New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-16
His Army of 5000 Soon To
Be Attacked by Double
Its Number.
TROOPS MOVING
UP FROM SOUTH
Retreat to Ojinaga De-
clared a Ruse to Cut
Off Rebel Leader.
NO AMERICANS HARMED
Refugees from Chihuahua Report
That Villa Is Treating Them
with Courtesy.
( By Telegraph 70 The Tribune

fBy Telegraph 70 The Tribune
FL Paso. Texas, Dec. 15-Generai
Pancho Villa and his six thousand I
rebels are in a trap in chihuahua and
will be attacked simultaneously from
three sides by Fed ,rals twice their
number.
This information reached e. Paso to-
night from the south and is borne out
by dispatches telling Of movements of
Federal troops from Torreon and Mon f,
terey to cooperate with the forces Of ]
Generals Mercado. Orozco and Salazar
now at Ojinaga.
Federals claim that the movement 10
Oiinaga was a ruse TO divert the at
tention Of the rebels. and that while
Herrera, with nearly four thousand
men. is attacking the Ojinaga Federals.
stronger force from the south VIII
attack Chihuahua and cut off villa
from his base at Juarez.
The Federal column which recently
retook Torreon already has moved TO
the north and has taken Parras, the
home of the Madero family. General
Navarate. with two thousand Federals,
also has left Monte=ey and is moving
to a junction with the Torreon force.
and a column from Monterey is de
clared 10 be advancing upon Chihua-
hua.
Americans Net Harmed.
"Pancho Villa ie not directing his
Spite against the Americans in Chi
huahua The American Consul, Marion
Letcher. has been treated with every
courtesy by the rebel chief and no re-
quest that he has made of Villa has
been refused
This is the statement Of Americans.
Germans and Spaniards who have ar
rived from the trouble zone to-day.
The refugees say that while Spaniards
have been driven summarily from the
city. their native wives separated from
them and their property conhscated, no
Americans have been harmed. none Of
them has been robbed and none ordered
from the city.
Property taken from Americans by
rebels without the authority Of Villa
has been promptly returned when com
plant was made by Consul Letchcr,
the refugees declare.
Sealed dispatches from Washington
were sent to-day 10 Consul Letcher BY /,
the American Consul at Juarez, Thomas
d. Edwards, y automobiles. What the
dispatches contain was not stated, but
il was said at Juarez that the courier
would not he molested by rebels and /,
that no attempt would he made TO IN
terfere with Consul Letcher's communi-
cations To or from his government.
General T.. A. Benavides, command
ing In Juarez, says that he has no Of
fetal advices concerning the refusal OF
Villa 10 permit Mr.. Letcher TO send
code messages. but he is sure there has
been a mistake, as It has not been in
tended at any time 10 interfere with
American business.
Germsny's Coach Untouched.
Seizure of the German Consuls per-
sonal belongings came TO an ABRUPT
termination when Mrs. Kuck, wife ~
the consul, told the rebel soldiers that
they might take the two white horses
attached TO her coach. but that II would
be dangerous for them 10 touch the
coach itself.
THAT coach is the property of the
German Empire" declared the consuls
wife, and l defy YOU TO touch it,"
The coach was not touched, and I is
said that the horses also were returned.
An automobile which the rebels had
seized was returned.
Villa is reported TO have said 10 the
German Consul: II cannot Kill you.
but l can send you to the border"
You will have 10 send me II l co.
was the consurs reply, and he has not
yet come.
At least three members Of the Chi
huahua Spanish colony have been
killed by the rebels. according TO Span
ish refugees. Augustin Gonzales and
| his son and another. whose name was
not given, were shot yesterday while
| defending their property from seizure,
! il is asserted.
Additional protests to Washington
and to the German mad Spanish repre-
sentatives there as well as TO the home
governments at Berlin and Madrid,
| were cabled from here to-day.
Federal Sympathixsrs Shot.
Those who arc known to have been
| Federal sympathizers are disappear
| ing" In Chihuahua. They are being
shot. Refugees arriving from Chihua-
hua tonight say there have been many
| "disappearances" Of wellknown Mexi-
raStdepfc