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Show r ml Fight at Agua Prieta I'' Disturbs Taft and , I ' : Cabinet H ? 1 T5"r 1 1 ? ' Washington, April 14 Further it trouble at Agua Prieta, Mexico, en- J'i dangering the lives of Americans In the mining camps in that vicinity. Is ; threatened, according to unolllcial m 1 1 telegrams received by the war defJart- HJ ment This dispatch", which was from MM At nn American of Douglas, whose name ils withheld, has been laid before the President. According to this telegram, 250 revolutionists revo-lutionists were pitted against CO federals fed-erals yesterday In the battle at Agua Prieta, the eugagement lasting two hours. Twelve rebels were killed and sixteen wounded. The federal loss was sevn killed and seven wounded. Secretary of State Knox was at the White House at 9 -30 o'clock this morning consulting with the Prcsl- j dent about the situation arising out of the battle. The conference was h L an extended one. The cabinet meets H I , today and the situation may be dis- H I cussed by the- President with all of I S his advisers. H . Tho Mexican government, according H P to the view of the state department, H will be held accountable for the loss : of life and Injury to Americans at H I Douglas, Arizona, during the fighting H?5 between federals and Insurrcctos at H?-, Agua Prieta. yesterday. No matter WFa -' whether the fire of the federals or Bj !, that of the Insurrcctos Inflicted the in- H .' Jury, It will be the federal government lii t0 "wnlca lnc United States will look H lor reparation- H t As soon as official reports on the H v fighting and the casualties sustained H A by Americans shall hnve been re- H1-''." eeived representations will be sent H" to the Mexican government. It Is Bkfij-, said, and In due course the claims of RelF, Lose injured will be presented. It !5: ls undoubtedly ue, however, that I w in some cases, Mexico will havo a R.Er counter claim of contributory negll- B ' k gencc on the part of the injured Am- J l erlcans. That there will be some jus-HffK jus-HffK tlce in such a contention, Is argued B. " from the fact that Americans took I "t their stand in such closo proximity to I I the lighting as to place their lives In B'k3 Jeopardy. On the other hand, many jWg of the wounded sustained their hurts Mplx while In pursuit of their usual busl-H' busl-H' L uess 'n tlic business districts or bulld-vf bulld-vf lugs of Douglas. iBp As u renewal of fighting at Agua Pffi. Prieta Is looked for. It is expected mM that formal notice will bo served on 2jf both fcdernls and insurgents that Bai'j American lives and American property R.EU on this sldo of tho American Hue Hjllj- mtiBt not be endangered. , WM It will not be the llrst time during Hcr i this Insurrection that sucn uotlce J; lias been served. Military command-B command-B g -c- ors near points where battles havo B,"J been fought hnve advised the Mexi-W Mexi-W if cans regard to the safety of Amerl- I M cans- Mm The shrewdness of the Insurrectos Hj ,, In making their attack from the north I o3 t of Agua Prieta, so as to force Its I t ', defenders to fire toward Douglas, has I "$ " aroused comment here. They are be- I ' lleved to havo recognized the possl-.i possl-.i t hlllty that such a movement might Jk' " result in complications and the , en- y ' tanglement of the Mexican govern- 'lm uieilt wJlu lllat of tho United Stales. 'Mr General Wood, chief of staff of the B '- army, has called on the commander H of the department of the Colorado, Sill WUo 's al ort H,incnunca, Arizona, yL for a detailed report on the Agua ijfl j Prieta and Douglas fight. Gonernl i Wood stated today that tho American IB,, soldiers patrolling the Mexican bord- M' er have Instructions not to cross Into -ill Mexican territory. The action of tho RJ t American officers, however, In taking ' messages from Mexican federals on ! I the American side to their comrades, it ' across tho lino, asking that thoy sur- ; render, would not bp regarded as a jrtf i violation of these Instructions th? 'tl The situation at Agua Prieta and ra ; Douglas, which are practically one if town, has been serious for several , ' weeks, according to reports received by the war dpartment. Tho federals if havo been fortifying Agua Prieta and 'tfc tome of the defensps are not ten feet $i "it. from the dividing line. e"'' k G Bituat'on nas not been without &&" Ils ludicrous side Frequently tho , 7 federals wore engaged in constructing t''j ' - trenches south of the boundary line, - J and a gang of rebel sympathizers on IIH ) the American side would hoot and . $ A ieor the defenders of Diaz. Between UlR (n tn opposing elements, the American I? K 6ldlers and police patrolled tho bordj , er lines, always with n watchful eye yi ft as to the possibility of a clash on fy J American soil. itiW irjj?i S Douglas is Nervou3. ''teslh , touglas, Ariz., April U. The cit- AKtJ lzens of Douglas are living In hourly feSl fenr ot anther battle across the llhe 'il ut AB"a PrlL'la which may result more 'ftij .) disastrously to Amcricttn non-com- -5JJ ll batants than tho one of yesterday. erl i Three hundred rebels are in full pos- giaf "? v Besslou of Agua Prieta today and the c'I r port is closed. The Mexican fedornl iK." 1 " troPS are believed to be approaching I I 5f (' Agua Prieta from tho south, bringing H'- I w,lu lhem machino guns for an as- g t; sault upon the city. fffu The number of federal troops re- wjii i ported to be nearing Agua Prieta is lf . said to be about 300. Tho force, how-j2yi',?.V how-j2yi',?.V over- may he much larger, as more &$ " 1,20 fcde''al troops under Col' !rI5k 0ra(1 0cda nr( stationed at Can- lCotfSt anea and the vlclnitv Immediately ' fff a near by. It is expected the federals will rush all available troops In this section of Sonora to the relief ot Agua Prieta. The feeling among American citizens citi-zens on this side of the line Is one of decided nervousness. They fear that another battle such aB that of yesterday yester-day or of even greater magnitude, as Indications seem to promise, would result disastrously or Douglas. Tho uec of machine guns by an attacking force might result seriously on this side of the line. Local citizens are preparing a message to forward to President Taft setting forth the serj ousness of the situation and asking for immediate guarantees of safety. The civil authorities on the American Ameri-can side consulted today with 'Red" Lopez and other lnsurrecto commanders command-ers In Agua Prieta In regard to. tbi? situation and particularly In regard to the Naco railroad, which Is also In the hands of the Insurrcctos. It is felt here that if the government govern-ment at Washington does not take such steps as Is necessary for the protection of American lives and property, the citizens of Douglas may arm themselves for their own defense and such a situation might result in an indiscriminate return of fire from the Mexican side. nn |