El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-19
CLAIM T0RREON IS
DEFENDED AMPLY
3. D. Sherwin Gives First
Hand Impressions Of
Probable Site Of
Big Battle.

'TOrreon is gSrTisoned by not fewer
than $500 or 1000 men," said E. D.
/ Sherwin, Well-knOWn business man
of that city, as he stood in the office
Of H B. Stevens, Monday morning,
while the clerks were trying to locate
a suitable house in which he might live
till the troubles in Mexico blow over.
L left there last Wednesday at noon
and was only one Of possibly 5000
foreigners who left Torreon to be out
OF the way when the big battle OF
the present revolution IS fought and
which we believe will be fought at OF
There were $500 to 1000 federals
in the city when we left there and It
was said others were coming Besides
the regulars or federalss there are
1900 to 1000 volunteers knoWns as
'AmarillOs,' because they wear yellow,
khaki uniforms, and $50 to 1000 rail-
road men known as 'Ferro Carrillistas'
or Azuless the latter because they
wear blue Overalls and jackets. The
latter are made up Of shop men, road
men and track workers out of work
because OF the revolution They formed
a home guard and are being paid their
regular wages for their work as sol
diers.
How the .Amarillos' and .AzuIes
viii stand up under fire IS not known.
1t is not believed they will stand, but
they can be used TO fight from barri-
cades, while the regulars stand the
brunt of attack.
Being Supplied With Munitions.
I know that the federals are well
supplied with all kinds Of artillery
ana ammunition therefor While I stood
at the station Wednesday morning 1
saw six heavy guns so big they had
to be carried on flat cars. and I don't
suppose / saw all Of them. Besides, ]
saw several hOWltzers. several small
field guns and any number Of rapid
fire and machine guns. The stuff ]
am speaking about was what had
come up by train with BlanQuette's
army that morning, and is in addition
TO the artillery brought BY Col Salas
and Col. ALBERT, and which was used
with such telling effect In the bat
tie at Gomez Palacios last Sunday,
when about 40 men were killed
Battle at Gomez PalaciO.
The battle at Gomez Palacio was
brought on by an attempt of q bunch
Of Z50 or 300 rebels to come into town
for supplies. They got into town al
right and got the supplies. but couldn't
get away with them. Entrenched in
the streets they repelled the federals
sent to dislo6ge them, and killed prob
ably 40 OF them. Running short Of
ammunition they fell back TO the
tanks, where they rallied In the
meantime the federals planted a bat
terry on hill and prepared to shell
the town, but the destruction of prop
erty was saved by the retreat OF the
rebels, who were shelled as they ran.
] was told that the rebel loss was but
10 dead and that they were picked up
IN the streets Of the town, having been
killed in the skirmish with federal in
fantry before the battery got into
action.
The moral effect Of the roar OF the
big guns and bursting OF the shells
upon the rebels viii be felt In future.
1t is believed they viii be wary Of at
lacking a town so well armed as is
TOrreon.
Believes TrevinO Is Loyal.
It didn't hear a word Of doubt as to
TrevinO's loyalty to the government
till 1 got TO the States. The general
belief in and around Torreon Is that
he is loyal and If Orozco is depending
on Trevino TO save him from defeat 1
am afraid he is leaning on a broken
stick.
The people Of Torreon as of other
Mexican cities are not afraid of bat
lies or OF soldiers so much as they are
OF uprisings Of the lower classes dur
ing or after any battles which may
be fought 1t is the hoOdlum element
that may be depended upon 10 outrage
and murder women and children and
burn property out Of mere WantOnness.
The soldiers might loot, but as a rule
do not commit wanton outrages."