Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1914-04-08
VILLA PURSUES
FLEEING ARMY
Rebel Is Fighting FederaIs Who
Fled Torreon.
SEEKS TO CAPTURE VELASCO
ConstitutionaIists Find 200 Huerta
Men Wounded and Give Them
Aid-Dictator Denies
Defeat.
SEEKS TO CAPTURE VELASCO

Chihuahua, Mex, April 6.-When
General Villa took Torreon he cap
tured only 80 prisoners alive and I'M
wounded, according to information re-
ceived here.
Whether this means that many were
executed or that Gen. Refugio Velasco,
the crippled but valiant federal COM
mander, succeeded in escaping with
practically all OF his army not dead
or disabled could not be learned
However, it is known that he made
the first few miles of his escape on
troop trains, which he abandoned when
he came to the first place where the
rails had been removed. This circum-
stance is construed in favor of the re-
ports that he got away with the rem
nant of his army intact.
Powers Still in Jail.
Vice Consul Powers of Parral, who
was arrested charged with passing
counterfeit money, is still under
charges, but is at liberty on parole.
Marion Letcher, consul here, demand
ed that Powers be given an immediate
hearing, but Manuel Chao, military
governor of the state, has not yet
found time to comply, owing to the
press of other duties in connection
with the battle of Torreon.
Gossip among local strategists as to
Villas future movements is pretty
much agreed that, having rested and
refitted his army, Villa will proceed
against Saltillo and Monterey, on the
east, and Zacatecas to the south.
Assuming success in the exploits it
is thought that the two armies will
then reunite probably at San Luis Po--
tosi for the campaign against Mexico
City 1t is assumed that Mazatlan and
Tampico will be reduced by the rebel
forces already threatening them.
Rebel officers here quote General
with the enemy if one should be pro-
posed.
Clean Up Captured City.
Torreon, Mex, April 6.-This city,
from which Gen Refugio Velasco and
most of the uninjured of his command
fed, was occupied by the rebels in
force and the work Of burning the
bodies Of the dead, clearing away the
wreckage of shell shattered adobe
walls, street barbados and barb wire
entanglements was begun.
Velasco, who escaped with consid-
cradle part of his force, was pursued
by General Hernandez, who reported
that he had fought small rear guard
engagement with the retreating force.
Later General Villa with reinforce
ments left here to make an attempt to
capture or annihilate it.
VeIasco Had Only 5000 Men?
Noncombattants here estimated Velas-
co.'s garrison did not number more
than 5000 men,, Of whom 1,500 were
killed or wounded.
When Velasco fed he left behind in
the military hospital 200 wounded.
The patients were in high state of
anxiety, for they had been told that
Villa took no prisoners. They were re-
assured, however, by H. S. Cunard-
Cummins, the British vice-consul at
Gomez Palacio.
Persons who say they were eye wit
nesses declare that Velasco summarily
executed three Spaniards whom he &C
cused of firing on his troops. The
wife of one of these, Lotero Lopez, at
tempted to shield her husband and the
same bullet killed both.
Three hundred and fifty Spaniards.
including women and children, took
refuge in a bank building under the
protection of American Consul Ulmer,
who remained in town throughout the
battle.
Deny Fall of Torreon.
Mexico City, April 6.-The federal
government still obstinately denied the
capture of Torreon by the rebels. It
was assumed in many quarters, how
ever, that General Huerta and his min
icters we're not in ignorance of the fate
! of that city. 1t was pointed out by
serious minded people here that the
| temperament Of the Mexican popuIace
was such that news of a disaster like
the fall of Torreon might easily start
an avalanche of public opinion against
the administration, which would thus
find itself seriously embarrassed at a
most critical moment of its career.
Gives Rebels Half of Republic.
The taking of Toreron gives the
constitutionalists control of practically
half the republic, with the exception
of the cities of Saltillo and Monterey.
the capitals of the states of Coahuila
and Nuevo Leon.
Military men regard the retreat of
General Velasco from Torreon as a
most dangerous undertaking, and they
consider the position of Gen. Javier de
Moure and Gen. Joaquin Mas at San
/ Pedro as precarious