The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-25
Two Barracks in City Are Taken, According to Dis patches-SeriOus Fight
 ing Yet Ahead
STREETS STREWN
 WITH DEAD AND
 DYING SAY REPORTS
Unofficial Report Says Federals Have Surrendered, But Is Unconfirmed. 700 Federal Troops Reported Killed-Rebel Losses Are
 Not Given

Juarez, March 24.-(7.15 p. m.) At this hour General Chao is at the telegraph office seeking confirmation of a report that the federals at Tor reon have surrendered
 Chihuahua, March 24.-An official dispatch received at P. m. today says fighting continues fiercely at Gomez PalaciO. The rebels are said to have captured the stone railroad roundhouse and to be fighting from 1t. The rebels claim that the federal dead number 700. No report as to their own losses has been made public but 1t is learned that they have at least so wounded.
 Juarez. Mex, March 24.--Roseate ru- mors and official reports of the on- ward sweep of General Francisco Villa and his victorious rebels kept this city in state of gratifed excitement to- day, but the optimism was dashed somewhat by the receipt of an As- sociated Press dispatch from Chihuahua. quoting an official dispatch saying that lighting continues at Gomez Palacio. It was announced officially in the course of the morning. that the city, three miles from Torreon, was taken last night al. 9 o'clock, and that Gen. eral Villa had orcered supplies sent there direct.
 Next came word that General Eu- genio Az arrez Be1avides had captured two federal cuarteis in Torreon itself This information was conveyed in a private telegram fl om Colonel Trevino, one of Renavide's staff officers, to his brother 'n Juarez. At this there was further joy, but it was nothing to the excitement occasioned when General Manuel chao. military governor of the state of Chihuahua. and now in this city to greet General Carranza, re- ceived a private report that General velasco, federal commander at, Torreon, had surrendered.
 Report Unconfirmed
 General Chao accepted the report with reserve, however, and te1egra phed to General Villa skiing for confirma- tion or denial. After two hours he had received no reply.
 The dispatch from the Associated Press correspondent at Chihuahua had something 0. a dampening effect on the spirits cf the rebels. and it gave rise to all manner of conjectures. It was the first direct news telegram of the day, but it was argued that the of fic'al report quoted In 1t did not nec- essarily Gisproye previous reports of fighting in Torreon that Villa did not actually have Gon,ey Pa1acio in his pos session ,asf night.
 The report might mean, it was con jectured, that the federals as part of the general battle, might have re- turned 60 Gomez Palacio and renewed the fight, while ether forces were en- gagged ir Torreon three miles away
 
 Unable to Study Campaign
 Washington, March 24.--With the be- ginning of actual battle on a compara- lively large scale in central Mexico. army officers here find themselves deprived of a much desired opportunity to study the campaign through trained military ob- servers on the field. Since the United States has not accorded political recog- hilton to either federals or constitution alists, there is no way by which Amer ican officers can be detailed to view engagements as in ordinary wars Even if the situation were different. army men. teIe doubt whether the Mexican gen. eyals would tolerate the presence of for elgn officers.
 All that was made known officially to >~--~~-~----~~-~-~--~~-
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