The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1913-12-25
TORREON AGAIN IN
HANDS OF REBELS
$4,000 Men Engaged in Fight
ing-LOsses Heavy on
Both Sides.
BRYAN.S ENVOY RETURNS
G. 4. CaNthers Well Received
by PanchO Villa in
Chihuahua.

FL PAso. Tex, Dec. el.-Hcayy fight.
ing has been in progress at Torreon sim =
Monday between rebel and Federal armies
and reports reaching Jiminez. midway be-
tween Chihuahua and Torreon. say the
rebels have recaptured the city from the
Huerta forces under Gen. Refugio Va
lesco This news was brought by Mexl-
can refugees who reached Juarez this
morning on special train from Chi
huahua. to which place they had come
from Jiminez.
At least $4,000 men have been engaged
in the fighting and the death list has been
large. according to the refugees. The
Federal army of about 5000 men is
isolated from railway and telegraphic
communication with Saltillo. Monterey
and Mexico city. and in case Of decisive
defeat their position will be desperate.
II took the rebels twenty four hours Of
house to house fighting OH Monday In the
suburbs of Gomez Palacio and Lerdo.
| within eight miles Of Torreon. before they
gained a foothold In the city itself. II is
reported. Tuesday morning they had Sc
cured positions in Torreon proper and
were slowly driving the Federals before
| them.
II Huerta's soldiers are driven from the
city they will be in desperate straits. for
the railways behind them are cut and the
nearest point of refuge would be- Saltlllo.
ii3 miles eastward.
The rebel force included three thou
! sand Constitutionalists under Gen. Con
| teras. 1000 under Generals Luis and
Pedro Arrieta. brothers: l.20o led by Gen.
Robes. 600 commanded ~ t.-Col.
, Bento Garcia and 500 more led by Lieut.
Col. 4. DE Los Santos, combined with the
cavalry under Gen Monclovio Herrera
| More than 10000 rebels have been en-
gagged. according to these figures. while
the Federal army is said to number but
5000 men.
Federals Held city Two Weeks.
Federal forces under Gen. Ealesco oc :
cuped Torreon two weeks ago. after a
few skirrnishes with the rebel forces oc :
cupying the city. Gen. l.. Garcia, "A We'll
known rebel leader OF the Laguna district.
was killed in the fighting Much curiosity
was aroused when II was learned that
the Constitutionalists had evacuated Tor
reon without real fight. hut shortage OF
ammunition. according TO recen, reports
was the real cause OF the evacuation.
Since his occupation OF chihuahua.
Villa has devoted most of his energies to
shipping ammunition south TO his men,
besides sending Gen. Herrera and 5000
, cavalry to reinforce the Durango cavalry.
Benavdes. in Juarez. says that 400. 900
cartridges have been sent from Juarcz
alone to the Constitutonalists at Torreon.
while as many more have been sent from
chihuahua direct. The rebels only waited
for the arrival Of this ammunition before
beginning the attack
After having been out o order FOR
thirty six hours. the telegraph line from
Juarez 10 Chihuahua was repaired last
night and direct communication with the
State capital was reopened The railway
and telegraph wires were crossed few
! miles north Of the capital.
q. c. Carothers, formerly Vice -Consu,
! at Torreon, who was sent as special envoy
from the American State Department "a
Pancho villa to demand protection for thu
| lives and property OF foreigners. arrived
from Chihuahua this morning on a special
train after a series of conferences with
! the rebel chieftain