New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-23
Mexico'S Great Cotton Mart
a Battle Centre for
Fourth Time.
INSURGENTS TAKE
SUBURBAN TOWNS
leaders, Report Monterey Is Also
To Be Attacked Soon by
Their Forces.
3. reIegraph % - Tr-tune. !

uarcz. Mexico. Dec. 22.-For the
fourth time i'm three years Torreon,
vexlco's largest inland cotton market,
became a battle centre to-day. Ad-
vices received in Juarez by General E.
4 Benavidcs say that rebel forces
composing the advance guard of the
army which Villa is taking to the south
have taken the suburbs of Torreon
and are besieging the city itself.
The towns of Gomez Palasco and
Lerdo. four and seven miles distant,
respectively from Torreon. already are
occupied by the rebel forces. The rail-
way from Torreon to Monterey has
heen cut. and the rebels also control
the lines to the north, practically cut
ting off Federal chances for reinforc-
Eng the garrison.
skirmishing in the vicinity of Tor
reon has been in progress for several
davs but the casualties have been
light as the rebels have made no at
tempt to attack the main city, con-
,enting themselves with driving the
Federals back from the outskirts and
making il impossible for them to Sc
cure supplies or ammunition.
Citizens Forced to Fight.
Rebel advices say that General Jose
r. Velasco, commanding the Federals'
has impressed into service for the de-
fence Of the city all of the peon cotton
pickers and field workers in the vicin-
NV. and is forcing the citizens TO arm
and fight with the Federals.
Rebels say the siege Of Torreon Will
no maintained until General Villa can
reach there with his main army, when
the CITY will he taken, and that should
the Federal garrison give battle again
II Is so completely hemmed in that
CAPTURE will be easy. Villa is reported
10 already have started from Chihua-
hua for Torreon.
Torreon has been the scene Of the
bloodiest battles Of the revolutionary
reriod i'm Mexico. During the Madero
revolution 2U5 Chinese were massacred
in one day by rebel soldiers. During
The present revolution the city was
taken by Villa after a battle in which
hundreds Of bodies of soldiers were
left in the streets unburied for days.
Later il was retaken 10y the Federals
after battle lasting several days.
American Interests Heavy.
Few Americans are in Totreon, but
American interests there are heavy. the
majority Of the manufacturing plants
and larger stores being American
owned. Normally the city has an
American population Of several thou
sand.
Advices 10 Juarez tonight say that
Monterey is also 10 be attacked by reb-
els. The railway between the border
and Monterey has been seized by rebel
forces who have been operating in
the vicinity and are concentrating for
an attack
Great quantities Of provisions have
been sent from Chihuahua for the rebel
army, and Villa is said 10 have all his
plans perfected for a general move
ment % the South, with the selling Of
Torreon and Monterey as the first part
Of his programme for moving on Mexi-
co City
Rebel leaders say the chief fear Of
Villa is that the federals will destroy
and abandon Torreon, and for this rea-
son he has ordered the city surrounded
and steps taken 20 cut off their re
treat feeling that they will not de-
stroy the city so long as it is their
only refuge.
Villa Demands Money.
ExactiOn Of money from persons who
leave Chihuahua still continues, &C
cording TO refugees. They said that
General Villa required the money as
tribute 10 the revolutionary cause, and