The Cairo bulletin., 1914-01-04
Heaviest Fire in Five Days Battle
Drives Camp Followers to
Border. .
IS PRECURSOR OF GREAT
EXODUS, GENERAL BELIEF
Air OF Mystery Still Surrounds John
Lind's Visit to President
Wilson. /

fresldo, Tex, Jan. 3.---Flecing
from the heaviest fire in all the five
days battle between the federals at
Cjinaga and General Ortega's rebel
army which is surrounding the VIII
lage, women, children and deserting
soldiers fed to the border and cross
ed the river in such numbers today
that the United States border patrol
and the Red Cross society faced the
serious problem of feeding the refu-
gees.
It was necessary to permit food
to be sent across the border to save
the lives of women and children
and wounded federals. For such as
waded through the river there was
no shelter. The few vacant buils-
jngs here were converted into Red
ross hospitals. Major McNamee
also received few federal deserters
md held them prisoner on this side.
Camp Followers
In the line streaming down from
the battlefield about mile back
from the river, women nursing ba-
bies mingled with the hobbling
wounded Most of the refugees were
camp followers from remote points.
AT one point number of wound
I'd rebels also came to the river.
Major McNamea gave such aid 10
both SIDES as humanity dictated.
The arrival of the camp followers.
who usually remain with the sol
diers ant their position becomes
untenahle, is regarded as the first
precursor of great exodus. Major
McNamee has been on the alert for
a week for the possible flight OF the
whole federal army.
Though the battle of the 1000
federals and 5000 rebels progress I'd
until late in the day, it remained
undecided at nightfall The rebels
pat their artillery IN action and one
shell alone was observed through
the field glass to bring 76 to the
ground, Observers on the Amer
lean side are of the opinion that
the total wounded may be zoo or
500. waile the number killed will be
less han half that figure
Fire Slsckens
Toward night the firing OF the
rebels slackened, followed at once By
the silancing of the federal arms.
The United States troops along the
river have not lost sight of the fact
that the ammunition of 1.-The rebels
might run out at any time
A few shots which fell in United
States territory caused no damage.
Some sickness broke out among
the refugees but the Red Cross Of
ticials believe it has been checked.
Lind Departs.
Pass Christian, Miss, Jan. s.
With the departure late today of the
scout errisfr CHESTER bearing Jo n
Lind r1s.Ctnt Wilson's personal
"eprcsettati,c, lack to Mexico TO
continue his cl servatioa of Mexican
affairs the n3,tery which has .r-
v'lopcd 'Ir ends visit to presilrnt
Wilson vas Oily partially clearea.
Just why the president did nnt
permit Mr.. Lind % have any "shrre
leave" and took upon himself the in.
convenience of being transhippcd
four times has not been explained.
President Wilson volunteered no ex.
planation, but one supposition is
that he did not wish his envoy TO be
subjected 70 the imposition of being
interviewed by newspaper CORES
spondents.
Another story is that the presi-
dent desired to show Mexico that
there is no change in the Mexican
policy and there has been no actual
interference of Mr.. Lind's mission to
Mexico.