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Show Federals Flee From Torreon! Si! : 1 : H I f GENERAL VILLA OCCUPIES CITY II AFTER TERRIBLE SIX-DAY BATTLE ; . ft I Streets Strewn With Dead and Wounded Path of Escaping Troops Marked With Abandoned Cartridg es nd Belts ti, ' Tremendous Losses Reported Valuable Stores and Ammunition Left Behind Rebel Cavalry ! J Pursuing to South. f I P CLIMAX OF CAMPAIGN IS REACHED f Mexico City Sends Denials But Insurgent Victory Is Confirmed g I'1 in Washington Juarez Goes Mad With Excitement Over Great Victory Constitutionalists Now in j ; : Possession of Whole Northern Tier of States U General Carranza Outlines Situation S ; Will Meet General Villa in Chihuahua. L2 'i V: Washington, D. C, April 3. The . I. capture of Torrcon from the federals : by General Francisco Villa and his tfc constitutionalist forces was officially , reported to the state department late ft t ) today by George C. Carothers, special js jj . consular agent, who accompanied Villi Vil-li t la to Torreon. He said he uould 5 1 forward details later. 4 ; Carothers also reported that the fod-jjj fod-jjj erals abandoned all their dead and , i wounded and fled from Torreon last n i night, presumably southward. ' Juarez, Mexico, April 3. Tho rebel Ik i pursuing force this morning engaged r : the rear guard of the fugitive federals sjji - at San Pedro. 26 miles east of Tor- 'm reon, killing 100 and capturing 123, ' siccording to a report received from General Villa this afternoon. ! Among the prizes of war taken in ' Torreon were four large guns, 1000 ahrapnel and thousands of rifles. 7 The path of the escaping federals is f. marked with their abandoned arms iyc f and cartridge belts, HI ! Gen. Carranza Outlines Situation. V 1 1 k General Carranza was very busy to- i ; day but In the afternoon took time to a , answer questions put to him bv re ft porters. Asked as to the significance ). of the capture of Torreon, he replied: 1 ; "It is of the greatest importance be- I . , cause it sets us free to coucentrate I the major portion of our forces around 1 ; the more central cities of the republic still held by Huerta, with the knowledge know-ledge that he no longer has a northern north-ern army worthy the name. "Of course I cannot disclose our future military plans, as Huerta, although al-though lie has not proven himself a good soldier, would surely take advantage ad-vantage of the information. Will Meet Villa in Chihuahua. "As for recognition of our Government Govern-ment by the United States, I have nothlngto say because that Joes not depend on mo. I expect to remain in Juarez several days longer, after which I will establish my headquarters headquart-ers in Chihuahua. We have not definitely de-finitely decided, but I expect to meet General Villa In that city. "With the capture of Torreon we have communication by rail all the way to Durango and the outsklrt of Zacatccas, which is In tho very heart of the republic. We also have telegraphic tele-graphic communication as far south as the territory of Tepic, and I receive re-ceive daily reports from our advance guards in the vicinity of San Louis Potosi. On the cast I am in daily communication with the forces within a few miles of Tampico and in the neighborhood, of Saltlllo and Mont-erey.'' Mont-erey.'' Benton Case Not Finished. Asked when a report on the Benton case might be expected, the chief of the revolution replied that the commission com-mission appointed by himself to investigate in-vestigate has not finished Its labors and cannot do so for several days. "Tho inquiry was postponed because it was necessary that Dr. Lara, one of the commission's surgeons, should be at Chihuahua to assist in caring for the wounded," he said. "Some work has been going forward, for-ward, however, for we are going into every detail of Benton's life." Many Congratulations. General Carranza received congratulations congratu-lations today from all parts of the United States and Europe, His own messsisc to G-eneral Villa follows: "I have received tho message in which you communicate to me the capture of Torreon, from where the Temnant of the defeated federal garrison gar-rison left under cover of darkness. "I heartily congratulate you and your officers and soldiers for your persistent courago in the eleven days of battle which nas brought as a rc- suit the capture of this great federal stronghold. I lament deeply the loss of so many of our valient comrades. ' This brilliant triumph brings nearer f the definite accomplishment of our E cause, with which we will erase the stain that an army of traitors and assassins as-sassins has cast upon the honor of our country." Torreon, Mex.. April 3. Torreon. strewn with the doa.d and wounded S of a six-day battle, was occupied by the rebels last night on the heels of I the fleeing federals. In all the fighting no foreigners were killed or injured. Tho takiug of the city marks the climax of tho first campaign .of the revolution to t oust Victorlano Huerta from tho presidential castle In tho City of f Mexico. It gives the Constitutional-i Constitutional-i ists virtual control over the whole northern tier of Mexican states. The fighting began last Friday ana was almost continuous. At first Villa Vil-la attempted assaults on the strong federal positions in daylight but these proved costly, so the days were spent in cannonading and the nights in assaults. Positions Repeatedly Taken and Lost. Positions were taken and lost time and again. Several night attacks sent the federals scurrying from strong positions, but at daybreak, the captors