The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-19
Ragged Remnar. of Huerta
Army Within Few Miles
of Maria, Tex.
MFRCADO is VISIBLY
AFFECTED AT SIGHT
. OF UNIQUE CARAVAN
Picturesque March Afoot Abounds
With Many Incidents-Will Be
Held Indefinitely on Footing
of Prisoners of War

Maria, Tex, January 1s.-Footsore,
gagged, almost famished from their
three days march ON foot of 81 miles
over a wind-swept mountain rond, the
erals routed from Ojinnga. Mex, by the
rebels, with 1867 women and about 800
children and Infants, arrived today
within n few miles of Maria. whence
they arc to be transported by train to
Fort Bliss at Ell Paso.
The ragged remnant of the Huerta
army. which sought asylum in this
country rather than face possible ex-
termination by the rebels, will be for
emally interned at Fort Bliss. as wards
of the government They will be held
there indefinitely on footing of prison
ers Of war.
Mercado Visibly Affected
None of those in the unique caravan
which, with it's disarmed Mexican sol
diers, women, children, horses. bur-
rows and dogs. struggled for miles
along the road, was more visibly af-
fected on coming within sight of Maria
than General Salvador Mercado, Huer
Rta's former military chief who or
dered the evacuation of Ojinaga In the
face of the rebels fire. Geenral Mer-
cado, riding ON horse his uniform
covered with dust. was confessedly
humiliated, not only at the deefat of
his army and necessity for his fight
L
leo City that he would be courtmar-
tailed should he return to his native
country.
II Beside General Mercado and mingling
with the United States cavalrymen!
who acted as guards, were the federal
generals Castro, Aruno, Orpinal and
Romero, all shorn of their swords, but
some still retaining on their uniforms
the bits of gold braid which had not
been torn off, or worn away in the
fight.
The picturesque march afoot through
American territory of so many foreign
soldiers and women with their baggage
,tbounded with incident The birth of
a child, the death of several wounded
soldiers, the search for water in the
desert, the constant struggling away
from the line of march and the round
ing up again of scores of the refugees
were some of the difficulties with which
the United States cavalrymen had to
contend. The Mexicans outnumbered
the escorting American soldiers ten to
one.
Viewed from a hilltop the on coming
army as it zig gagged through the
mountain passes and reached backward
into the dusty distance 10 miles. was
r. picture of exhaustion, although the
prospect of soon reaching their desti-
nation seemed to revive fresh cour
age.
Since they were routed from Ojinaga,
the Mexican soldiers have had only
scant food supplies Their march to
Maria was made possible by the es-
tablishment of the three camps pro-
yvided en- route But these camps were
|asupplied with limited rations because
AL foodstuffs and water had to be car
ried by wagon. Many of the foreign
ers were poorly clad and without
was intense.
Women Best Marchers
OF all the marchers the Mexican wom-
en- are the best. There were instances of
women who yielded their places on
lhorseback or burros to men. This con-.
mrmed the prediction or General Mer-
.cAdo, that the women would in no way
impede the march of the column, as
| all were hardy, accustomed to an out
door life. and capable of enduring as
much fatigue as the men.
The marching column was stretched
over a great distance to prevent con-
| fusion and to reduce as much as pos
sible suffering from the dust that rose
in great clouds from the well Travelled
road. All semb1ance of the uniform
ranks of an army was gone. 1t was q
curious mingling of people and ami
mails, while in places the women, with
their red dresses and shawls, gave a
touch of brilliant color to the scene
Wherever there was space in the line
or between horses legs, there was
utmost sure to be a mongre1 dog.
A little group of women by the road
side attested the birth of child. The
D old women who attended announced
that little girl had Joined the process
sion. and the news travelled down the
entire line, arousing fire of CONVEX
eation. A rooster. saved from the wreck
of Ojinaga, crowed his triumph from
the back of burro to which he was
carefully attached with leather