Hot Rebel Attacks Harass Huerta Men.

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 23, 1913:
Carranza Closes On Saltillo, Obregon Moves Against Ojeda at Naco.
HILL ROUTS FEDERAL FORCE
Government Troops Check Gil in Sonora — Regulars Hang Political Prisoners at Sause.
    NOGALES, Ariz., March 22.— In a two-day battle, State troops under Col. B. G. Hill routed a Federal column commanded by Major Munoz. Each group consisted of 800 men. The fight occurred last Wednesday and Thursday at Concentration, near Ladura, Sonora. The official statement given out by Gov. Pesqueira places the Federal loss at four killed and many wounded. The State troops are said to have lost only three killed and three wounded.
    Constitutionalist leaders in this vicinity were disturbed to-day by reports that Federals at Guaymas had made a daring sally from the town and captured a train bound for Ortiz, the State troops' base.
    Leaders of the State troops in Northern Sonora are preparing to rush their forces to Hermosillo and Ortiz to repel the threatened invasion by Huerta's army from the southwest.

    MEXICO CITY, March 22.— Government troops and a force of rebels began fighting to-day at Saltillo, capital of the State of Coahuila, according to private advices received here this afternoon. Saltillo is forty-six miles southwest of Monterey on the Mexican National Railway.
    Gov. Venustiano Carranza is directing personally the attack on Saltillo. Federals are marching from Montgomery to the invested city to reinforce the garrison of 500, which has been sustaining the attack since last midnight. The wires north and south have been down since morning. A train on the National Railroad northbound turned back at a station south of Saltillo.
    The rebels began their attack Friday night. Official reports seem to indicate that it is of little importance, but private dispatches filed early to-day say the fighting has been heavy in the outskirts.
    It is thought the rebels are trying to lure Gen. Trucy Aubert south of Monterey, to which city he retired with all his forces from Villaldama to protect it. The object of the rebels is to clear Monterey of Government troops so they may seize it.
    The Governor of Sinaloa has been arrested and charged with being affiliated with the rebels. The Federal Governor of the Territory of Tepic, Martin Espinoza, has joined the rebellion, but the Government says he has no followers.

    MONTEREY, Mexico, March 22.— Late advices from Saltillo say that the rebels in force have attacked that city. One thousand men under the command of Gen. Caso Lopez have been dispatched from San Luis and 500 men under Col. Aguirre Guardiola from this city to reinforce the Government troops. Venustiano Carranza, rebel Governor of Coahuila, is reported to be seeking an opportunity to treat for peace. He is said to have made known his willingness to meet emissaries of the Federal Government if they should, be sent to him.
    A detachment of 200 rebels yesterday sent a communication to Gen. Emiliano Lojero, commander of the troops here, offering to surrender if they received an assurance of amnesty. The foreign Consuls have been assured by Gen. Lojero that ample protection will be given to their countrymen in the event of an attack by rebels on the city.

    NACO, Ariz., March 22.— Combined State forces at noon to-day began moving against Naco, Sonora. Following his course of last week, Gen. Ojeda at once left the Mexican border town and set out to meet the enemy. His ranks had been depleted by desertions, and the Huerta commander had no more than 350 men, while four groups of the State troops aggregated 1,600 men. Although the State troops suddenly abandoned their avowed plan of first attacking Cananea, Gen. Ojeda was not caught napping. At once his small army set out in two columns, the rapid firers to the east and the mortars and cannon to the west.
    The State troops also advanced in two groups. Cols. Bracamonte and Calles, who were defeated previously below Naco, moved in from the east with four machine guns. from the west, Gen. Obregon and Col. Cabral advanced with a battery of field pieces.
    When the Federal advance had exchanged a few shots with the State troops, Gen. Ojeda gave an order to retire into Naco and the Huerta soldiers retreated within their fortifications. The Federal commander apparently had expected to cut his way through the State troop lines, but saw it was hopeless on account of the superior number of the enemy.
    Residents of the Mexican town began rushing to this side, where the patrol of the Ninth and Fifth Cavalry, U.S.A., was on duty.

    MAZATLAN, Sinaloa, Mexico, March 22.— Six hundred Federal cavalrymen arrived here to-day by steamer from Manzanillo. They will proceed to Guaymas, Sonora, to assist in the movement against the insurgents of the border State.

    GUYMAS, Sonora, Mexico. March 22. — Five hundred State troops are encamped at Navajoa, in Southern Sonora, awaiting the arrival of Gen. Gil before making a second attack on Alamos, which is on a branch line of the Southern Pacific Railway. Gen. Gil is reported as delayed near Ladura by a Federal column, which has been engaging him since Tuesday.

    TEPIC CITY, Tepic, Mexico. March 22. — Gov. Martin Ezpinosa of the Territory Of Tepic on the west coast liberated to-day all prisoners from the penitentiary and with a small escort started to join the Constitutionalistas in Sinaloa.

    WASHINGTON, March 22. —As railroad communication between Laredo, Texas, and interior Mexico is at a standstill the American Consul in Monterey reported to-day that all United States mail for Mexico should be sent by way of Brownsville, Texast and Matamoras, Mexico. There is one train daily between Matamoras and Monterey.
    Gen. Obregon still threatens Cananea with several hundred volunteers and Yaqui Indians. Gen. Diaz is reported to have arrested the Governor of Sinaloa and the Prefect of Mazatlan.

    EL PASO, Tex., March 22. — Hanging from railway telegraph poles at Sause, between Chihuahua City and the border, are the bodies of Mariano Rodrigruez, formerly Police Chief of Juarez, and Rafael Esquir, a veteran newspaper man of the two border towns. On the band of the hat worn by Esquir are printed the words, "Soldado de Paz" — Soldier of Peace.
    Taunting their victims with that phrase familiar to residents of El Paso and Juarez, Federal troops last Wednesday removed Esquir and Rodriguez from the Juarez jail. The prisoners had been held for "political offenses." It was alleged that Esquir had written an article for a newspaper blaming Gen. Huerta for the slaying of Madero.
    An unidentified political prisoner also was hanged, persons arriving here to-day reported.