Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-01-02
Special Mexican Envoy,
at Pass Christian, Re-
mains on Cruiser.
MISSION is CONCEALED
Battle of Oiinaga, at End of
Third Day, Presents a
Terrible Picture.

| Pass Christian, Miss, Jan. 2.-Mys-
Lind, personal representative of Pres
ident Wilson, in Mexico, who arrived
here last night from Vera Cruz aboard
the scout cruiser Chester. ALI infor-
nation as to when or where the pres
ident would see him was refused. Lind
remained aboard the Chester today.
This morning the president golfed as
usual.
Mr.. Wilson's desire 10 avoid public
ity in connection with the envoy's
visit was emphasized, not only by the
reticence of everyone in the presi-
dental party, but by the mysterious
movements of the revenue cutter
Winona. After spending 80 hours out
side of Ship Island, waiting for the
dusk last night.
AS she steamed toward Pass Chris
tian, word rapidly spread that the
Chester had arrived and had trans
ferred her distinguished passenger at
dropped anchor a mile away, Lieut..
Howell. of the cutter, who had been
scanning the horizon all day with
glasses, put out in a 2O-foot launch.
Camera Men Ready.
A crowd had collected, moving pic
ture machines-wer set up, camera
men were ready and small boys shot
off firecrackers in celebration of the
occasion. One of the president eecret
service men had arrived in White
house motor and waited expectantly.
Slowly the little boat drew up along
side the tide gangway. Then only
Lieut.. Howell appeared. He entered
into whispered conversation with
the presidents representative and the
latter rushed to the nearest telephone,
On returning. he held another consul
tation with Lieut.. Howell and the
launch went back to the Winona,
which again put out to sea.
Horrors In Battle.
Presidio, Texas, Jan. 2-Reports
from Ojinaga showed the battle was
still in progress today. Federals were |
holding their positions, but 5000 reb- |
els were drawing closer.
After a merciless attack of three |
days by General Ortega's 5000 rebels |
at Ojinaga the northern division of |
the federal army of Mexico, with it's |
IL generals and 1000 private soldiers, |
last night to be on the verge |
of fleeing in disorder across the Rio
Grande into the United States. At the |
same time 500 United States cavalry
men were stretched along the border
under orders to surround and disarm
the invaders if they sough refuge on
the Texas side.
The Ojinaga battle. attended with
horrifying scenes of death and injury,
was declared to have in store only one
possible result, the flight of the whole
federal army to American soil
With a line of struggling Mexican
at the border to indicate the
extent of the carnage and deserters
appearing in numbers, Major NJ. N
McNamee, commanding the United
States border patrol, made every plan
IN anticipation of the flight. The abil-
ty of the Fifteenth Cavalry men to
iisarm the foreign soldiers was based
IN the assumption that the rebels
would pursue the federals merely to
he river.
81 expect at any time during the
light that the greater part of the fed
sral army. possibly 1000 or 5000, may
be forced across the river. l have
made dispositions to disarm and hold
hem If this takes place." was the
Message which Major McNamee sent
tut. His reference to 1000 or 5000"
IMPLIES loss in dead or wounded of
he rest of the 1000 federal Mexicans.
Report 1000 Wounded.
An estimate Of the wounded on both 4,
ides was 1000 Most of the wounded ,
we're left on the battlefield. The less ,
disabled succeeded in reaching the il,
iver and were cared for by the Red /,
ross on this side
Scores OF uninjured federal desert I.
RS crossed the river during the day :
4 defiance of the American patrol.
III these were disarmed and forced
ack 10 the Mexican side.
More than 200 rifles. other arms and e
thus were taken from the
lgitives d
IL was impossible TO learn the num-
er of dead. The belief that il was
reat was based on the number of
'ounded. Many were believed 10
ave died through lack OF Ia. adical at d
sntion, as neither feGeia.s nor rebels "
ere equipped with field hospital s