would be compelled to abandon them by the strength and accuracy of the enemy's artillery fire, much of which is said to have been directed by French and German gunners. gun-ners. Losses have not been compiled, but General Villa estimates his own losses loss-es at 500 killed and 1500 wounded, and the federal loss at 1000 dead and 2500 wounded, with an unknown number num-ber of prisoners. Villa believes that the federals, whom yhls cavalry Is pursuing to the south, forms but a remnant of the federal force, whose loss he says probably is close to being total. AH the subordinate generals have not yet reported, however, and, until they do, just how many are captured cannot be accurately stated. Four-Mile Battle Line. Tho battle line was Tour miles long and the field was determined by three great hills formed llko a carpenter's car-penter's square at either end of which lay the towns of Gomez Palaclo and Torreon. There were about 10,000 men in each array. The federals had fortified the hills with rifle pits, trenches and barb wire entanglements. The nature of the ground made it difficult to recover re-cover the wounded and many of them died of thirst and hunger or lack of attention, where they fell. Automobiles were used in rescue work, but they could not ascend the hill sides. Fierce Fighting In Hills. Some of the fiercest fighting occurred oc-curred in the hills south of Gomez Palacio and west of Torreon. It raged rag-ed with great fury on the Canyon de Huarache, where the federals made their . last desperate stand and from which they finally fled, followed by a column of Villa's horse. Twice the rebels took two of the hills, ouly to lose them, but all the time the attack was becoming more formidable as the soldiers, attacking from all sides except the west, fighting fight-ing from house to house, drew the circle closer about the enemy. A hundred small encounters occurred occur-red intermittently in the streets over the possession of some favored roof, but the roar of cannon was almost continuous. Both sides used armored trains. These, with big guns mounted, would suddenly appear around an elbow of one of the hills, discharge a broadside broad-side and then retire Early in the attack on Gomez Palacio, the trains ventured out at the same time and a lively exchange of shots ensued, like a naval engagement on land. Great Rockets Used. The federals made use of huge rockets, which were shot to a great height, exploding In the air and letting let-ting down a ljail of buckshot. On the fourth day of the fight the intense suffering from heat aud thirst was relieved by a rain thought to have been brought on by the heavy firing. During the battle, scouts brought word that federal reinforcements from Monterey were approaching on the east. General Horrora was sent against them and later reported that he had sent tbem fleeing iuto the hills. Finally the federals evacuated to the south and the rebels took possession pos-session of Torreon. Great supplies of food, ammunition, artillery and store3 of cotton fell into in-to the rebel hands by the capture. Juarez, Mex., April 3 With the taking of Torrcon by the rebels last night, Constitutionalists now control an Immense wedge-shaped portion of Mexico, with the point resting on Torreon. Tor-reon. 500 miles south of here and the top extending along the American border bor-der from Nogales, Ariz., to a point just west of Eaislo Pass, Texas. At Piedras Negras known also as Cludad Porflrlo Diaz, across tho Rio Grande from Englo Pass, there is a federal garrison, but It does not now consti- tuto a menace to the rebels. The states now subject to the rebel reb-el arms are Chihuahua, Sonora (except (ex-cept the port of Guaymas), most of Coahulla, Durango and Sinaloa. Yesterday's victory Is said to make the capture of Saltlllo and Monclovla, i in Coahuila and Monterey, the key to the state of Nuevo Leon, assured. Thp main federal force, according to Villa's report to General Carranza was wiped out by death, wounded, capture or flight at Gomez Palacio and Torreon. Mazatlan. the federal port in the state of Sinaloa, by the release of the veteran rebel army at Torreon, also is in a precarious state. Rebels Control Entire North. Thus by his successful campaign of the last month, General Francisco Villa has practically assured rebel control of the vast territory of the northern states of Mexico, and gained for himself the reputation of being the foremost soldier of the country. It was but a little over a year ago that he started out from a village near here with two companions, six horses, seven dollars in money and a meagre supply of beans, coffee and sugar. The horses at the time were not paid for and Villa's first act on capturing this city three months .ago was to re-pay the liveryman from whom the horses were "borrowed." General Pablo Gonzales for months has harassed the federal forces at Monclovla and Monterey and now that the Torreon army is loosed, strategists here assume that tho federals fed-erals will evacuate these points and attempt a retreat to Tampico, the seaport of the state of Tamaulipas. This state is sprinkled with rebel troops all along the line of retreat, which makes it evident that the federal fed-eral garrisons already are threatened with capture by immensely superior numbers. Rebels Hold Railroads. A railroad runs from Torreon to the city of Durango which is hold by the rebels, and the overland journey from that point to Mazatlan lies through a country which Is agriculturally agricultur-ally rich and well watered. It would be a pleasant march for an army