Agua Prieta has battle

Nº 218

AHSRE L-E-953 F. 377

The Arizona Republican, Phoenix, Arizona

13 de marzo de 1911

Agua Prieta has battle

Repulse of Rebels under Blanco by Federal Force.

A Sunday entertainment

Douglas Citizens Gathered in a Fringe on Northern Border of Bloody Field It Was All Over in an Hour Americans Killed.

Douglas, Ariz., march 12. Eleven federal dead were left on the battlefield of Agua Prieta today after General Jose de la Luce Blanco, with a force of 500 rebels had been engaged by a federal force of 300. Eleven federals were wounded while the losses of the rebels are not known as they took their injured away in their retreat to the mountains.

After mystifying both the Mexican officials and Americans on the border for a week, Blanco surprised all by suddenly breaking out of a canyon, leading from Genizes Springs, and engaged a federal force of 300 that had been rushed into Agua Prieta last night on a special train under the command of Colonel Mora. Except for a few prisoners taken by the federals, the rebels retreated in good order.

It is understood that Blanco's entire force was not engaged. His first action was to throw out a skirmish line to draw the federals into action and ascertain their strength.

The battle lasted an hour, and it is believed that the retreat that followed was for the purpose of drawing the federals into the canyon where the main body of Blanco's force was ready for action. The federal troops howewer, after a spirited pursuit rallied and returned to Agua Prieta, refusing to be entrapped. Another attack is expected tonight. Three hundred federal troops being rushed from Cananea to the relief of Agua Prieta should reach there by daylight.

Both the Mexican authorites and Americans in Douglas knew early today that the rebel camp was only a few miles east. By 9 o'clock the rebels were seen streaming over a little bog and pouring down into the side of a draw from the international line. The Americans began a rush from Douglas to the boundary by thousands and mounted on housetops watched the rebel movements with field glasses. Autos streamed from all directions. Soon the entire country from the American custom house to the eastern outskirts of the city was a solid phalanx of sightseers.

When it was seen that the rebels were advancing on the town, the comisario of police of Agua Prieta, Laborio Masquesa, telephoned Captain Johnson, commander of the third United States cavalry at Douglas. Within fifteen minutes the troops had galloped through the city and had established a perfect patrol along the line. The troopers went coolly about their business of preventing anyone from cossing the international line from either side.

From Agua Prieta a long line of federal troops swept up over the bare mesa advancing energetically toward the rebel line, coming from the east. As the forces neared the federals formed a perfect fighting front. When about half a mile from the rebels, the federals awaited the oncoming rebels. On the right end of the federal force was the infantry of the Twenty seventh regiment, and on the left the regulars of the Thirteenth infantry. In the center were thirty mounted rurales.

The federals halted on the gentle slope of the draw almost at a point where the road runs from Agua Prieta toward Cabullona. Only a few scraggy brushes of mesquite broke the landscape, and the rebels could easily observe the federals. They continued to advance until within 500 yards of the federal line.

At this moment the federal firing line arose from their knees and a long sputter of shots burst from their guns. The rebels deployed to right and left shooting from their horses, dropping from their saddles to fire from their knees. At the first volley several soldiers dropped. The soldiers of the twenty seventh regiment seemed to bear the brunt of the rebel fire. The rebels after a short encounter at close range, galloped over the crest of the draw, the federals following. As the federals appeared on high ground, the rebels poured in a five and it was at this point that most of the federals were shot.

Captain Johnson in the early part of the action received by couriers a message from the Mexican consulate to the effect that just south of Agua Prieta there was a force of 250 insurrectos which it was expected would charge the town from the south. Johnson immediately announced along the line that all Americans were amply warned of their danger and that they remained within range at their own peril. Few americans heeded the advice. Instead, all the Americans were eager to rush to the battlefield as soon as the firing began. They carried the woonded in autos to Agua Prieta.

Douglas excited again.

Douglas, Arizona, march 12. Late tonight Captain Johnston received a message from Comissario Vasquez stating that Blanco's froces were again advancing upon Agua Prieta. The United States cavalry turned out and will take up a position on the border. The excitement here is renewed.