The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-01-05
Federals at Ojinaga Chase Or
tega's Force Away From i
Town by Fierce -
Attack.
FOUGHT THROUGH ) 4H1
First Time in Seven Days That the
Tide of Battle Has Turned
in Favor Of the
Federais.

PRESIDE. Texas, Jan 5.-Two
thousand five hundred rebels under
command Of Hinez Salazar sailed
forth from Ojinaga at midnight Sun
day and attacked General Ortega's
rebel force as it was maneuvering to
join General Rodriguez command,
west of Ojinaga. The battle between
the opposing forces ragged from four
to six miles from Ojinaga from that
hour and at daylight still continued
with the federals having distinct
advantage. After the first attack
Ortega's main body drove the federals
back towards Ojinaga. General
Orozco who had remained at Ojinaga,
rushed 800 reinforcements to his as
sistance. This turned the tide. Sal
azar Immediately commenced his re-
treat and from being pursued became
pursuer. For the first time since
the battle of Ojinaga began seven
days ago, the fede-als became ag-
gressive. The rebels were driven from
nearly every point of vantage gained
last week by the fierce onslaughts and
there was great loss of life
Why the rebels in changing their
base, left an unprotected gap in their
battle front is not understood by mill
! tary men here. The federal command
jers seeing the gap, sped to the op-
portunity to set in the open and from
che pestilance ridden city of ojinaga.
All indications are today that their
Judgment was good Artillery is play
ling no part in the engagement of this
morning SO far as the contest between
Ortega and Salazar is concerned, prob
ably because each side fears to turn
its guns on the mingled masses OF
fighting men, for fear of manning its
own.
The rebel cannon occupy the same
positions they occupied Sunday and
are pouring terrific fire into Oiinaga
which is replying gamely. Thus far
/ the rebels have lost none OF their
artillery. Estimates today based upon
the most conservative statements OBJ.
tainable, from federal and rebel
wounded, place the losses on both sides
during the seven days fighting at G0o
killed and 1000 wounded. OF the
dead, about $50 are federals. III the
Red Cross hospital here are eighty
seven federal and forty-three rebel
wounded, the latter having just begun
to send their manned men across the
border. Many wounded are still lying
on the battle field where they fell
He'd Gross stretcher bearers crossed
the river early today to bring in those
who survived the cold night. Rec
Cross officers have asked for 200 army
tents, 200 additional cots and 500 blan
kets to provide for the wounded.
i Included among the wounded were
General Castro and General Marcele
Caraveo of the federal army. Castro
was shot through the body and ser
iously wounded while directing tho
4 FIRE in the federal trenches Sunday
night. Caraveo's wound was not dan
gerous. He was taken to the Rec
Gross hospital Sunday but escaped
during the night. 1t is believed he re
turned to Ojinaga to resume fighting.
Three more smallpox cases were re
ported Sunday night and wounded
coming in for treatment insist tha
the disease is epidemic among the
federals at Ojinaga Red Cross ply
: sicians are apprehensive that NOR,
smallpox victims will attempt to cross
/ Federal authorities at Ojinaga ar,
cremating the bodies of smallpox vic
TINS who die in camp and this ma,
lhave tendency to stamp out tn,
disease. But when the crowded con
dition of the camp is considered, tht
lack of water, bad and insufficient
food and the general run down condi
tion of the men, 1t is feared here tllt
disease will run its course.