LOST IN MEXICAN WAR.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 63, 28 October 1911, Page 7

LOST IN MEXICAN WAR.

A MYSTERIOUS FATE. Terrible Tortures. it is a far cry from the battlefields of the recent Mexican revolution to the peaceful village of TJiaxted, Essex, and the prosperous and fashionable town of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. But these three are linked up in a remarkable way by the exploits of Mr William J. Roiph-Mooro Macdonald. The man spent his ■ schooldays, at Thaxted, then lie went as an apprentice. to a jeweller at Cheltenham, and afterwards left England to take part, on tiie side of the 'ultimately' victorious rebels, in the Mexican’s struggle against the Federal forces-which represented the. rule of ex-President Diaz. At the present moment- his fate is quite uncertain. There are grounds, on the one hand, for the fear that he fell a victim to the Federal forces; but there is also a possibility, almost as strong, that he. escaped by reason of his wide knowledge of the country in which he fought.. The last fight, in which Mr Macdonald took part was waged at the very time when King George was being crowned in Westminster Abbey. It occurred five miles out of the little frontier town of Tijuana, which had for some time been the headquarters of the rebel divisions. Early on the morning of June 21st a body of Federal troops was moving on Tijuana, and the following morning rebel leader, General Mosby, moved out .with diis little band of 130 men to. attack the advancing army, which was 1000 strong, and equipped with four .field guns and two machine guns. After three hours’ fighting General Mosby’s little force retired and crossed,into United States territory, where they surrendered their arms to the United States military force which President Taft had sent to guard the American frontier. Stayed to Help Others. In command of the party covering this retreat was the Englishman, \V. J. Rolph-Moore-.Macdonald. Ho took up a position commanding the line of retreat, and hastily throw up stone fortifications. His commanding officer, General. Mosby, who had by this time safely retreated, twice sent word that .Macdonald arid his party were to retire after liing but Macdonald,would, not lefive his'lifct] , c‘fort. He allowed ail who wished to obey his general’s order while he stayed on to succour any stragglers who might come along. With him.remained Troopers Mackenio and Wiley. This band of three remained in ;he little stronghold, and from that ime no definite knowledge of their ate lias been received. It was afterwards related that the Federal troops had found three wounded rebels. One of. these they humid to. death at once. Another they submitted to terrible tortures and eft him all night to suffer, intending to burn him next morning. The bird man was even more brutally routed. The Federal troops gouged ,ut his eyes and left him to be shot iater. It is just possible that these throe non may have been Macdonald and his two companions in the little fort. There is, however, room for hope that this report of tortures inflicted refers to some other party, of which there ,vcro many roving the country, and hat Macdonald is still alive. He ,vas put in charge of his band because ho had an extensive knowledge of he country, and this knowledge may have enabled him to N escape his pursers and join the main body. When in England Macdonald had served in E Company, Cheltenham lilies, also in the Gloucester Regiment, the Argyll and, Sutherland highlanders, and in a Hussar Regiment. During the South African war ie served in the Seaforth Highlanders.