Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-05-31
About Two Hundred Bandits
Dash Into Village in Early
Morning; Garrison ReSists
but Finally Crosses River.
STORES AND HOMES ARE
LOOTED BY VICT0RS
Fierce Battle at La MuIa Pass,
Thirty-five Miles Away, Is
Said to Have Gone Against
Government Tuesday,

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Preside, Tex, May 30.-Francisco
Villa tonight holds a border port OPP
posite an American town and again
United States troops are patrolling
the border line while villa cavalry
men are slhouetted against the night
sky on the southern bank of the Rio
Grande.
At 6 o'clock this morning approx
mately 200 Villa followers dashed into
the little border town of Ojinaga, OPP
posite here, shouting Viva Villa!
and shooting right and left as they
rode. Only a comparative HANDFUL
of Mexican government forces occu-
pied the adobe garrison, General
Figueroa, General Garcia and Colonel
Riojas had gone out Sunday night to
engage the Villa command which was
encamped In La Mula pass, thirty
five miles south of the border. These
forces are expected to return tonight
and make desperate effort % drive
the Villa troops from the town.
Seek Refuge In Preside.
Fifty of the government force OF
seventy-five men left in Ojinaga sue
ceeded in escaping across the river to
Presidio and were given asylum by
American troops. Women and chill
dren followed behind their men, car
rying their babies and bundles. one
woman leading burro laden with her
worldly possessions. OF the twenty
five government soldiers remaining
sixteen we're killed during the fight.
ing, six were taken prisoner and VIII
probably be executed, while the re-
mainder were wounded.
The battle lasted two hours after
which the small stores and shops
which flanked the plaza were looted
of everything which could be carried
away and the homes of the Ojinaga
residents rifled. The Villa command
occupied the abandoned garrison, re-
trieved the rifles which the govern
ment soldiers had thrown away in
their flight to the American side, and
tonight the camp fires of the Villa
soldiers may be seen dotting the high
tableland which is Ojinaga.
Villa May BE Present.
Whether or not villa was with his
troops has not yet been fully confirm
ed. No one was permitted to cross to
the Mexican side tonight and the Mex
leans coming to the American side say
they heard reports Of Villas presence
in the town but none had seen the
famous leader. Chico" Cano, Villa
commander, led the Villa forces into
the plaza, while Martin Lopez, Jose
Inez Salazar and Carlos Montoya were
reported to have been with him In the
attack. Villa was reported to have
been seen on a hill near Ojinaga early
today, but this was not confirmed.
Reports of a fight yesterday be-
tween government troops In command
of Generals Garcia and Figueroa, III
teen miles southeast of La Mula pass
and fifty miles below the border,
we're brought here today by refugee
Mexicans. They said the government
forces were divided into two com
mands and both were said to have
suffered heavy losses and were forced
10 retire to the foothills near La Mula.
Seven hundred villa troops were said
to have been engaged in this battle
and were opposed by about $40 gov
ernment troops. The Villa force was
said to have been Villas main COM
mand and he was reported to have
been present in person.
Hand Grenadcs Used.
About 800 refugees have crossed
from Ojinaga and are camped to-
night near the river. According TO
these people, the Villistas commenced
the attack by hurting homemade
hand grenades into the houses.
j. r. Weisinger, deputy collector OF
customs, crossed to the Mexican side
this afternoon and interviewed Por-
firio Ornelas, who appeared to be
in command of the Villa forces. The
collector reports he saw but few
troops and no officer save Ornelas.
Ornelas stated that his men were
within hearing distance and that
he was prepared to resist any attempt
Of the government troops to take the
town. He said he could muster as
many men as could the government
commander. Ornelas said neither
Villa nor Salazar was with him,
but that Chico" Cano was near.
All Wanted to Flee.
A few women and children. ac-
cording to the deputy collector, re-
mained in their homes and were un-
molestcd by the Villistas. They were
warned, however, by Ornelas to come
to the American side as he could not
guarantee their safety after his re-
inforcements had arrived.
Mexican civilians who crossed from
Ojinaga late today and whoever wit
nesses OF the fighting, say that twen-
ty-five government soldiers were
killed in the fight. Two soldiers who
were taken prisoners were executed.
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