The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-03
NUMBER OF KILLED
IN BATTLE PLACED
AT LESS THAN ESQ
Most Of Fighting at Oil
naga Done at Long
Range.
REBELS NOT ABLE
TO CAPTURE CITY
Federal Defenders Greatly Weak
cned by Effective Artillery Fire
of Opponents-General Rush
to American Side Ex-
pected Under Cover
of Darkness.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch. ]


Maria. Texas. January 2.--Tho end
of the third day of lighting around
Ojinaga finds the Federal defenders
greatly weakened by the persistent
and fairly effective long range artillery
fire Of the rebels, while the latter have
been strengthened by reinforcements to
the number of 500 men from the divi
sion of Sebastian Carranza, in Goa
hula.
General Ortega has been placing his
guns in position to cover an attack on
the Federal camp after nightfall this
evening. The rebels have plenty of
ammunition. and desperate struggle
is looked for, as the Federals realize
that no quarter will be given, and
the rebels are spurred ON by the
anxiety of their commanders to clear
the way for a general advance south.
toward Mexico City.
The total number of fatalities on
both sides In the three days fighting
is placed at less than $50 by conserva-
tive observers The number of wound
ed, according to the same authorities,
VIII probably reach twice that number.
Skirnilshers Thrown hack
The Fedorals threw out skirInish
line this morning. in an attempt to
drive the rebel flank back from the
river hut the skirmishers We're thrown
slauSht Of the rebel advance guard
from an arroyo. where they had been
hidden in anticipation OF such n sortie.
fHteen rebels are reported to have
oeen Killed in the engagement and the
cannonading which followed
Ortega has moved eight cannon into
another arroyo n mile and n half from
me Federal camp and plans to mount
them on the mountainside under cover
OF darkness. The camp is now almost
surrounded by rebel artillery, and the
feceral ammunition Is believed to be
running low. The defenses have also
been greatly weakened by the persis-
tent hammering of the rebel artillery
curing the past three days.
Both sides have been prodigaI OF am
munition during the day, but the rebel
fire had the advantage of being con-
centrated, while that of the defenders
wan naturally scattered and less ef-
1ectlye because of the well-chosen no
sition Of the besiegers
The fact that most of the fighting
has been at long range is pointed out
as accounting for the low number of
casualties.
1t is believed nevertheless. that there
must be great suffering among the
wounded. because Of the lack of medi-
cal facilities in both armies. and the
scarcity of drinking water in the zone
between the two camps.
VIII Cnre for Wounded.
All the wounded who manage to
reach the American side will be cared
fer. although the facilities of the town
are already heavily taxed by the in
hux OF refugees recently from Chi
huahua as we'll as from Ojinaga
That the Federal defenders of the
little town across the border are DOOM
ed to defeat and possible slaughter
by the rebels unless they manage to
reach the American side of the river
is accepted here as foregone con-
clusion.
The telephone line to Presidio was
stiil out of commission to-day. and the
only news received during the day
has been brought by automobile from
Preside to Maria, distance OF
seventy-five miles.
The United States troops guarding
the border at Preside and other points
have been instructed not to send dis
armed deserters or other refugees back
into Mexican territory Measures will
be taken by the army authorities for
the care OF all those who seek refuge
on this side of the river.
The number OF refugees is reported
to have been greatly lessened to-day.
but general rush is expected under
cover of darkness tonight, especially
If the rebels make the expected gen.
eral attack.