The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-17
TATTERED ARMY OFF
IN TRUDGE TO MARIA
Routed Federals From Ojinaga
start Three Day March
Over Texas Plains.
MANY WOMEN ON FOOT
Six Vanquished Generals Ride
at Head Of Procession Es-
corted by U. 8. Cavalry.

SKATER. Tex, Jan. 16.--The tattered
remnants Of the Mexican Federal army.
with women and children. 4,419 in all.
who fed from Ojinaga last Saturday. be-
gan to-day their three day march across
the sandy plains and through the noun
tains to Maria. on their way to FL Paso.
where they will be placed in the Intern
ment camp.
The prisoners are guarded by six troops
Of United States cavalry on their march
to the railroad. Trains will be taken at
Maria for Ell Paso.
At the head Of the procession Of prison.
ers rode the six Federal Generals Mer-
cado. Castro. Orpinel. Lands. Romero and
Aduna They were followed by the tat
tered soldiers Of their defeated army.
IL the crowd had ever been an army
II had no semblance Of military bearing
to-day. II is a bundle Of docile men,
women and children doing what they are
told and waiting the outcome with stoical
indifference.
Gorgeous Uniforms Rare.
Occasionally an officer in gorgeous uni
form suggested the military character Of
the organization. but gorgeous uniforms
were rare and military discipline. II 1t
ever existed. was left on the hills Of
Ojinaga.
Dust arose like a mist over the first
mile Of the route. the level stretch Of
valley that leads to rising ground. Out
from the white adobe building that
serves for military headquarters. along
road with dust holes foot deep, the
procession moved toward the hills. Many
backward glance was cast. In the
foreground was the American camp and
hA rtN
peaceful in the sun. sat Ojinaga. the
Notifications that had fallen. Then the
column drew further on and soon even
the white walls OF the houses on the
American side merged with the dusty.
treeless plain.
The army marched IN the fashion OF
Mexican irregulars. Every horse able to
bear the burden had two riders. usually
a man and a woman. strong little bur
ros carried domestic belongings. packed in
huge bundles on both sides, with chill
dren perched on the top.
The women rode or walked with a
watchful eye on children and domestic
utensils. The men who had tobacco deity
rolled cigarettes and smoked.
Endure hitter weather.
Despite the reports Of suffering the
women and children for the most part
wandered along easily. They have a pas
sive endurance that those OF European
descent can seldom boast. one night.
such that second night at Preside.
when sleet was added TO the biting north
east wind. would have decimated a less
hardy set.
out into the mountains went the pro-
cession. following a crooked. winding road.
The Mexican Consul at Maria still has
Grape on the door for the Consul who
went to his death on these perilous noun
tain sides not many days ago But
the line passed on safely. 1t went by a
spot marked by a little pile Of stones hold
ing up a rude wooden cross. A man had
been killed there. Many crossed them
| selves piousiy as they passed. "Pobre-
cito' (poor feliow), said the women.
Incidents Of the March.
once in while one OF the soldiers.
weaker than the others, staggers A
woman slides from. poor old horse and
| the men ride. \ burrow darts from the
path at the punched gramma grass or
sotoi plants and has to be dubbed back
| into line. A small babe begins to cry.
and sitting In a jolting wagon the mother
| suckles II.
, A tattered soldier recovering from
wounds. occasionally drops beside the
road. but the procession does not stop
| The wounded man is bundled into one OF
the wagons and hurried along. Children
| call for aqua" and the water bottles
have to be opened. Occasionally the
! strain OF a half savage song breaks from
| the lips OF one OF the more buoyant spir-
its in the column. and is taken UP by
another and another until II reaches
down the entire line OF tattered men and
women.
1t was typical march Of typica,
Mexican army