Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1913-12-24
REBELS RETAkE
T0RRE0N IS
REPORT
jUAREz HEARS THAT The FEDERAL
army IS DRIVEN OUT after A
FIERCE BATTLE, IN WHICH H.
600 MEN ARE ENGAGED .----AER-
RERA IS WOUNDED.
CHRISTMAS IN MEXICO
IS A VERY MEAGRE one


Juarez, Mex, Dec 24.-After heavy
have re-taken that city front the
Huerta forces, according TO reporls
brought by couriers today from
Jimenez, half way between Chihuahua
and Torreon. The reports said that
$4,000 men had been engaged, that
there was much los of life, and that
General Monclovio Herrera, the rebel
commander, had been wounded.
The federal army of G0O0 men have
been isolated, from telegraphic COM
munication with Monterey and Saitillo
and in case a decisive defeat their po-
sition would be precarious, said the
reports.
General Benavides, rebel command
er at Juarez said the report was not
official but he was inclined to believe
it, as the rebels had long beer, plan
ming an attack on Torreon. The rebels
were said to have first gained posc'es'
sion of Gomez Palacio and Lerdo,
suburbs of Torreon, before their sue
cessful march on the city itself.
Rebels from Durango did most of the
fighting. it was said, although General
Herrera, who was sent south by Gen.
.eral Villa entered the fight with 5000
cavalry.
General Refugio Velasco, who
marched from Saltillo and took Tor.
roen from the rebels about two weeks
ago, was the federal commander.
Leaving TorreOn after his latest de-
feat, he was reported trying to make
his way back to Saltillo.
The rebels greatly outnumbered the
federals.
General Villa was still at Chihua-
hra, from which place he sent He.''
rera south.
Wire communication with Chihua-
hua was poor and no y official word
from Villa concerning Torreon were
received. 1t was thought even if Tor
reon was wholly in possession of the
rebels Villa would remain temporarily
at Chihuahua, that being the most
central point from which to direct
military operations. Torreon is a
center for railroads running from the
border south and from Monterey.
Churches deprived CT their priests
by the expulsion of the Spaniards and
the ringing of bells cracked by cannon
balls will be features of wartime
Christmas in northern Mexico
With their arms and artillery fixed
for a possible battle, the rebels,
though not disposed to celebrate their
military victories as part of their reli-
-gious observations, will observe Christ
mas in a meager way throughout their
lines from Juarez to chihuahua city,
225 miles south.
The ragged and ill-fed soldier in the
field will kneel beside his gun, while
in, the rebel cities the churches will
have such services as the absence of
the Spanish priests will permit. 1t
will be Christmas without the peace
of Christmas in peaceful countries.
The cathedral, the churches and the
convent at Chihuahua will be emptied
of the priests and nuns who usually
conducted Christmas services there,
but who were forced to fee to the
United States by General Villas de-
cree expelling the Spaniards. Local
Mexican church officials will conduct
services, while from the twin belfrles
of the cathedral will ring one OF the
bells cracked by a cannon ball during
a revolution before the days of Presi |
dent Diaz.
In Juarez masses are to be held by
the rebels in the little seventeenth
century church of the Spanish mission
type. The portals and tower of the !
church are splattered with the marks !
of bullets.
General Francisco Villa today sent |
south from Chihuahua supplies of am
munition and soldiers in preparation /
for an attack on Torreon.
General Villa was optimistic over |
recent events in the north, saying ,
now nothing prevented his continuing
suthward toward Mexico City. He ex-
poets only feeble resistance at Tor
reon, an important railroad center
which has changed hands numerous
times, accordingly as the attacking
force outnumbered the garrison. Gen
eral Velasco, the federal commander
at Torreon, has a formidable defense
there. but General Villa says with
eight or ten thousand men he will far
outnumber the garrison and will
the city within ten days.
South of Torreon the next important
federal stronghold is at Zacatecas.
Telegraphic communication between
rebel headquarters at Juarez and
General Villa at Chihuahua was re-
stored today. The interference with
he wires by small band of federals
caused only temporary anxiety to the I
rebels. Most of the federals who
evacuated Chihuahua were still at
0jinaga. Salazar's guerilla band,
which crossed the rebel line south of |
Tuarez was reported to have gone be-
yond the reach of rebel pursuit.
Washington, D. c., Dec. 24.-Further 4
riders for the relief of the battleships