The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-18
MEXICAN BATTLE
RACES F|ERCELY
THROUGHOUT DAY
Rebels Hard Pressed by
Force Of Federals at
Escalon.
ONLY BARE FACTS
OF ENGAGEMENT
Both Sides Reinforced During
Past Few Days in Preparation
for Attack on Torreon.
Country Is Desert, and
Problem Of Furnishing
Water Is Serious.


iighting. with the rebels hard pressed.
was reported here tonight \ force
OIL fedcrals is said to have met Villas
army at Escalon an important rail
road town 100 miles north of Torrcon.
and both sides have been reinforced.
Inc battle is said To have ragged fierce
ly all day.
Thc railroad from Torrcon runs north
through E,scalon to Jiminez. chihuahua.
ana beyond. ON each side of the road
are mountains. They for ten miles
are marked with rifle pits. dug in
previous revolutions. II is reported
that the Fedcrals moved out of rorreon
in two dctachments. pursuant to or
ders from Provisional President
Huerta.
one detachment is said to have moved
west OF the railroads. with mountains
between IL and the road. while the main
body Went directly by rail to i:scalon.
rhe eastern detachncnt evidently was
trying to get in Villas rear. as il was
moving in the direction Of Jimincz.
hIty-ilvc miles north Of Escalon
General Crbana. OF the Constitutions
;lists. however had been posted at
Rosario. to guard against such stratc-
sy and last Saturday is said to have
encountered the Federal advance guard
at or near that city, which is about
1iO miles west Of Jiminez. He is said
To have been outnumbcred and to have
teicgraphed for reinforcements.
BnttIe Nicely Timed.
The main battle at Escalon, aDpar-
emily nicely timed by General Nclasco.
tho Federal commander. to occur after
rcinforccmentS had been detached to
assist Urbana. is believed to have be-
gun last night or early to-day. No de-
tails are available The bare facts
OF an engagement were contained in q
l!ftcen-word telegram.
The Zarasosa brigade Of l.3eo vet
crans under General squire Bcna-
vides, encountered the F'ederals at lis :
Gallon, and is reported TO have been
pressed back yesterday. This is be-
iieVed &c account for the sudden de-
nartulc from Chihuahua OF General
francisco villa. the rebel commander
in-chicf. He gave his staff one hours
notice. and then departed on a special
train. 1t is assumed that Villa brought
up rc;ntorcemcnts to-day, and that the
batti" was renewed with increased
VigOr.
The rebel troops have been moving
south from Juare2 and chihuahua and
closing in from other directions for a
month. Rebel leaders have laid claim
to as high as $4,000 men, but $4,000
Refugees from Torrcon have placed the
Federal force under General Hefugio
Nciasco at 1000 to 1900. adding that
he rapidly was being reinforced
fortnight ago rebel generals. under
Villa, were disposed rs follows:
AT JimincZ. General Herrera with
200 men; at i;scalon, between Jimincz
and Torrcon. General Garcia, with 200;
near Mapimi. General Urbana, with o.
500; in the hills of Durango, southwest
or Torrcon, General Contrcras. with
5000, and south OF Torreon, in the
mountains. General Natcra with 900.
east of Torreon. and recently General
Aguirre Bcnavides, with the celebrated
IaraGosa Brigade, entraincd at Chihua-
hua for Escalon
Town Not Isolated.
The rebels have insisted for some
time that Torreon was absolutely cut
of from the rest OF the world. but an
oiticlal communication in railroad cir
cles yesterday reported the railroad
line open between Eagle Pass, Tex,
and that city.
The first hint received here of the
'mininence OF a battle came on Satur-
day, when 1t was stated that as All
trains We're needed for the transporta-
.iom OF troops, the regular tri-wcekly
service between chihuahua and JuarcZ
would be abandoned temporarily
rms was taken TO Indicate an early
move southward. and the impression
was deepencd on Sunday when the
censorship at chihuahua which had
been nominal. suddenly descended on
press dispatches and allowed only the
DrlclcSt paragraphs to get through
Last night and to-day, with Villas ac-
tlal departure, the censor apparcntlv
stopped all messages, except those on
official business.
The country north OF Torrcon is a
desert. and one OF Villas greatest prob
lens, which he solved by the use OF
tank cars and reservoirs. was TO assure
water supply for horses and men
The desert is one OF the worst In
MeXico The cactus alone thrives and
under the drifting sands the traveller
frequently comes on the bones of ami
mails which perishcd from thirst. and
even those of men. for. General Orozco
fought over parts of this country two
years ago. His men suffered terribly
from thirst So precious is the supply
of water regarded by Villa that he has
ordered that none shall be wasted on
such Supcrfluitics as bathing ana the
cleansing Of linen.
Villa is supplied with wireless out
NJ, by which he can communicate with
Chihuahua and Juarcz The Fndcrals
also have stations connecting Torreon
with the City OF Mexico. 7O5 miles to
the south.
Al Fort Hiss to-day the wireless sta
ton occasionally spluttcred out detach-
ed Spanish words. but they were unin-
tcliiSiblc and their source WAS un-