Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-03-24
General Villa Clears Way for
Direct Attack on Tor
Teon.
DEPARTS FOR THE SOUTH
Rebel Chieftan Leaves to Direct As
sault on City-Expected
Attack Soon.

Constitutionalist Field Base, Ber-
mejillo, Durango, Mexico, March %.
Having cleared the way for di-
rect attack on Torreon by his sue
cess on Friday and Saturday in es-
tablishing a base here and driving
in the federal advance guards from
Mapimi, Thahualilo, Sacramento,
Noe, Birmingham Junction and
smaller points in the environs of the
Huerta stronghold, Gen. Francisco
Villa, the rebel chief, left here yes
terday for the south.
The zigzag front of the khaki clad
rebels including the almost naked
Indians who offered their services
and those of their bows and arrows
at Chihuahua month ago, but who
have been given modern uniforms
and arms, was nearest the enemy
Saturday night at Birmingham
Junction, only seven miles north of
Torreon. Other columns were fif-
teen, twenty-five and even more
miles away, but all were reported in
motion along the route opened by
the vanguard, in the direction Of
Torreon.
Before leaving for the front Gen.
eral Villa said he doubted whether
the federals would make further re-
sistance until his assault on their
main position takes place, although
there were rumors that the enemy
would make a show of resistance at
Gomez Palacio, suburb of Torreon
reached by street car, and noted for
its big railroad shops.
Normally, Gomez Palacio is a
junction point where passengers
change cars for Monterey. 1t lies
in the shadow of a great brown
bulk of a mountain known as Cerro
La Pila, which the federals are re-
ported to have fortified. If this
proves true the position must be
taken, as the big guns have ample
power to cover the three miles be-
tween the mountains and Torreon.
1t is said that the manning of La
Pila would be legitimate part of
the defense of Torreon, although it's
comparative isolation would make
support from other parts of the fed
eral defense practically impossible.
The federal defenses are in danger
Of being cut off and for this reason
the rebels doubt if the enemy, if he
is really there, will make more than
long range defense before falling
back on the main force.
The countryside between Gomez
Palacio and Torreon is laced with
irrigation bitches, and in the irri-
eating season is rich with cotton
and other crops. It is thickly set
tied, and the whitewashed adobe |
farm houses fairly sparkle in the
sunlight.
Into some of the bitches it is re-
ported that the federals have let the
water to impede the rebel advance,
while others are being utilized as
trenches for the protection of rifle
men and rapid fire guns.
The first important move of the
week just passed took place when
General Villa, having appeared sud
denly from chihuahua, set his
troops in motion early last Friday
from Yermo, which is about
100 miles north of Torreon. Fiji
teen miles north of this city he came
upon a strong advance column of
the federals who are believed to
have been under orders to retreat
upon appearance Of the enemy.
The appearance Of the rebels was
80 sudden, however, that the retreat
became almost rout. The federals,
like the rebels, were mounted, and
the encounter became a sort of
with the pursuers,
smothered in the dust kicked up by
heir mounts, firing blindly from the
saddle, not in the least impeded by
he scattered bullets which the fed
erals sometimes turned to fire.
The fight continued at a gallop
light into the streets of this little
,ity, and here it was that most of
he federal losses occurred. The =
bodies of LOG were picked up by Viii
as men. The federals are believed
o have carried of those who were
in this city as only three
we're found. The rebel loss was
practically nothing. On the heels g
4 the cavalry came other troops and b