The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-03-28
But Juarez Rebels Are Con-
fident That the Report
Is True
ENORMOUS LOSSES
ON BOTH SIDES
Assault Was Carried into
Heart of Torreon
by Villa

Juarez. Mexico, March 2S.-Strong IN
the belief that General Villa and his
rebel forces have captured Torreon, after
a night battle, the constitutionalist OH
GERS and sympathizers were to-day mo-
mentarily expecting word from the
front. Latest advices from both villa
and the newspaper correspondents indi-
Gated that the rebels carried their as
sault into the very heart of Torreon,
and that the federals were hard pressed
The battles waged by Villa against Go
mez Palacio and Torreon were the most
desperate of any engagement OF TINS or
any other revolutionary movement in
Mexico.
General villa went to the front with
10000 well-seasoned and well-equlpped
men. News dispatches indicate that the
rebels fought fercely and that the loss
in dead and wounded on both sides was
enormous.
Gomez Palacio, March 2S.Four days
of fighting including three desperate as
saults by rebels, were crowned yester-
day when General Francisco Villa moved
into the city and established his head
quarters on that side of the town look
ing toward Torreon, and within three
miles of that great goal of the cam
paign.
The final and deciding assault was de-
livered Thursday. 1t was preceded by
q bumbardment, after which the infan-
try and cavalry dashed into the streets.
Rifles, machetes, pistols and hand gren-
ades were used in hundred different
encounters in the narrow thoroughfares.
The grenades, of home manufacture,
were lighted with the cigarettes which
are an unofficial part of the equipment
of every Mexican soldier.
General Villa does not yet know his
own loss, except that it was heavy. The
wounded suffered terribly from thirst,
and many died for the lack OF water and
surgical attention.
The dead of both sides were mingled
in the streets, or found huddled under
the piles of earth which had once been
adobe houses or corrals, wrecked by reb-
el shells.
Veterans say that no more furious
battle ever was fought in Mexico. 1T
was a delirium.
General Villa did not stop to mourn
his losses, but with characteristic energy
began preparations to move on Torreon.
He expects to cooperate with 1000
men under General Herrera, who is un-
der orders to attack the town from the
east.
The newspaper correspondents were
permitted to enter the city with Villa.
Everywhere rebel soldiers were engaged
in rescuing the injured and taking them
to the railroad There were stretchers,
but not nearly enough of them, but a
stout pole with blanket suspended,
hammock fashion, sufiiced
The day was hot and the air fairly
reeked of stale blood. Those with flesh
WOUNDS disdained to desst, and many
a soldier, limping from wound in the
leg, or with one arm supported in a
bloodstained bandage, was seen among
the stretcher-b bearers.
Villas first assault in force took place
four days ago. There was comparative
ly small number of federals in the
city and premature reports of victory
were sent out. Soon, however. the fed
erals received reinforcements and, in the
desperate fighting which followed, the
rebels had rather the worst of it, and
General Villa withdrew.