The Detroit times., 1914-04-02
WARRINGTON, April 2-Ths
arrival Of Gen. Huerta's federal
relnsorcements at Torreon was re-
ported today 10 ssnor Aioara,
Mexican charge d'amaires, In Q
dIspatch from the Mexican consul
at q Paso. The report saId that
the federal column had entered
the town; that the defenders Of
Torreon were still holding out
and wsre confident Of ultimate
success. The dispatch ssid Villa
has expended his entire force
and made hls greatest effort, and
the federals are IN no danger Of
being driven from the city.

/"
JUAREZ, Mex. April 2.-That Tor
reon Is already virtually In the posses
sion Of Gen. Francisco Villas consti
nationalist force. but that Villa will
not Officially announce" his victory
until he IL in absolute undisturbed con
troll, was the statement made here to
day by high Official Of the constitu
tionalist government. He declares he
has proof that all but two small rem
nants Of the federal garrison of Gen
Jose Refugto Velasc0, once number
ing more than 5000. had been dispevs
ed. He refused to divulge Villas rea
sons for falling to claim the city, but
indicated that he was Withholding the
news In order to carry out a couI
which would result I'm the capture oil
federal reinforcements rushing to
wards Torreon and possibly In the cap
ture OF Monterey and Saltill0
Gen. Vsnustiano Carranza and hil
cabinet had Z two-hour talk with Cen
villa by wire last night. Later Car
ranxa's chief-of-stsff gave out the Sub
Villa had "uno6acially' reported thai
. remnant OF the federal army was OF
fering IAN unexpected defense"
Two separate lights were raging, the
reports said one In q fortified adobe
structure on the southwestern edge oi
Torreon. and the other In the canyon
de Huarache.
Villa explained to Carransa that the
canyon dc Huarache IL the outermcst
line Of original defenses OF the city.
being located a few miles southwark.
Three mountains close together, one
of them Cerr0 de Ia Cruz, form this
canyon, which has been strongly for.
tilted. The federals entrenched there
are believed to be the principal rem
nant OF the federal defenders. -..s
Fighting has been desperate In the
extreme, Villa reported, and losses on
both sides have been heavy. In at
lacking, the rebels are constantly Ok.
posed to merciless fire from the pro.
tected federals, Villa said. 4.
Gen. Carranxa was advised that VII
IL hoped to sweep away those defenses
today. Villa reported that, 90 far O.
he could learn, no federal reinforce.
ments are close to Torreon. In order
to prevent such q movement, however.
his troops have cut the railroad line
south Of Saltillo, and have also inter
rupted railroad service by which fed
eral soldiers could be brought mp
from Aguas Calientes.
Carranga's conference with Wills
was most unusual, in that Carranxa
and his lieutenants took complete pos.
session Of the main telegraph once
here and closed II to all outsiders for
two hours. Even the operators. ex-
cept Carranxa's private telegrapher,
were barred from the building during
the conversation.
This secrecy gave rise to numerous
rumors, one of which was that Cen.
Villa had been killed or fatally wound.
ed, and caused great excitement here
and In Ell Paso. When the conference
ended Carranxa directed his chief-of.
stan to give the newspapers an out.
line of what had transpired.