Ojeda Whips Rebels In Dashing Sortie

New York Times 100 years ago today, March 16, 1913:
With Fewer Than 500, He Swoops from Naco and Routs 1,000 Secessionists.
RAPID-FIRE GUNS WIN FIGHT
Artillery Barks, Rifles Crack for Three Hours as Sonora Troops Flee — Nine Federals Killed.
    NACO, Arizona, March 15.— Instead of waiting to be attacked by almost 1,000 insurgent State troops, Gen. Ojeda, with fewer than 500 Federal soldiers, went out from Naco, Mexico, to-day and defeated the enemy. In three hours of aggressive fighting, peppering the enemy's line with rifle and machine guns bullets and spraying lead from shrapnel shells over the hills adopted as fortifications, the Huerta Federals drove the State forces five miles to the southeast. The Government troops returned victorious late to-day to the Mexican border town opposite this point.
    Even the victors did not believe the fighting ended, however, nor that Naco was secure from assault. The State forces are assembling to-night in still greater numbers to wrest the only remaining port on the Sonora border from the hands of the Huerta National Government.
    With the advantage of unexpected aggression and possessing five artillery pieces, the little brown, bare-footed soldiers defending the military honor of the new Huerta regime fought as wild men against seemingly overwhelming odds. Protected by the artillery fire, the Federals scrambled over the hillocks and fearlessly began firing their rifles at the enemy appearing in the distance.

Sortie Surprises Calles.
    It was the group under Col. Elias Calles which first received the assault. Expecting to attack rather than be attacked, the State troops soon fell back. The other half of the Constitutionalist forces under Prefecto Bracamonte rushed to the rescue from the east. With the crash of artillery and the continuous rattle of rifles, the battle was on.
    For an hour, desperate fighting was continued. Little by little, the State troops fell back from the biting fire of the aggressors. For a full mile, the Huerta soldiers pursued the retreating enemy closely, advancing the artillery from the rear of the skirmish lines. Killed and wounded Sonora secessionists lie to-night on the field.
    On behalf of the State of Arizona, Sheriff H. C. Wheeler of Tombstone early in the day insisted there should be no repetition of the shooting across the border in the Nogales battle. That moved the Federal commander to abandon his fortifications and set out after the enemy. Five troops of the Fifth and Ninth United States Cavalry were on duty along the border, keeping back non-combatants. The only person wounded in the fight on the American side was A. A. Hopkins, a Deputy United States Marshal. He was injured in the knee when doing neutrality duty on the line.
    As at Nogales. American volunteers in automobiles dared the fire to rescue wounded men under the protection of the Red Cross flag. An American physician is missing — Dr. Randall or Douglas. He abandoned his automobile on the battlefield to dress the wounds of the injured Mexicans.
    "I do not think the fight is ended." said Gen. Ojeda. "But I still am in possession of Naco, and I expect to contest every inch of the way."

Ojeda Admits Nine Killed.
    Gen. Ojeda said his losses in the day's fighting were nine killed and twelve wounded. He estimated the loss of the enemy as much greater, owing to the artillery fire.
    Small groups of rebels are pressing in from interior points. Four hundred Yaqui Indians are well on the way from Nogales. The red warriors are said to be making a record march to the assistance of the other secessionists.
    Daybreak found the contending forces in relatively the same positions as last night. The failure of the State troops to move to Naco was explained by the tardy arrival of Prefecto Bracamonte's men. On the approach of Bracamonte, about 8 o'clock, making the Constitutionalistas almost 1,000 strong, the two leaders sent a request to Ojeda to move south to meet them and so prevent any danger to Americans on this side of the line. The Federal commander declined the invitation, whereupon Calles and Bracamonte prepared to move on the town.
    Almost every Mexican family had passed the night in Arizona. At 8:30 o'clock this morning two troops of the Fifth Cavalry arrived from Forest, Ariz., to reinforce the three troops of the Ninth Cavalry already here.
    At 11 o'clock a fight was in progress two miles below the border. Ojeda's men charged to the top of a ridge, dismounted, and took skirmish positions. Col. Calles and his men advanced from the south against the Federal positions.

Field Guns Drive the Rebels.
    The firing was furious from the start. The Federals at once brought into play three field pieces and the rebel outposts retreated. The Federals pressed forward, encountering the main group of Calles's troops. Each force held its position. Bracamonte's detachment, which was advancing on Naco at the time of Ojeda's unexpected departure, then began moving to the aid of Calles.
    Startled by the unexpected assault of the Federals, Calles's forces at noon began to fall back. Bracamonte's command arrived, but failed to stem the tide of retreat. The fighting this afternoon was nearly three miles south, with the Federals pressing forward doggedly. Ojeda had two rapid-firers, besides his field pieces.
    By 1 o'clock the fighting was general between the 500 Federals and 900 State troops. The Constitutionalistas were beginning to hold their positions, despite the artillery fire.
    After three hours of desperate fighting, the battle was stopped at 2:15 o'clock, the Federals, under Ojeda, holding the field, while the State troops, under Bracamonte and Calles, were in full retreat to the south.