Morelia, 10 Enero 1918, LA OPINION

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Note from J. Socorro Diaz Diaz: Although the following contains many inaccuracies, I insert the corresponding part of the newspaper, "La Opinion," from Morelia, dated 10th of January [1918].
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Yesterday, the bandit--Ines Chavez Garcia--suffered tremendous defeat. Neighbors of the town of Huandacareo defended themselves heroically.

The brave Gen. Jose L. Flores, with Cavalry under his command attacked the rearguard of the enemy with vigor.

As we offered our readers yesterday, today we release, with permission, the following offical part of the defeat inflicted upon the bandits led by the infamous Chavez Garcia, who was whipped for the second time by the "fuerzas legalistas" (government forces) under the command of General Estrada.

Despite the perverse versions of the enemies of the Revolution and hence Constitutionalism, we therefore firmly believe that the current Head of Military Operations in the State will soon bring about the establishment of that peace we all desire.

This victory--achieved by the "Leales" (Loyalists)--has filled us with joy and so we send to the military authorities and the heroic defenders of Huandacareo our warmest congratulations.

---------------Here's the official part: ----------------

Morelia, Mich., January 9, 1918 - "C. Gral. J. Agustin Castro, Subsecretario de Guerra y Marina, Mexico, D.F." (Constitutionalist General Jose Agustin Castro, Subsecretary of War and Navy, Mexico, D.F.)

Number 103 - I communicate to you the latests operations; in due time I have paid back in part the defeat you suffered by the siege of Santa Ana [Maya], "fecha primero" (on the first of this month).

On January 3rd, I had to move forcefully to this town because 300 bondoleros from Altamirano had interrupted communication with Acambaro. Subsequently, we mobilized the 73rd Batallion for further development of operations against Chavez Garcia who occupied -- with 1,200 men -- Santa Ana Maya and Cuitzeo, having received reinforcement from Altamirano and Guanajuato.

Yesterday, the 8th [of January], I received news that bandoleros were moving against Huandacareo with the intent of attacking it. This determined that Gen. Jose L. Flores, with the 71st Regiment of his Brigade, the 80th Regiment of Lt. Col. Magana Uribe, and the 216th of Lt. Col. Anacleto Lopez, who were under his direct orders, were mobilized in full force to proceed from Purandiro to Huandacareo; at the same time the 73rd Batallion under Col. Serratos was mobilized to proceed from this town with the same objective.

For their part, the enemy -- at 4:00 p.m. -- launched a vigorous attack against Huandacareo where 80 brave citizens under Sr. Nicolas Nunez, made a bold resistance, holding at bay the bandits until 7:00 p.m., at which time, Gen. Flores, proceeding from Purandiro and following the correct device regiments under his command, attacked, vigorously, the rearguard of the enemy, putting them, in 30-minutes, in complete disarray despite the rugged terrain and darkness of night.

The enemy abandoned 34 dead, 245 horses, the majority saddled, 40 weapons in good repair, 10 musical instruments, and 140 "maletas" (carpet bags/suitcases) of "impedimenta" [,] numerous bloody tracks. This part refers only to what is evident. On our part we had one dead and one wounded from the 89th Regiment, one dead from the 216th Regiment and three wounded of the brave civilian defenders of Huandacareo.

I think it just to note the expertise of Gen. Flores; the tenacity of our cavalry and the brave conduct of the citizens of Huandacareo.

As you see, it seems that the weapons confirm our optimism in the ultimate success of the campaign in Michoacan.

Respectfully,


General Enrique Estrada,
"Jefe de Operaciones" [Signed]

Clarifications [by J. Socorro Diaz Diaz]:---------------------

The attack began at 3:00 p.m. and aid arrived at 9:00 p.m. or 9:30 p.m. The dead caused Chavez Garcia by the government were three. And [the government] killed six day-labourers at the "Hacienda" whom the "bandoleros" (bandits) had taken prisoners as they worked at the "Potrero de La Higuera" "cosechando" (harvesting) and whom [the bandits] utilized to take care of their horses while the Chavistas attacked the town. The dead caused General Flores resulted from the ongoing combat in which the defenders at "Reten No. Cinco" (battle group 5) were engaged, before they were able to be identified as government troops. We found out from one of General Flores' officers that he (Gen. Flores) had orders to disarm the defense, since we were the only ones left in the zone--one has to recall the antagonism that existed in this era between the "Jefatura Federal" (Federal Head) and Ing. Ortiz Rubio, "Gobernador Constitucional del Estado" (Constitutional Governor of the State of Michoacan) and "Jefe Nato de las Defensas Civiles" (Nicolas Nunez, Head of Civilian Defense forces in the area). But Flores, upon arriving at "Llano Grande" [Hacienda de...], learned of our position and did not put into effect the order that we suppose had been given him.

The forces of Altamirano (Escalante and Ortiz), had retreated as far as "Rancho de Marijo," five kilometers from the town and could not take part in the combat, nor would they have wished to. The force with which Chavez Garcia operated was 1,800 to 2,000 men, according to the neighbors of the towns of Cuitzeo and Santa Ana Maya and the noncombatants--taken as prisoners from the towns-- that succeeded in escaping upon the disarray of the bandits [at Huandacareo].

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