El Nuevo mexicano., 1917-11-15

M ~
Fighting was resumed to the
southwest Of town at 9 o'clock
today and a small band Of Villa
followers advancing toward the
plaza from the direction of the
customs house east Of town, were
dispersed with machine gun fire.
Villa troops are massIng on tho
mesa to the southeast Of town
and a general attack Is expected
during the day.
Ojinaga, Mexico, Nov. 14.-After
two hours Of fighting early today,
Francisco Villas troops were driven
away from this town by the Mexi-
can government forces under Gen
eral Juan Espinosa Cordova. This
was officially announced at the mill
tary headquarters here.
The attack started at s o'clock and
continued until Z o'clock, although the
assault was at 6 o'clock, just as the
dawn was breaking. The battle took
place a short distance to the south
west of the town where the federal
first line trenches were located. The
Villa forces were dismpunted and
were driven back after they had pen
etrated the town proper, and there
was house to house fighting A
federal machine gun was brought into
play and assisted in routing the
Villa men.
Villa was believed to have had
500 men when he attacked today, al
though it is reported that another
column is moving toward the town
from the south. The Villa troops,
after gaining the mesa, where their
horses were tied, fled down the
river toward La Jitas with the cav
airy of General Espinosa Cordova in
pursuit After daybreak the firing
died down and soon ceased entirely.
Another attack is expected to take
place today or tonight as the assault
this morning was thought to have
been a feint to ascertain the strength
of the federal forces.
Seventy viIlistas Killed
Fighting ceased soon after starting
a second time today and at noon
there were no shots being fired here
by each side. The Villa main com
mand was in plain view Of the garri-
son here, being strung along the first
mesa overlooking the Rio Grande
southeast of here. The Villa soldiers
watered their horses at the river and
were apparently prepared to resume
the attack late today or tonight after
dark. General Espinosa Cordova
placed the total Villa dead at 10 in
Guiding several chiefs of the Villa
command. No wounded or prisoners
were taken by the federal troops.
The government losses included Cap
tain Abran Alvarez, commanding the
first line trenches who was killed:
also a Yaqui Indian manning a ma
chine gun, and five other soldiers.
The wounded included Lieutenant
Colonel Ignacio H. Astudalle who was
shot through the leg. Ten others were
seriously or fatally wounded.
CIVILIANS AND WOUNDED
CROSS TO AMERICAN SIDE
Presidio, Texas, Nov. 14.-Wound-
ed soldiers and fleeing civilians from
the Ojiniga garrison started coming
to the American side early today
and were being brought into camp
here and placed in a temporary
stockade established by Capt. Theo.
Barnes, Jr., commander of the troops
stationed here. One Of the wounded
soldiers was Capt. Marine Avarica,
who was carried into camp on a.
stretcher made by Mauser rifles. He
had two bullet wounds through the
body. He was on the first line of
fire and was wounded soon after
the attack started. Another federal.
soldier was shot through the arm.
Fifty prisoners, picked up at the
ford, were also brought into camp
this morning.
Mexican Consul Cosmo B~engoechea
received a report this morning from
Espinosa y Cordova, saying the en-
envy had been completely routed
and that the federal losses were
small, but had not been estimated at
that time. Villa and his men fled
toward Mulato, according to the con-
sui. lie also received a report that