Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-04-07
Federal Forces Being Con-
centrated in Effort to
Retake Fallen City.
VILLA CLEARING FIELD
Rebel Chief Commended by
American Agent for Humane
Methods Employed.

Washington, D. c., April THE
cabinet today discussed the Mexican
situation. Confidential reports were
received saying the Huerta forces were
concentrating for an attack to retake
Torreon. Officials look for another
battle soon.
Excellent order is being maintained.
There has been no sacking or pillaging
and the Villa forces are making efforts
to restore order and normal conditions,
was the import of dispatches from
Consular Agent Carothers at Torreon-
No foreigners have been hurt or killed.
An official report says General Cabal-
lero was fighting in the streets of Tam
pico yesterday, and is expected to cap
ture the city soon.
Juarez, Mexico, April THE gull
Iotine of France has made its appear
ance in Mexico in the state of San
Luis Potosi. Rebel mechanics have
built a guillotine. "Itsworks splendid
Iy." said General Gutierrez. who is
here comforting with CarranZa. A test
has not been made on a human being
vet. A lamb was sacrificed.
The policy of expelling Spaniards
from Mexico is a settled one with the
rebel government. Spaniards will be
expelled from all territory taken by
rebels.
American Agent Reports.
Juarez, Mexico, April 7.-George c.
-earothers, special representative or
the state department, who has been
through the Torren engagement with
General Villa, returned here today TO
assist in negotiations looking TO the
welfare of the six hundred Spanish
residents ordered out of Torreon by
the rebels. He brought with him the
first non-partisan eye witness account
of the battle.
Mr.. Carothers kept brief diary OF
events which he witnessed but he
was too greatly fatigued after his
trip. which began at Torreon yester-
day. to give more than a brief outline
to reporters.
"The rebel loss" said Mr.. Caroth-
ers, was six hundred killed and 1,4Oo
wounded. We don't know the federal
loss accurately. except that Villa found
in the hospitals, sos of their wound
ed"
Asked why Velasco, the federal
commander evacuated the city, Mr.
Carothers said the federal leaders
one excuse was that he had run out
of small arm ammunition.
However" the state department
agent smiled, &" think he was mis-
taken about that, for when he started
burning his ammunition, we could
hear the rifle cartridges popping and
II seemed to me as If there must have
been 1000, 900 of them, more or less.
81 am convinced that the real
reason was that Villas tireless ham,
uering wore down his men until
they could no longer fight. They had
been on the scantiest rations of both
food and water and were all in, as
the phrase has it."
Grievances Well Founded.
AT San Pedro there is a federal gar
rison and a battle is expected there
at any moment.
There can be no doubt that VII
las grievance against many of the
Spaniards was we'll founded. He was
very angry at first but with success
he has grown more lenient and the In
nocent will doubtless be restored to
their properties and homes in due
time after an investigation.
They all have money and Will not
be a charge upon the community
here.
"Torreon fell on the night of Thurs
day. April 2. as reported by General
villa to General Carranza. Up to that
time there was not the faintest basis
for the reports that the town had
fallen. The evacuation began at
o'clock on the morning OF Thursday
and at that time, and indeed until the
evacuation was complete, the federals
held every position in the city OF Tor
reon which they originally possessed
"It was not until after the evacua-
ton on Thursday that the rebels per-
nanently occupied any positions In
the city Villa attacked repeatedly from
the outside. His men would rush into
the town, making desperate assaults
with their hand grenades, but they
never retained a position until after
the flight of the federal troops. Fight
ing continued almost 10 the last min
ute"
When General Velasco fed he LETT
placards on the hospitals saying that
he left the wounded 10 the Kindness
OF the consuls and 10 the mercy OF
General Villa