Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-01-08
BESIEGED HUERTA
SOLDIERS FIRMLY
REFUSE TO BULGE

Preside. Tex. Jan. 1.-Two thousand
Mexican refugees, including half
starved women. children and some fed
eral deserters, rushed across the river
to the United States today to seek
protection from the battle at Ojinaga,
Mexico, opposite here.
The refugees We're scattered without
shelter along the river bank for two
miles, while the heavy artillery firing
between the 1000 federals in the
trenches at Ojinaga and General
Ortega's attacking rebel forces con-
tlnued less than a mile back from the
American border.
me arrival of so many unfed n
ragged people imposed an arduous
TASK upon the United States border
patrol n the few red cross officials
VINO are here. AS many as could be
lnduced to go We're sent to walk the
distance to Maria, Tex, 81 miles.
Meantime, the little mission church of
fresldlo was crowded with wounded.
Will Hold Deserters.
Instructions came from Washington
today to hold as prisoners all de-
%serters who cross the river. Heretofore
1he border patrol has disarmed and
sent back unwounded deserters.
Major Gustav Fl. School, of the Cam
adlan mounted rangers. who is one of
the military observers here, returned
from an inspection of conditions in
Ojlnaga, which he saw through a tele-
scope. He reported that the federals'
outer Notifications were in an irriga-
ton ditch which partly encircled the
village. From this they were firing 70
and 20-pound guns.
w. III. Cleveland, commissioner of
this country. who crossed to confer
with General Ortega, was within 100
yards of an exploding shell.
NTajo, c-l~1 rata xl-. z x~A
fewer than COG or roo casualties on
both sides, as he had seen numerous
rebels roll down the hillside under the
federal fire. Both sides, however, he
said, were wasting ammunition.
Preside. Tex, Jan. ~3.-Savage fight
ing between rebels and federals at
at Ojinaga continued throughout the
night, and was still in progress this
morning. The besieged federals, who
We're thrown into a panic at the first
onslaught of the constitutionalists, to-
day We're resisting stubbornly all at
tempts Of the attacking army to drive
them from the town.
Before day break the artillery fire of
the constitutionalists which had con-
tinued all night. became more furious.
A perfect rain of shells descended upon
the fcderals entertainments. Wounded
sOlulerS VINO lOlnQ Inelr way ACROSS
the river told the American Red cross
officials that the federal losses were
heavy.
During the night about 200 federals
made a desperate sortie, and from the
river bottom about a half mile from
Ojinaga attempted to dislodge the
rebels. But the constitutionalists
opened fire upon them with machine
guns and whipped them back with
severe losses.
Bullets Across Border.
Scattering bullets fell on the Am
erican side of the line today, but no one
was injured. Fresh red cross supplies,
which had been urgently needed, ar
rived today. Nurses and physicians are
preparing to care for the large num-
Der of wounded they expect to find on
the field at the conclusion of the battle.
The federal army paymaster with
s145, 900 in Mexican currency arrived
from Maria today. A report that the
money had been stolen proved untrue.
The money was rushed across the river
in the hope of encouraging the federal
soldiers. Generals Francisco Castro
and Salvador Mercado sent word that
they had no intention of abandoning
the town.
The rebels have been reinforced until
they numbered today $500. A fresh
supply of ammunition is expected from
Chihuahua.