The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-02
PROTESTS OF
DESERTERS PITIABLE

The protest of the unwG7nded federals
against being forced back into Mexico
was pitiabe Deserters went back, but
wailing as they went that they would
surely be killed without their arms
1t was the fact that there were so many
federal deserters as much as the progress
Of the rebel fighting. that convinced Major
McNamee that the retreat to the United
States of the whole federal army was
Inevitable.
The little mission church on this side
of the Rio Grande was made the asylum
of the wounded above which the Red
Cross flag floated.
Heavy artillery firing continued in and
about Ojinaga. Several hundred women
and children came across and are under
cover on this side. Many wounded came
in from different points up and down the
river and are held in a church. Red
Cross officials wired for three doctors
and several nurses.
Il am still driving federals back, first
disarmng them. Have now over 200 rhas
other arms and ammunition. Expect at
any time during the fight that the larger
part of the federal army, possibly two
or three thousand, may be forced TO cross
the river.
IT have made dispositions to disarm
and hold them If this takes place. At
this hour l have one troop patrollng be-
tween the town and the river. and an
other riding roads north of Ojinaga lead
ing toward Shafter.
Drop Close to Bank
"a few shells fired by rebels dropped
close to or on the American bank of the
river north of town. No one was in
jured.
warning him against consequences of
such action. So far have the situation In
hand. MNAMEE"
About 1000 wounded on both sides was
an estimate accurate as could be as
certained up to 1890 o'clock.
At that hour the firing continued with
disastrous results to the federals. Orte-
gas rebel forces We're gaining the as
cendancy to the approaches of the vii
lage They were using artillery fire. IT
appeared to observers on this side that
the rebels would either capture the fed
eral garrison or force the expected flight
to the American side.
Federal deserters continued to rush to
the American side. Major McNamee's s
patrol at once surrounded and disarmed
the refugees and sent back all who were
not wounded.
No shots We're coming across the river.
Between Ojinaga and the river is about
a mile of fiat land. Should the federals
retreat across this it was feared they
might possibly draw the fire this way.
Small Border Patrol
The border patrol at this point con-
sists of less than 900 cavalrymen. If the
federals cross the river the American SOL
diers will be confronted with the task of
disarming two or three thousand foreign
soldiers.
The Red Cross has made such prepara-
tionS for the care of the wounded as it's
limited means permits. More nurses doc
tors and hospital supplies are expected.
The United States border patrol was
preparing here this afternoon to receive
the surrender of the entire Mexican fed
eral forces bottled up in Ojinaga.
Army officers believed that 1t was only
a question of time before the reluctant
warriors of Huerta. exposed to a CALLING
fire from the constitutionalists, would de-
sert in a body and swarm across the
river.
The American force, which then would
be called upon to deal with 1000 to sGcO
fugitives, consists of less than 900 cav
alrymen