Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-20
HELD PRISONERS or
WAR ON FORT BLISS REsER.
WALTON.
CAMP SURROUNDED az
BARsEp WIRE FENCING
Mexican Federal Army to Be Carefully
Guarded to Prevent Escape Back
Into Msuieo-rypieal Mexican VIII
Iass rranspIantsd on American Soil
General Appreciates Position.

\ SbSSV
Mexican soldiers. six Mexican generals,
and 1859 Mexican women and children
who sought asylum In the United
States after they were driven out OF
Ojinada. Mexico. by rebel forces, ar
rived at Ell Paso today and were for
mally interned in the Fort Bliss mill :
tary reservation.
Arriving en- ten trains 'r.r. Maria.
Texas. the refugees were taken i'm
mediately to Fort Bliss whore they
were put In a camp enclosed by a
barbed wire fence and guarded by
United States troops.
The bringing of the refugees resulted
from a series Of dramatic "vecss In
recent Mexican history Tnsse events
seven weeks ago by Gen. SALVADOR
Mercado's federal army, its night
across the desert to Ojinaga on the
border. besiegins of ojinaga by the
rebels, the retreat Of TIE federals int
United States territory at Presidio,
Texas, and the picturesue march afoo.
of the federals over the sixty-s sven
mile mountain trail to the nearest -at:-
way station at Maria.
Msxicans Grateful For Asylum.
The first Of the refugees to step of
the train was General Mercado.
II am completely dumfounded by the
unusual position we are in," said
General Mercado 1T Is something un-
precedented to have a whole army
division interned on foreign soil. We
are grateful to the United States for
the asylum afforded US. I hope the
world will understand that our flight
to this country was on grounds of
humanity, to save the lives Of women
and children as we'll as Of soldiers who
SIn out OF ammunition. The rebels
would have maBsacred Us. What IL to
shecome Of US don't know. We shall
walt ana see"
General Mercado was Joined by his
wife and three sisters in law who will
remain with him in camp. About one
third Of the common soldiers are ac-
companied by their wives.
Transplantsd Mexican Village.
As soon as they could be escorted to
the camps the 1863 refugees were as
signed permanent quarters and soon q
series Of camp fires told that a Mexican
village suddenly transplanted on Amer
lean soil was preparing breakfast.
Colonel Perkins Of the Twentieth in
fantry was placed in charge Of the
camp under direction of Gen. Hugh H.
Scott.
General Mercado told Colonel Perkins
that the Mexican soldiers would do
everything in their power to show their
gratitude to the United States. He
then ordered all the refugees to dig
bitches and help put up the 1000 or
more tents.
Soldiers Virtually Prisoners.
Mono Of the foreign soldiers nor any
Of their officers will be permitted to
leave the barbed wire enclosure They
will be guarded day and night to pre-
vent any possible escape back to Mex
leo.
Looking over the wide we'll organized
camp OF the United States army near
by General Mercado, with fresh
memories Of the disorder at O1inaga in
mind, said. "The United States is in
deed civilized country"
Bring Dogs and Game Cocks.
Each train of refugees was run into
the camp on a spur. The unloading
presented varied and animated scenes.
With the women and disarmed Mexi-
can soldiers there tumbled or dogs and
fighting cocks saved from the battle
at Ojinaga and lovingly carried on the
long march. One family even unloaded
burro still packed with domestic
utensils. The bedraggled and ex-
hausted picture Of whole village OF
people suddenly dumped of on foreign
soil was frightened by brilliantly col
ored blankets and shawls Of the
women.
The Mexican generals at first ap-
peared dazed and speechless by the
spectacle but soon Joined in putting the
camp in order.
Sightseers from Ell Paso were kept
outside the barbed wire stockade.
Federal Attack on Matamoras Planned.
Laredo Tex. Jan. 20.-One thousand