Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-02

tions to disarm and hold them if this
takes place.
This was the message which Major
MeNamee sent out today. Major Nc
Namee's reference to two or more
thousand" implied a loss in dead or
wounded Of the rest of the 1000.
careful estimate placed the wound
ed on both sidees at 1000. Most of the
wounded were left on the battlefield.
The less disabled succeeded in reach
ing the river and were cared for by
the Red Cross on this side. Scores of
uninjured Federal deserters came to
the river, and in defiance of the Amer
lean patrol, crossed with their arms.
All these were disarmed and forced
back to the Mexican side.
More than 200 rifles. other arms and
ammunition thus were taken from the
fugitives. 1t was impossible to learn
accurately the number of dead and the
belief that it would be great was based
on the number of wounded. Many were
believed to have died through lack OF
medical attention, as neither Federals
nor rebels are equipped with any field
hospital service and the Red Cross Of
ficials on this side were not permitted
to ford the river, even under a Red
Cross flag.
Supplies Of bandages and hospital
equipment were needed. 1t was ex-
pected this want would be relieved
by the arrival of more Red Cross
nurses and physicians who were COM
ing from Farfa, the nearest railroad
station, g. miles away. Those who ven-
tured to help the wounded from the
river risked the danger of being shot.
A few shots fired by the rebels fell
on the American side, north of Pre-
sidio, but no one was injured. Major
McNamee warned Gen. Ortega that
any further firing across the river
might entail grave consequences.
So far Major McNamee has adhered
to a policy of sending back all Of the
unwounded combatants. Should all Of
the Federals come across they would
be disarmed, but they might be per-
mitted to remain on this side, on
grounds Of humanity, after they had
been placed under temporary arrest.
The latter disposition of the prison.
ers would be in the hands of higher
army authorities.
The inclination of the deserters to
carry their guns to this side with them
caused some uneasiness, in view Of
the expected arrival of so many for
eign soldiers at point where the
United States border patrol is not nu-
merous. 1t was hoped that the FEEDER
ais, if they came, would cross without
any unexpected incident and that the
rebels would not pursue them unneces-
sarily near. As for the battle at Ojin-
aga, one mile back from the river, it
proceeded uninterruptedly with the
Federals confined in and fighting from
the adobe houses in the village while
the rebels always drawing closer, fired
artillery and small guns from the hills
and approaches.
Soon after daylight the Federals
made desperate attempt to rally.
They even extended their line Of fire
outward, but this brought only an in
creasing firing by the rebels that sent
the defenders back to their inner de-
fence. Thereafter the relative position
of the opposing forces remained much
the same, with Gen. Ortega driving in
shot and shell from three sides while
Gen. Castro's Federals fired from what
vantage points thew had within the
trenches. Never in border history had
there been a scene equal to that of the
Federal wounded and deserters- who