Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-24
Rebel Chieftan Declares
He Will Have Torreon
By Next Thursday.
HOSPITALS ARE FILLED
United States Soldiers Whip
Huerta Troops in Border
Clash, Killing Number.

Juarez, Mexico, March 24.-Gomez
palacio was in the hands of rebels this
morning. according to General Chao
here. General Bonavides' brigade is
moving against Torreon. No state
ment of casualties in desperate street
fighting in Gomez palacio last night
are available.
A dispatch picked up here from Villa
ordering certain supplies sent direct
to Gomez palacio confirms the rebel
victory at the latter place. 1t is be-
lieved General Bonavides, who is said
to be advancing from the east, will be
the first to enter Torreon.
In the fighting at Gomez palacio the
rebels captured much federal artillery
and also field furniture of Commander
-in-chief Velasco, who has personal
charge of the defense.
FL Verjel, Mexico. March 24.-Meet-
ing stubborn resistance at Gomez
palacio, few miles from Torreon,
General Villa and 1900 rebels fought
the most sanguinary battle of the con-
stitutionalist revolution, and the rebel
chieftain's march to Torreon has been
seriously checked.
Today the field hospital here was
crowded with wounded. The most
seriously wounded were hastened to
the general hospital at Bermejillo.
The federal loss appears much heavier
than the rebels, but no accurate esti,
cate of the wounded was learned to-
day. Federals under General Velasco
sailed out of the invested city under
cover of great guns on the sides of
Cerro de La Pillar and strongly forti-
fed Gomez palacio. Villa then order
ed an attack. Straight at the noun
tain dashed the rebel cavalry, up a
were hurting shells over their heads
and into their ranks.
Quartet Takes Fire.
Before many minutes Villas men
had captured a water tank on the
securing the first vantage
ground. From there they fought on to
the Brittingham soap factory, the in
fantry engaging the defending forces
within and upon buildings. Another
hour and the federals retreated to the
where the hottest fighting of
the battle took place. The federals
finally were driven back to Torreon.
So many shells burst in the Quartet
that scarcely had it been occupied by
the pursuing rebels than it caught fire
and the conquerors were forced to
abandon 1t.
Always the federals retreated in .
order, keeping up an insistent fire, .
IS they were beaten back to Torreon. /
tn1e- -
IF dead and wounded. Fighting was
still in progress at IL last night when 1
he last dispatch came through. Villa .
reiterated Torreon would be his by
Thursday.
Americans Kill FederaIs.
Eagle Pass, Texas, March 24.-The
Mexican border is doubly patrolled by
American troops REINFORCED with a
Machine gun platoon yesterday in con-
sequence of a fight with bullets be-
ween American troopers and Mexi-
AN federal soldiers across the Rio
irande at McKeeque's crossing, above
Del Rio. The Huerta soldiers with
rev after an exchange of shots. bear 4
ng their dead and wounded. No
american was injured. 4
Ihe clash across the international
inc was precipitated. say official re-
orts TO headquarters, by the persist /
mt firing OF the federals at fleeing I
who had gained
american territory and surrendered to
Inited States troops. Three horses
eld by American cavalrymen were
illed by those shots.
For ten minutes Captain Winter
urn Of Troop Z. Fourteenth Cavalry.
ignaled to the federals to cease firing.
ut his signals were disregarded and
is own men were in danger. Then
e ordered the Americans. a detach-
tent OF fifteen troopers TO fire on the
Iexicans. The sharp fusillade that
,lIowed lasted about iiften minutes.
Defeat and Trap Rebels.
The federals captured Las Vacas. /
pposite Del Rio. but abandoned the ,
,wn Sunday. and afterward 800 of
lem cut of forty-five rebels at Nc
eeque's crossing from their main
,rce. The rebels fought hard, but
ere forced by numbers 10 fight. They I
.arted 10 wade and swim the Rio '
rande. The federals. however, kept {