The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-23
Advance Guards, in En-
virons Of Town Are
Driven In.
FEDERALS KILLED
A T BER vi EJILLO
No Further Resistance Expected
Until Assault on Main Posi-
ton Is Started - American
Policy Will Remain I'm
changed Until This Bat
tie Is Fought

IJnstitutionallst Field Base. Be6mc-
j!lIo. Durango, Mexico, March 22--Hav-
ing cleared the way for n direct attach
on Torrcon bv his success on FRIDAY
and having established q hasc here and
arivcn In The Federal advance guard
in the cnvirous OF the HGcr;a strong
hoid. General Francisco Villa. the 'encl
chief, left hero to-day for ;hc South.
The zigzag columns OF the Indians
who offered their services at chihuahua
= month aro was nearest tho enemy
last ii,,ht near Eri,tinghafn Junction.
only seven miles north or Torrco'I.
Other columns were hltccn. twenty
iwo and even moro miles away. bat all
wtrc reported In motion in the di
,ection OF Torrcon.
iicfore leaving on Friday. General
villa said he doubted whether Tic Fed
erals would make further resistance
until he starts his assault on their
main position. 1t Is said that the
manning Of Mount IL Pia. which the
Fedcral2 are reported to have fortified,
would be a legitimate part OF the de-
tense OF Torreon. although its compare
tive isolation would make support from
cther parts of the Federal dctcnses
very Improbable
Fiji Di,ci,cs with Wntcr.
TIC countryside between Gomez
!lgttion ditch.s, and Is thicltly set
tled ii is reported the Fcderals havo
let the water into some OF the ditchcs
10 impede the rebel advance while
otncrs arc being utilized as trenches
The first important movement Of the
week Just past took place when Gen
Fral Villa set his troops in motion early
last Friday morning from Yerinc. about
roo miles north OF Torrcon.
Fifteen miles north OF this city he
came upon strong advance line ur
Fedcinis who are believed 10 Lavo
been Under orders 10 retreat on tho
appearance OF the enemy. The appear
ancc OF the rebels was so sudden that
the .ctrcat became almost Il rout The
Fedcrais. Alike the rebels, were mount
cd. AID the encounter became a sort OF
= s;rcplechasr.
The light continued az 4 sallop into
tn. streets OF this city. ana II was hero
;hat most OF the Federal losses occur
rcd. The bodies OF los were picked up
by villa men. The Fcdcrals arc be
Nevcd 10 have carried most OF their
wounded Into this city. as only three
were found The rebel loss was very
near nothing. on The heels Of the cav
Benavides. with a superior force. was
sent by rail against Tlahualilo, a town
northeast OF Bermcjillo.
At great irrigation plant near Bcr-
nejillo Bcnavides came upon "A Federal
force, which he estimated to number
a result OF which the rebel comma nticr
reported TO General villa the rout OF
The enemy, leaving ninety dead on the
neld. His own loss he reported as
three killed ana seven wounded.
Without Rcsistuncc.
This force or government troops
seems 10 have been far in advance OF
any support, aud tho town of Tiahua-
lilo was occupied by rebels without re
s'stance.
Meanwhile. General Herrera occupied
Santa Clara, and sent a force 10 bridge
the ditch where Bcnavi6cs had van
qu.shed opposition. Meanwhile. an
other forcc OF rebels under General
Urbina had bcen moving on Mapimi,
ono OF the most important cities in tho
Torrcon district. and occupied it with
out n hight. Urbna was reported i'll
o-day. but his troops were said 10 be
moving south under Colonel Borunda
Other rebel columns whose positions
cannot be given with cXactitude were
understood to be drawing closer to the
invested city from the south and south
west.