Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-12-24
Veteran Insurrecto Chief
Strikes Effective and UOex-
pected Blow at Forces OF
Madero in Chihuahua State,
GENERAL BLANC0 IS
AMONG PRISONERS
Large Quantity Of Arms and
Ammunition Taken, lnclud-
ing Two Cannoni Railroad
Connection is Broken,

nv Morning journal Special Leased Wirc)
Ell Paso, Dec. 23.-Casas Grandes
the most important town in the ranch
ing and numbering district southwes
of Juarez. has been taken by rebels
personally commanded by Genera
Pascual Orozco, Jr.. it was reported
today from rebel official resources
Also II was said that the federal col
umn of 500 men marching against the
rebels at Ascencion was defeated with
its commander, General Jose Blanco
among the prisoners taken.
Mexican federal officials tonight de-
MED the story of the capture of casas
Grandes. and Blanco's reported de-
feat, saving that favorable news from
the district was received last night
Railroad officials, however declare
that there has been no communication
with Casas Grandes for many days.
Confirming this report :. ID. Am
brose, an American hotel man. or co
lumbus, ~ NJ, arrived here today. nc
was in Ascencion at the time of .ts
capture last Wednesday and talked
with General SalaZar. whose forces
took the town While there, mes
senger arrived directly from Genera
Orozco, with letter from the rene
leader, saying that he had taken Cas'''
Grandes and defeated Rlanco. Blanco
force was entrapped, the official re-
bel report said in canyon north ol
Casas Grandes. Aside from capturing
many rifles and much ammunition tht
rebels secured two cannon.
Details Of the battles are lacking
but Casas Grandes was taken easily
Orozco wrote, as the federals left only
200 men to protect the town.
BY taking Casas Grandes, the scene
of a hard struggle in the Madero rev.
clution. in which the rebels were re-
pulsed. the Orozco revolutionists con-
troll the Mexico Northwestern railroad,
which runs between Juarcz. on the
border, and Chihuahua city, the state
capital Territory covered by the
American railroad, includes the Pear
son syndicatcs, numbering towns of
Pearson and Madero and the San Pc
dro mining district The railroad wires
are not operating west from Chihua-
hua city or below Juarez and no rat
road confirmation of the towns TALL
could be secured. ne attdtk was
made on old Casas Grandes. the larg-
est town in the district. The railrca
offices and American homes are at
the new town some miles away. ana
it is believed that no foreigners were
injured in the attack.
After taking Ascencion last week,
fourteen federal prisoners, including a
captain, were executed in the public
plaza, refugees report today. Major l..
c. Quinteros, the Ascencion federal
commander, who escaped, has arrived
at the New Mexico border with one
soldier as companion. He is held by
United states troops below Hachita
Six hundred federal regular cavalry
late today departed from Juarez by
train to proceed over the Northwest
ern railroad, which is being repaired
to Guzman and thence overland to
Ascension. A battalion OF infantry also
has orders to march into the Casas
Grandcs district from the central
railroad. This comprises all the mobile
federal forces operating north of the
state capital.