aid us after
we had been cut Off from Mexico
city
"'rho events nfter our arrival at
Oiinaga were attended BY auarfels
end disobedience by Orozco. Sala2ar
and Roins. Orozeo robbed our own
provision train His friends have
tried to mike it appear that he WAX
too proud 60 cross to the United states
and that he preferred to remain in
Mexico to the finish Of the campaign
Orozco ran away from his troops and
the proof ia that his troops are with
as now
When. Villa made his final attack,
our troops We're demoralized by
reason of the cowardice Of Orozco, SAL
azar and Roias, Besides our ammuni-
tlon was short.
When The truth Is known Il viii he
realized that the criticisms Of me IA
taking the army to foreign soil We're
unjust ! wish tho whole world Ia
know that Our disgrace, however bit-
ter. was not born of any eowardiee on
the part of those who crossed the Rio
srander
General Mercado said he was ready
10 go TO Mexico city 10 stand trial by
court martial. He said he wonld dis
prove charges that he left chihuahua
because Of money furnished by the
Inrrnyna lamllN