fresh from the horrors of hunger and thirst in the desert. Tho railroad, however, is cut at Pickardls, where the big steel bridge over the river of that namo was wrecked six months ago. Troops could bo roved over it, however, bj- the use of shuttle trains. Interest here today was divided in speculation as to Villa's future movements move-ments and the effect, if any, that the rebel triumph would have in Washington. Wash-ington. Juarez Mad With Enthusiasm. Never in all its dramatic history since the Madero revolution of 1910 has Juarez gone so mad with enthusiasm enthu-siasm as it did when a foot messenger messen-ger from military headquarters ran through the streets shouting that Torreon Tor-reon had fallen. Drunk with elation, men embraced each other wherever they met. Bells In the 300-year-old mission of Guadalupe were set ringing ring-ing louder and faster than they have ever rung for religious purposes. Ihaki-clad rebel soldiers woke from their sleep In the town's many barracks bar-racks to cheer. Then, stirred by a common Impulse, their rifles were turned loose Into the air. For a time, inhabitants of El Paso supposed Juarez Juar-ez was again suffering one of its periodical attacks. Officials Yell With Delight. Finley dressed officials, high In the Carranza administration, threw their arms around unwashed private soldiers Jn the streets and yelled their delight. The municipal band, hastily routed from their beds, paraded pa-raded through the streets playing the national hymn and seranaded Carranza Car-ranza until the Constitutionalist first chief tired of the music. In the gambling gam-bling hall conducted by Villa's agents for the benefit of the rebel treasury all play ceased, while gamblers, gam-blers, game keepers and spectators alike, shouted their joy. Through it all, only one name was heard above all others. It was Villa, "Viva Villa!" Common soldiers mingled min-gled freely with the highest officials of the rebel government In a cabaret caba-ret resort and were invited to drink to the glory of the Insurgent arms Virtually the only place opea in the Mexican border town where drinks might be bought, this cabaret was crowded to the doors with civil and military men of all ranks. In all stages of dress, for the hour was late, they crowded In to embrace friends and toast the conquering general. gen-eral. In the midst of all the rejoicing, rejoic-ing, American rag time music tinkled from an antiquated piano in tho corner, cor-ner, while American women from El Paso's slums danced the one-step with Mexican partners In the middle of the big room. Federal Sympathizers Crestfallen, When the shooting of rifles and pistols in celebration began, dozens of federal sympathizers In El Paso awoke and made a rush for the in ternational bridges, thinking that, by some unexpected stroke of fortune, federal forces wore attacking Juarez. But they turned back crestfallen, when informed by American soldiers on duty at the bridges at tho fall of Torrcon was the cause. Rebel soldiers sol-diers guarding the Mexican end of the structures saw the proceeding and howled taunting Insults at th6 "Huertaistas" who had "come to see the federals re-take Juarez " By two o'clock in tho morning the excitement had died away and the streots were deserted. Plans are under un-der way for a formal celebration this afternoon, over which General Carranza Car-ranza will preside. Scene In Carranza Home. Belden, a friend of Carranza, described de-scribed the scene in the Carranza homo when the long awaited news was received. General Carranza had been talking with, .Gomez Palacio off and on for some time and was chatting with members of iis family He seemed very cheerful even buoyant. "At 11 o'clock the telegraph operator opera-tor came into the room with a piece of paper In 1) is hand. "Well muchacho, Is it Torreon?" the general smiled as one who knew well what thjj answer would be. " 'Yes, my .chief,' came the reply. "Carranza kissed his wife und daughters, then ''Have the bugler sound . the. call of triumph,', he ordered, or-dered, 'and. give me the telephone, I niust-ilcir Mrs. Vil.la.'- Mrs; Villa Notified. "His was the first news of her husband's hus-band's achievement to reach General Villa-. "Carranza's next act was to telegraph tele-graph a message of hearty congratulation congratu-lation to Villa. . "Meanwhile friends of Mrs. Villa were calling her on the telephone with words of congratulation while others, despite the hour, called and wine reserved for the occasion was gratefully drunk to the victorious general, gen-eral, to his loyal lieutenants and those who gave their lives." At Juarez and Chihuahua for weeks Villa waited while every detail was being perfected. He realized perfectly perfect-ly that tho campaigzn would probably go far to decide the whole fate of the war and profiting by the experience experi-ence of previous revolutions where haste had led to disaster he declined to be hurried. Washington,' D. C, April 3. Instructions In-structions to hold up, under the Immigration Im-migration laws, any of the Mexican refugees interned at Fort Bliss, who may be released under pending ha beas corpus proceedings, have been sent by Commissioner CamlnettI to immigration Inspectors along the border. bor-der. In case the habeas corpus is granted, the refugees will be immediately imme-diately re-arrested and their right to enter the United States tested. Mr. Caminetti- said that the question ques-tion of where the- refugees would be deponed should they be held to have entered the United States illegally has not been taken up. oo |