The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-25
General Navarro Waits For
 Troops Before Fighting
D|Az IS SENDING AN ARMY
War of Extermfnation Is to Be Waged When the Government Troops Are Fully Prepared for
 Battle

Chihuahua, Mex, December 23 via Fl Paso. Tex, December 24.--A special rep resentative of the Associated Press who has been with the insurrestos for two weeks returned today by mule team. His judgment of the situation in this state may be summarized in the statement that General Navarro has been fought back from the offensive to the defensive, but | that the achievements now at hand will crush the rebellion within month or two In this connection 1t was stated that federal troops are now stationed as follows:
 Six hundred under General Navarro at Pedernales and vicinity (west of Nal Paso), nearly TOO at San Antonio, made up of about $40 who were uninjured in the Nal Paso embuscade and about 340 achievements; and 1900 who arrived here last night and today. The latter include battery of artillery made up of two light mortars for firing hills, two Hitch kiss guns and two rapid fire guns.
 Twenty-two passenger coaches are now on the tracks of the Mexican Northwest ern railway to forward endorsements. Today was spent in loading food on the cars and in making other preparations for the campaign.
 These troops will go first to San An- tonic, making force of 2000 led by the best officers in Mexico. It is their pro- gramme to make Nal Paso, the present rebel stronghold. This once taken, Junction will be formed with Navarro under the troops which have come over
 land from Sonora
 All this will entail serious fighting, but there is no foreigner here viewing | affairs impartialy who pretends belief | that the federals will not triumph event. l ually. The insurrectos lost one chance of creating a nationwide revolt when they failed to crush Navarro at Cerro 1 Pietro. At tbat time they did not have 1 their forces concentrated and Navarro held his own.
 Navarro is now strictly on the defense at Pedernales. While he is under or 6ers not to take the offensive. he is in a defensive position, which the insur- rectos cannot attack without disaster. His job is to sit still and allow the re- Inducements, now numbering treble his own force, to continue the campaign. Navarro,s original force, 1t has now been shown, Is scarcely more than a po- lice force, which misguided government
 
 | ing an army.
 | The Associated Press correspondent brings word that in the fighting around | Pedernales and the west entrance of Nal Paso the insurrectos were much in- | feror in numbers, but at Nal Paso they | are secure in position.
 | It will be two weeks ago Sunday that | Navarro met the insurrectos at Cerro l Prieto and fought battle. He remained there until the following Thursday, when he was ordered to clear Nal Paso of re- bels to make way for prospective troop | train. With his entire force he left Cerro | Prieto and marched with every sem blance of making an attack on the we'll | posted revoutionists toward Rancho San tiago The insurrectos opened fire, but l their shots fell short
 | Navarro lost in this engagement about 12 dead, including two officers and about l 25 wounded The insurrectos lost 2l | killed and about 10 wounded. The latter were checked in their charge in an ar royo, where they sustained most of their losses. Six of them remained at one post | until all were killed.
 During the fighting Thursday and Fri | day. the shells of the federals did no damage. The revolutionists in time began to treat them with contempt. Word came from Navarro's camp that the general grew incensed at the failure | of the gunnery.
 The insurrectos' detachment which shot | LID the troop train at the eastern entrance | to Nal Paso numbered about 200 men, The anbuscade cost them two more in killec and two wounded. The federal loss 1 Is known to have been about 31 killed and l q wounded. l Arrivals from the front today brought | confirmation of the statement that Ma yarro executed number of civilians at Cerro Prieto. The number Is given as 22, l 22 In the village proper and ten at ham, l lot nearby The story was told here to- day in convincing detail. Last Saturday l the revultionists executed the prisoners as Q retaliatory measure.
 1 These were loyalists taken at Guerrero three or four weeks ago. They were given trial of rough sort and convicted | of treachery while being allowed the con- sideration of neutrals. When the revolu- tionsts became douby certain of the ex- ecutlons at Cerro Prieto they shot their l own captives The execution occurred at a hamlet between La Junta and Guer- | rcro.
 Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, when the l Associated Press man left the scene, | there was no fighting. Navarro was con- | tent to hold his position.
 | The revolutionists have ordered the ar | rest of Rancho Villa. the bandit who was formerly one of their number.
 ~~-~~-~~~~~~>-~~~~~~~ | Cardinal Gibbons today in response to a | request for a Christmas sentiment; wrote | the following:
 "Christmas Is day of gladness for all
 men. Not only do the more comfortable
 share their gifts with their poorer
 brothers, asking their prayers in return,
 but each and all, rich and poor, young
 and old, are again made rich and youth ful in the hopes and promises of the new born Savior-all seem to feel what the
 angels sang at Bethlehem:
 .CIlorv to God in the highest and on
 earth peace to men of good will