Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1912-05-23
DESPERATE BATTLE
IS RAGING IN
NORTHERN
MEXICO
Rebels Reported Holding
Their Own Despite Sharp
Fire From Government Ar
tillery.
OROzCO IN COMMAND
OF FIRING LINE

fBy NsventnH Herald A. P. LEASED Wirsl
Rcllano. Mex. May 2s.--After three
hours or more OF nehtinG today be-
tween the Mexican federal and rebel
armies. reports from the rebel front
seemed to indicate a slight Gdvent-
age over the army OF Madero The In
surrectos held Arm their positions,
captured several federal guns ard re-
pulsed a federal attempt at flRnKing.
The nRhtlng Of yesterday ls declar-
"a 20 have resulted IN a loss Of $50 or
more government troops. II Is claim
cd OroSco drove on a federal cavalry
charge with great loss to the assaii-
ants.
Chiefs OF the contending armies are
directing ia person their forces. Gen
eral OrOzco has been near his front
rank since the engegement began and
several times has been under direct
fire Of the lonEe range federal guns,
Oroxcos brother officers begged him
rot to expose himself. but he contin-
ued 10 command personally at a Sec
ton of the right wing which repeilcd
with an estimated loss 90 the govern
ment Of $50 men.
The rebel lines stretched over
Ave miles in the trenches In front Of
Rellano. Water is scarce and the
heat OF the sun IN lntolerable. Ex-
ploding shells stir up clouds Of al
kali dust that not only stiles the
parched throats Of the troopers but
inierferes with rifle aim. The res
idents of the town have fled many
miles north.
Thc rebols are handicapped BY "a
lack Of artillery. The gederefs havd
AN Of their big guns Ia action and the
bombardment has az times been terri
Bile but the rebels have never
wavcred, hoiding their entrenched
positions Until the federal infantry
advanced under cover OF the artillery
70 point well within range OF
smaller guns.
The deadly Nail of lead the rebels
late yesterday poured into the ad-
yancing columns OF government troops
was we'll directed but the instant the
federals broke they were rallied BY
their officers and again advanced, only
~
third time. finally retiring TO Asun-
solo. i've miles south.
II the rebels are dlslodged Il Will
be because Of the superior handling
Of the federal force. which in the
last two weeks has been gradually
forcing the rebels distance OF ia
miles north and away from TorreOns
the railroad gateway of north central
Mexico, Torreon originally was the
objective point OF the rebels IN this
campaign. The scarcity of food and
water, the burning heat and the stiff
ling atmosphere that spreads over
the sandy table land where the battle
RACES today, make u seem impossible
for either side TO keep itA whole
force in the field for many hours az a
time
At Federal Front near Rellano.
Mexico, May g3.-Fighting between
the main federal and rebel armies was
renewed az daybreak. The govern
ment troops opened with sharp artil-
lery FIRE There was quick response
from tho rebel front, which seems
well fortified. T0day's battle ~ ex-
pecied 20 mark the turning point In
the Mexican revolution.
Al a. M, the rebels we're hold
Ing their own. but the federal artii-
iery fire was growing heavier every
minute.
General D. J. CRmpos captured two
cannon and one machine sun of the
federal column on the left. The ad-
vantage appeared AZ $3.50 % be with
the rebels and they are holding firm
their positions
General iiucrta. the federal chief,
attempted a flank movement behind
the hills Ga the east. but was unsuc-
cessful and the federal main column
fen oack. The federal nre was des-
ultory
General OrOzeo has beeD on tho
iirlng line since s O'Clock.
when nlght interrupted yesterday 4
ongagement, Il appeared as II the reb-
els had been slowly disorRaniHod BY
the fierce artillery IRE from the gov
ernmcnt front The foderals count
upon their lena range suns ia drive
the enemy back into the northwest
In much the same manner as the bat
tie az Conejos a week ago sunday.
The engagement Is the climax OF two
weeks of hard marching through the
desert plains OF northern Mexico By
the 1000 fedorals under General
hucrta. Repairing bridges and con-
structinE practically a new railroad
over the course which had been taken
hy tho retreatlng rebels, the govern
moni troops have pushed their way
IA miles north Of Torreon 10 the bait
tleEround The insurrcctos under
General Orozco are believed "a num-
her 5000 men.