Omaha daily bee., 1910-12-22
MEXICAN TROOPS DEFEATED
Cutting Up Of Troop Train at Mslpaso
Intensifies Situation.
REBEL FORCES GROW RAPIDLY
Report that General Navarro is SUR
rounded Near PedernsIes and
f. short Of Food and AM
hamilton.

CHIHUAHUA, Mex. Lee. 30 Cvia FL
Paso. Dec. 2D.-Amplified sdvices change
but little today's telegraphic report of the
cutting up Of the government troop train
at Malpaso last Sunday The official re-
port Of twenty-one federals killed, ten miss
ing and forty-two wounded stands with
the addition that thirty who were slightly
wounded, bringing the total injured to
seventy-two, also came on the train. The
injuries Of these thirty are not serious and
1t is not customary to carry them in the
hospital list Most of them are on their
feet.
Rumors have been abroad today that the
federals loss 100 killed, but this seems to be
without foundation and probably referred
to the total number of killed, wounded and
injured, which makes about 100 Verismili-
tude is added to the government report of
losses by the fact that the hospital train
brought in eighty Mauser rifles. or about
the number which their killed and wounded
would have dropped. Also 100 killed to
seventy-two wounded is far from the pro-
portion which the killed in battle bear to
the injured. 1t is considered a sanguinary
battle where one man is killed to five
wounded.
Tension at chihuahua.
The defeat Of the troop train with its
three field pieces and $50 men, intensifies
the tension here on top Of the drawn bat
tie of Cerro Prieto ten days ago It is taken
as confirmation of declarations that Presi-
dent Diaz for the first time in his long
tenure Of office confronts a real revolu-
ton. The most ardent sympathizers with
the revolt, and they include most Of the
moi dol LAT
insurgents would be able to make more
than one stand against the disciplined SOL
diers of the government
The government stated that the revolt
consisted Of but little else save a nucleus
of bandits augmented by misguided poems
who could not handle a rifle and whom it
would be but police work to subdue.
Big Job for Troops.
Official reports now double their estimate
of the number Of insurrectos in the fielR
Cerro Prieto was drawn fight; Nal Paso
was victory for the rebels. That sum
marizes in effect the result of important
military happenings in the state of Chi
huahua. Conservative Americans who have
held all along that the government had
Job on its hands but would triumph eventu-
ally by force of numbers and resources,
The discussion runs mostly as to how long
General Navarro with the main force OF
rebels, can hold out. Reports that he has
been killed remain without confirmation
HIS force, however. It is reported, is sur
rounded In the vicinity of Pedernales
EnsurrectOs, Force Growing.
Navarro had been ordered to hold NAL
paso to form juncture with the soldiers
of hn
effort to do so, but failed
His failure in this regard is attributed 10
the remarkable augmentation of the revo-
lutionary numbers. 1t has been reported
by insurgent leaders that 100 men were
held in reserve, having been ordered to
remain at work In the mines until called
for This call went forth over a week ago
whereas, the number at that time was not
over 1000, the official reports now put them
at 2OOe. Navarro, on the other hand, has
not grown stronger. Food has grown
scarce with him. Small engagements have
depleted his ammunition supply. He has
been compelled to move his force to meet
the enemy at Pedernales, as well as NAL
paso, and to use some Of his men for
scouting and maintaining his line OF COM
munications The troop train, which was
shot up, carried large amount of ammu
milton, and this was brought back to BUS
tillos. Those OF the troops who were NOT
killed or wounded, retreated to Bustillos
Which is between this city and the scene
OF the engagement. They wished TO return
here, but 1t was pointed out that, such ac-
ton probably would result in court-martial
and they concluded to take a chance Of
Joining Navarro by some overland route
hoping to elude the insurrectos