The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1914-01-22
ARMY
ENDSL0NG MARCH
mexicans From 0jinaga Reach
Railroad at Maria, Texas.
WAS JOURNEY OF HARDSHIP
Men, Women and Children Were Foot
sore, Ragged and Almost FAM
ished After Their Three
Days. Tramp.

Maria, Tex, Jan. 19.-Footsore,
three-day march on foot of sixty,seven
miles over a wind-swept mountain
road, the $500 Mexican federal SOL
diers and generals routed from Ojin-
aga, Mexico, by the rebels, with 1,067
women and about 800 children and
infants, have arrived at Maria, whence
they are to be transported by train
to Fort Bliss at Ell Paso.
The ragged remnant Of the Huerta
army, which sought asylum in this
country rather than face possible ex-
termination by the rebels, will be for
mally informed at Fort Bliss as wards
Of the government They are to be
held there indefinitely on the footing
first time the American army has been
called upon to shelter, feed and clothe
an entire division of a foreign army
which includes six disarmed generals.
Incidents of the March.
None of those in the unique caravan,
which contained disarmed Mexican
soldiers, women, children, horses,
burros and dogs, struggled for miles
along the road, was more visibly af-
fected on coming within sight OF
Maria than General Salvador Mer-
cado, Huerta's former military chief,
who ordered the evacuation OF Dim
- hal RrN
The picturesque march afoot
through American territory of SO
many tforeign soldiers and women
with their baggage abounded with In
cidents. The birth of child, the
death of several wounded soldiers, the
search for water in the DESERT, the
constant struggling away from the
line OF march and the rounding up
again of scores of the refugees, were
some of the difficulties with which the
United States cavalrymen, command
ed by Major McNamee, had to con-
tend. The MeXicans, guarded virtual
ly as prisoners outnulnbered the es-
corting American soldiers ten to one.
Scanty Food supply.
Since they were routed from Ojinaga
by General Villas rebel forces and
compelled to cross the border into the
United States at Preside, Tex, eight
days ago, the Mexican soldiers have
had only scanty food supplies. Their
march of sixty-seven miles to the near
est railway station after they had been
disarmed and held prisoners by the
American troops was made possible by
the establishment Of the three camps
provided en- route. But these camps
were supplied with limited rations be-
cause all food stuffs and water had to
be carried by wagon from Maria.
Many of the foreigners were poorly
clad and without blankets, SO that
their suffering at night was intense.
Hence the hopeful look that appeared
in the faces of the dirt begrimed men
and women when they were told the
march was almost over.
1t was particularly remarked by the
American officers that of all the
marchers the Mexican women were
the best There were instances OF
women who yielded their places on
horseback or burros to men who found
themselves tired out with the walk
This confirmed the prediction of Gen.
eral Mercado that the women would
in no way impede the march of the
column as they were all hardy, accus-
toned to outdoor life and capable OF
enduring as much fatigue as the men.