Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1912-03-04
BATTLE RAGING FOR
POSSESSION OF
! CHIHUAHUA
llJAREZ TROOPS START
SOUTH TO JOIN FRAY
Meagre Advices From Scene Of
Conflict Indicate That Orozco
Has Joined With Foes of Ma
dero Government,

EI Paso Tex. March 3.--A tele-
gram stating that fighting for the
possession of Chihuahua City, capital
of the Mexican state of that name,
had begun, was followed today by the
hasty departure of the rebel garrison
at Juarez 10 JOIN thelr comrades III
the fight.
Two telegrams bearing on the tight
were received by General Ynez Sala-
zar the Juarez commander from
Braulio Hernandez, one of the rebel
leaders in the district about Chi
huahua.
Neither message was detailed as
It's recipient could have wished, but
they wero sufficient to dispel the
languor which has characterized the
work of the Juurez forces and the de-
tachment of from eight hundred to al
thousand men was speedily placed onl
board three sections OF freight train
at Juarez.
The frst telegram from Hernandez
stated that his force, numbering
about $50 men, and some OF the forcel
of Pascual Orozco, had been defend
ing chihuahua against an attack byi
federal troops under Colonel Panchol
villa.
"Orozco is with US the telegram
said. meaning the rebels declare thatl
he has announced himself openly asl
In arms against Madero.
The second telegram merely stated
as divulged by General Salazar that
Hernandez was on his way to joini
Orozco who desired Saazar to john
the movement with all possible speed.
The messages were received overl
the wires of the Mexico Northwestern,
railroad as the federal line commonly |
used for commercial and officialI
ic infprrtJftad GhiE Hc-l
counts for the fact that newspaper
correspondents In Chihuahua werei
silent
There was no intimation as to howl
serious the reported fighting was, butt
the Juarez leaders received the i'm
preston that Villas attack had been
"A surprise, and that Orozco. II not de-
fcated, WAS in imminent need Of as
sistance.
Reeently Hernandez with his COM
mand Was at Galego. which Is about
tiristg seven Fms nDrth II Chf1un-,
hna. Maxine Castillo, another rebel
chieftain with three or four hundred
men, has been at villa Ahumada,
ninety miles north of Chihuahua. He
too, is said to be proceeding to join
OroZco. l.
American and Mexican refugees in f,
this city account for the report that
ma lit lVi'tS oS'i''''
the rebels with two explanations, )
The paramount one is the declaration
that Villa and Orozco. through
iealousies growing out of the rewards
received by each after Madero's sue
cess last spring. are mortal enemies
and that villa would fight on either \
side If 1t were against his formerl
comrade in arms but recently.
Orozco was chief of the rurales of
Chihuahua, appointed by Madero.
while villa. a converted outlaw, wasl
given a command under him.
The second reason advanced Is that
Villa remained loyal only after Ma
dero had granted his demands. IN
Guiding a large sum of money. In thel
crisis Governor Abraham Gonzales
the loyal executive of the state of
Chihuahua. is believed to have col
looted sufficient money and to have
made the promises necessary to hold
Villa and his seven hundred troops
TO the Madero banner.
General Salazar Processes to be
very bitter against villa. The latter,
he claimed. sent word by special z
messenger confirming previous prom
lses that he would save his face" by
show OF resistance and then join the a
anti Madero campaign. II swas 9
pointed out. however. that this was a
before Orozco's attitude. while sus-
pectcd as disloyal. was really known.
II the rebels are defeated Villa may
hope for the emoluments recently re-
signed by Orozco.
There was no lack Of box cars in g
the Juarez yards when the movement
To the south was decided upon. The q
matter of motive power was more s.
difficult. hut two locomotives which e
had come over the Mexico North b
western from the south were taken o
and another which had been Joined u
up eventually was secured. r,
The first telegram from Hernandez /,
was received shortly before noon.
Al i;0T this afternoon the first de- h
laehment was sent away and the sec S,
ond seven minutes later. Among
other supplies each train carried a VI
ear of filled water casks There was
also one car of coal taken.
u was after nearly : o'clock before -
lhe third section. carrying General -
Nalazar's camp "a" the artillery and N
more troops. got under way. Thel /,
general and his staff remained be-:
hind. To follow tomorrow. The ar. IL
lillery consists Of two old muzzle- a
loading brass field pieces. and two n
modern Colt rapid firers, with 100000 q
rounds of ammunition. N
Two newspaper correspondence
we're allowed to go with the officers.
Colonel r. z. Steever. commanding VI
'he American troops here. did not re-
gard IL as necessary to make any re- :.
Imposition OF the guards along thei :,
IlNer This duty is now being per-
I"fmcd by the first battalion oi the D.
! Wenty second infantry under Major
feter Murray. Hridges and f"rds are
-uarded and men and Officers are "
'tadt Tor any emergency which may
'iiSf- There were rumorS Whi'h
.hl"unted to nothing more. that the -
departure OF the garrison would be
'uccecded 10y disorders in the streets
~ Juarez. Tonight the American sob - -
are possibly more alert than -
usual. hut anleng them there was ~" .
'iher sign that conditions al Juarez y,
nad changed. Two other hattaiions
~ the Twenfy-Seccnd Infantry are at
M Bliss. NJ here there @r- also
-tItaiIsu af the EfUhfesnfh iUfaufn.i