The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-08

checked only some hundred and fifty
yards from the Federal headquarters
For the first time the Constitutional
list artillery shelled the city and was
used at night. As examination showed
subsequently. little damage was done
The Constitutionalists reached the light
plant early and the city was in dark
ness except for the fash OF hand bombs
Americans Volunteer for Attack.
This attack was driven back and
morning found Villas men but little
advanced beyond their previous posi-
tons. Villa himself was anxious, and
no attack was ordered for the day or
evening.
The Americans OF whom there were
eight in the artillery. volunteered for
the attack on Cslabasas. They say
that when they reached the summit
both sides fraternized. exchanging guns
and cigarettes.
Their version OF Mexican methods Of
fighting is that the soldiers seldom aim,
but are satisfied with pointinC their
guns at the enemy and firing. They told
me that during pause in the climb
up the hill their Mexican companions
would throw them cips of cartridges
to shoot. preferring to do this by proxy,
and that II was no uncommon thing for
soldier ensconced behind rock to
lift his gun over his head and discharge
a magazine load OF cartridges la what
he believed to be the general direction
of the enemy. although ne could not
See where he was shooting. Certainly
wounds in the hands and forearms were
very common.
Before the second attack British Vice.
Consul Cummins. whom villa sent I'M
der protest to demand the sur
render OF the city. returned to ask an
armistice. that the dead and wounded
might be collected This Villa refused
declaring II "A ruse on the part of the
Fcderals To gain time. ON his first trip
Cummins told me his flag OF truce was
fired on some thirty times
Fedrrnis Eager to Desert.
After the second attack there was
not Federal General unwounded The
troops were unwilling to fight longer
ana many wished to join the Constltu-
tionaiists A nine-year-old girl. daughter
OF soldadera attached to the Forty
fourth Federal Regiment. cam, under
h'oNN iir INTO lIlP 'VnStltutiOntllSt
lines to ask help for her mother. who
han been mt. one OF the Correspon-
dents crossed to the house VIII. re the
mother lay and found her dead. The
daughter stated that the night before
IA party OF the Forty fourth Regiment
wanted to Join the Constitutionalists
but the rest refused. and this led To a
battle. in which many were killed the
loyalists winning.
Under cover OF n heavy artillery fire
the Federals withdrew. No ore knew
they were gone until blazing fires used
TO destroy stores and ammunition ad-
vertised the fact. went over the
Federal positions, and II seeEied in
credible that so little should have been
done to strengthen them. or even UNI
strengthened as they were that they
should have been abandoned
In the centre Of the city was the
main hospital OF the Federal. Here
for two days and three nights, without
water, light or help. Maria Dorotea de
Ia Cruz. Mexican widow. had tough,
more bravely than any soldier To com
fort and save the poor wretches When
| arrived the poor chaps were /, terror
OF death. and their relief on hearing
hhu W SIs-lc Illtfn MAS
pitiful. DIR. Dale. an American, was
helpine TO dress the wounds when ar
rived.
For more than "A day before the
evacuation the Federal physicians had
not com near the place, and the con
ditions, In spite of Sonora de Ia Cruz's
efforts, were horrible. The stencil from
dead. piled like cordwood under the
stairs. and from suppurating wounds.
was all but lntolerahle even to nostrils
accustomed to Mexican warfare
Yet here too there was no grooming
or complaint by those who were con-
scious. One wounded man asked for
a cigarette and | fortunately had "A
few. Some ! passed to the wounded
ana some ] gave To Constituencies
soldier who gave one to each Of the
wounded and kept none for himself.
One OF the wounded men. however,
managed to conceal box he was sup
posed to pass along, under his mattress
The hospital was no affair Of orderly
rows OF cots. but a counting room. and
the OFFICES above 1t had been furnished