The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-21
Mexican Commander De-
fends Action in Aban-
doning 0jinaga
OROZCO REFUSED
TO ATTACK REBELS
Other Leaders Abandoned Positions
and We're Insubordinate, De-
cares General-Ready to
Stand Trial for Action

El paso. Tex, January 2o-General
salvador Mereado. commander of the
Mexican federal soldiers. who fled into
the United States from ojinaga, Mex.
and who were interned today at Fort
Bliss, on the footing of prisoners OF
war defended his abandonment OF
Oinaga. and charged General pascuar
Orozco With cowardice and insubordi.
nation.
General Meroado detailed his reasons
for taking asylum in this country. lie
said orozco repeatedly had robbed the
federal provision train. had hceome ar
rogant. had refused to attack the reb-
els. had abandoned his own troops and
had run away under fire to give the inn
preston that he heroically would re-
main on the Mexican side TO fight more
battles, whereas Orozco was afraid to
cross into the United States because
of an indictment pending against him
here. lie said Orozco had demanded
money and had placed drunken ofh-
GERS at the head of his forces.
Cowardice Charged
General Mercado charged that Gem
eral Ynez Salazar and General An
tonic Rolas. volunteer commanders,
We're eowardly under fire aud that they
abandoned their posts as soon as the
rebels appeared.
| The appearance of Orozco at Chi
huahua before we left for Ojlnaga was
fatal to tho federal cause" General
Mcrcado said. He had been told BY
someone that he was to be governor
and military chief hence his iuso-
lence and retlcence. The Secretary Of
War ordered him to cover the railroad
from Juarez south. lie disobeyed this
orGer because he was afraid of villa.
Roias also repeatedly abandoned his
positions in a cowardly manner. There
wore qnarrels of all kinds.
"ln Chihuahua Generals Maneilla,
salazar, orpinal and Rajas told me their
forces were panic stricken and would
not fight That led mo to evaeuate
chihuahua. for had no support Rich
citizens refused to aid us after We had
been cut off from Mexico city.
Quarrels and Disohedience
Events after our arrival at ojinaga
were attended by quarres and dis
obedience on the part of Orozeo. Sala-
zar and Rojas. Orozco robbed our
own provision train His friends have
ttied TO make it appear that he was
/ Too proud to cross to the United States
and that he preferred To remain i'm
| Mexico to the finish of the campaign.
Orozco ran away from his trops and
the proof is that his troops are with
| us now.
when villa made his final attack
our troops were demoralized by reason
of the eowardice of Orozco, Salazar
and Rojas. Besides our ammunition
was short.
when the truth is known 1t VIM
be realized that the criticism of ma
in taking the army to foreign soil was
unjust | wish the whole world to
Know that our disgrace. however Bit
ter. was not born Of any cowardice on
the part of those who crossed the Rio
Grande."
Ready to Stand Trial
General Mercado said he was ready to
go TO Mexico city to stand trial bv
courtmartial. lie said he would dis
prove charges that he left chihuahua
because of money furnished by the
| Terrazas family
General Salvador Mercado. when his
soldiers tumbled off the trains that
brought them from Maria, Tex. still
was commander of his troops but his
authority was subordinate to that OF
| the American officers. His duties
largely We're to assist In organizing the
camp. lie worked directly under Briga
dier General Hugh l.. Scott of the
United states army, aud showed his
gratitude for the treatment of himself
and his men ny cautionins the Mex
( lean soldiers TO obey orders
| Similar evidences of gratitude were
! shown by General Castro Landa, or
plnal Romero and Adana, all of whom
made the long march on foot from
| Presidio, Tex, to Maria. and thence
| by train to El Paso
Soon after their arrival the refu-
gees were spread over the reserva-
ton mixing beans with chill and maxi
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