New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-18
FederaIS Take the AggreS-
sive and Attack Enemy
Near EScalOn.
VILLAS OFFICERS
CALL FOR HIS AID
InSurgent Leader Hurries
to the Front on One
Hours Notice.
PENA CAPTURES TRAIN
fiuerta'S General Leads Main
Column, While Other Troops
Try Flank Movement.
PENA CAPTURES TRAIN
IN Telesr.nl . ~ rr-hune

fBy Telegraph 20 The Tribune
FL Paso. Tex, March l7-Fighting
is In progress around Torreon. but some
. miles from the city, and the rebels ars
being driven back at every point. ac-
cording 10 private adviccs received
here from what are considered relia-
BILE sources
The advices say that no attacX on the
city OF Torreon proper has been made
by the rebels. because they have not
been able TO get within striking dis
tance Of the place, but that in several
skirmishes, which amounted practically
TO battles, the Federals drove back The
! rebels.
According TO Federal advlces re-
ceived by the Mexican Consul General
II. A. Diebold, a Federal force under
General Pena has attacked the rebel
force near Escalon. and is driving them
back. The report, which came through
Americans who had left orreon, sai1
that the Federals had captured a rebel
- wv - OIL Vi 40 way " lNlifV'is
The departure OF General Pancho
Villa from chihuahua for Escalon il
regarded as indicating that lighting IL
in progress north Of Torreon, and tha:
general battle is imminent Rebel
officials in Juarez say that no real bat
tie has yet taken place
Villas Officers Alarmed.
Villas start for the front is declares
10 be in response 70 urgent calls from
come alarmed over the Federars sg-
gressiveness
Villa and General Felipe Angeles are
expected 10 rally the rebels and begin
forward movement which will carry
the fighting TO the outskirts OF Tor 4
reon, but IT will be several days before
they can get close to the Federal
stronghold
The railroad from Torreon runs
north through Escalon 70 Jiminez Chi
huahua and beyond On each side OF
the road are mountains. which for ten
miles are marked with rife pits dug
in previous revolutions.
Il is reported that the Federals
moved out Of Torreon in two detach-
ments, pusuant 70 orders from Presi-
dent Huerta One detachment Is said
tc have moved over the plains west OF
the railroad, with the mountains be-
tween It and the road, while the main
body went directly by rail 70 Escalon.
The eastern detachment evidently
was trying to get in Villas rear, as II
was moving in the direction Of Jimi-
nez. ffty-f1ve miles north OF Escalon.
Rebels Outnurbered.
General Urbana, Of the Constitution
alists, had been posted at Rosario u
guard against Just such strategy. and
Is said 10 have encountered the ad-
vance guard Of the Federals last Satur-
dav at or near Rosario, which is about
10 miles west Of Jiminez. He is said
10 have been outnumbered and 10 have
telegraphed for more men and artillery
The Zaragoza brigade Of 1900 vet
erans, under General Aguirre Bena-
vides encountered the Federals at
Escalon. and is reported 10 have been
pressed back yesterday. This is be
lieved 10 account for the sudden de-
rarture cf General villa, who gave his
staff one hours notice and then LETT
on a special train.
II is assumed that Villa brought up
rein,orcements to-day and that the
battle was renewed with Increased
vigor.
The rebel troops have been moving
south from Juarez and chihuahua ana
closing I'm from other directions for
month. Rebel leaders have laid claim
n as high as 25,0OO men, but 1900 Is
regarded as a closer estimate.
Strength Of FedersIs.
Refugees from Torreon in the last two
,.eeks have placed the Federal force un-
der General Refugio Velasco at 200 70
o oo and up TO recently added that he
v,as rapidly being reinforced.
fortnight ago rebel generals under
villa we're disposed as follows: At Jimi-
nez. General Herrera. with 300 men; az
Escalon. between Jiminez and Torreon.
General Garcia. with 100, near Mapimi
General Crbina. with 800; IN the hills OF
Durango, southwest OF Torreon General
Contreras. with 1900. and south Of Tor
reon. in the mountains, General Naters
With 1000. General Aguilar had been re-
cruiting east Of Torreon, and recently
General Agurre Benayides, with the Gel.
ebrated Zaragoza brigade, entrained al
Chihuahua for Escalon.
The rebels have insisted for some time
that Torreon was absolutely cut on from
the rest OF the world but an official com.
uninication in railroad circles yesterday
reported the railroad line open between
Eagle Pass, Tex. and that city
rho arst hint received here of tho i'm