Arizona republican., 1914-03-31
John Reed Says That Villa Was Beaten Several Times But That Federals Lacked Sense to Follow Up Advantage OVER 2,000 ARE
 REPORED KILLED Predicts That Rebel Leader Will Ultimately Take City But Only After Pro longed Fighting.
ASSOCIATED PRESS p1spArcHl

FL PASO. March 30.-Tales of rebel reverses and rebel luck were brought tonight from the front by John Reed, correspondent for the New York Herald, and Robert Rohr- man, 6 photographer. Their stories were the first unbiased accounts of ye-witnesses since the battle began. They estimate that two thousand rebels were killed when they eft the scene Saturday morning. They say the rebels were whipped several times, but that the federals had not sense enough to follow up the victory
 Each time Villa would reorganize and dig in again. They said the federal prisoners declared that Vclas co went insane in the trenches, curs- ing and issuing orders. His own of ficers put him in restraint.
 They were whipped twice at Go- meg Palacio,'' related Rohrman, but the federals didn't have the good sense to follow up their advantage. Villa returned to the attack after recognizing. ultimately occupying the city They were whipped right there, but Felasco didn't know it. The rebel attack on Gomez Palacio was centered on the hill known as Cerro de la Pila. It is precipitous and seven assaults were made before talk ing it. The result of the first six assaults could be discerned after the battle by the rings of dead rebels.
 Home made shrapnel of the rebels had much to do with the early re- pulses Only one out of thirty eN- pIoded Villa was everywhere, and his greatest delight was to join the assaults on foot throwing the hand grenades himself. He ultimately will take Torreon. When we left on Sat urday the fight for the possession of Torreon was still in progress. It was slow. stubborn work. as the rebels had to fight from house to house."
 Reed and Rohrman, like other newspaper men, were forbidden to send news or leave themselves. Ac- cording to Reed, they bribed a sec ton hand to allow them to use a gasoline propelled rail vehicle, which carried them to Bermejillo. There they caught a hospital train to Chi huahua.
 Rohrman brought a report that Colonel Victor Huerta. son of Presi- dent Huerta, was among the federal dead. He also said that British Vice Consul Cummings, of Gomez Palacio, was sent to Torreon by Villa to sug- gest surrender to Velasco.
 More Conflicting Reports
 JUAREZ, March 30.-No reports of convincing nature were received from the front. A purported telegram from Major Garza said the taking of Tor reon was the matter of hours, but it was recalled Villa said on Saturday it was only a matter of minutes. Later General Chao stated that General Car Villa to the effect the rebels had taken all the positions in Torreon except the main barracks. It is said the fedora commander, General velasco, has made conditional surrender, which Villa is considering
 Federal sympathiZers on the Fl Pas6 side are deriving much comfort iron the telegrams said to come from Tor reon and Mexico City, to the effec that the rebels have been put to fligh from Gomez Palacio, Torreon and Ter do.
 No newspaper dispatches were re ceived. The embargo on the sale 0 liquor has been removed. but the re strictions against persons entering tn city after ten o'clock remained. Tn Carranza commission appointed to in vestigate the death of William S. Ben ton will not report for some time d Dr. Lara one of the commissioners at Chihuahua assisting in the care O the wounded.
 The forces at Torreon are still en gagged in battle it was learned tonigh The information came from Robert Pesquiera, confidential agent of tn constitutionalists in the United State: who recently arrived from Washing ton.
 Senor Pesquiera Investigating rumor
 ~ %<s