The Washington herald., 1914-01-12
FALL OF OJINAGA CAUSES
NO SURPRISE IN CAPITAL

Only brief official reports were received
here today of the taking of Ojinaga by
Gen. Villa and his forces in Northern
Mexico Saturday night. The result was
no surprise to administration officials in
touch with the Mexican situation.
Maj. McNamee, commanding at Preside,
the Texas town opposite Ojinaga, reported
through Gen. Bliss. at San Antonio. that
detachments Of the federal garrison had
come over and were being dissrmed as
rapidly as possible. All the federal gen.
erals. with the exception of Pascual
Orozco, are reported to have crossed into
the United States and surrendered. The
soldiers, as well as their commanding
officers, are reported to have made no
effort to avoid the United States army
patrols or to keep their arms. All viii
be detained indefinitely on the United
States side of the line. and cared for
at the expense of this government II
the policy Of the last two years is ad-
hered to in their case, the federals will
be allowed to filter back into Mexico as
soon as there is no danger Of their meet
ing death upon return to Mexican terri
tory. Gen. Villa has declared he will
execute all federal volunteers whom he
can capture.
According to the understanding here,
based on rather meager reports, the
h6ukilS oIudsd NOT amount 10
much. The federals, II is understood, had
no ammunition, and consequently were
not able to repeat their defense of the
town during the four days battle of two
weeks ago. The constitutionalists seemed
to have plenty OF ammunition. fresh
supplies having been brought by the re-
endorsements under Villas personal COM
mand- The federals were unable to get
any in the United States, and were
cut OF from any sources of supply to
the south.
The loss Of ojinaga is regarded as a
severe blow to the federal forces in the
north. The loss of Ojinaga itself is not
SO disastrous as the dissipation of the
federal army In the north. Villa Is now
free to operate north of chihuahua about
as he pleases, without fear of any fed
eral troops menacing him.
1t is presumed that Villa will now
gather his forces together and begin
movement to the south. II is not expect
ed. however. that he will succeed in &C.
complishing anything Of Importance for
some time. Whether he will succeed in
getting into the territory where the real
strength of the Huerta government is
exercised is a matter Of speculation here
1t is not considered by any means certain
that he will dare to penetrate very far
south at this time. He has the assur-
ance, however, Oh there being no federal
force Of any importance to the north OF
him, in his rear.
The taking Of Ojinaga has again empha-
sized the fact that whatever has been
accomplished for the revolution in the
last few weeks has been done by Villa.
There Is no doubt in ofiicial quarters here
that Villa. and not Carranza, will be the
man with whom Huerta and also the
United States will have to deal in the
case Of further successes being gained by
the constitutionalists forces. Villa has
to his credit the taking of Juarez,
Chihuahua and Ojinaga, all in the last
two months, while Gov Carranza has
been silent and inactive, so far as is
known here. In the state OF Sonora
While Villas ability is recognized. II
Is admitted that he Is an impossible per-
son. from the viewpoint Of the United
States, so far as future position in the
federal government Of Mexico is con-
cerned.