The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-28
VILLA WINS GOMEZ
.PALAC|O IN HIS
TH|RDATTACK
8loodiest Battle of Present
War In Mexico
REBELS FOUGHT LIKE TIGERS
Constitutionalists Have Now Estab-
ished Headquarters Within
Three Miles of Torreon

Gomez. Palacio. Mexico, Mar. 81
g a. m.)-Four days of fighting. in
GLIDING three desperate assaults by
rebels, were crowned today when
Gen. Francisco Villa moved into the
city and established his headquart-
ers on that side of the town looking
toward Torreon and within three
miles of that great goal of the cam
paign.
The final and deciding assault was
delivered yesterday. 1t was preced
ed by bombardment after which
the infantry and cavalry dashed into
the streets.
Rifles, matchetes, pistols and hand
grenades were used in hundred diff
ferent encounters in the narrow thor
oughfares.
The grenades. of home manufac-
ture, were lighted with cigarettes
which is an unofficial part of the
equipment Of every Mexican soldier.
Gen. Villa does not yet know his
own loss except that IL was heavy.
The wounded suffered terribly from
thirst and many died for the lack of
water and surgical attention.
The dead of both sides we're ming
led in the streets or found huddled
under the piles OF earth which had
once been adobe houses or corrals,
wrecked by rebel shells.
Veterans say that no more furious
battle ever was fought in Mexico. 1t
was delirium.
Gen. Villa did not stop to mourn
his losses, but with characteristic
energy began preparations to move
on Torreon. He expects to cooper
ate with 1000 men under Gen. Hur-
rera, who is under orders to attack
the town from the east.
Villas first assault in force took
place four days ago. There was com
paratively a small number of feder-
ais in the city and premature reports
Of victory we're sent out. Soon, how
ever. the federals received reinforce.
ments and, in the desperate fighting
which followed. the rebels had rather
the worst of it and Gen. Villa with
drew.
The next day, Wednesday, Gen An
geles, the artillery commander. she'll
ed the city all day and part Of the
night. Villa had learned that the fed
eral commander, Gen Velasco. was
concentrated in force in the town
and was himself in the trenches in
spring his men to do their duty, and
the rebel leaders under cover of the
bombardment concentrated every
available man for fresh assault.
The assault was delivered Wednes-
day night, but it was not decisive, al
though the rebels held the stone
roundhouse and a few other natural
defenses in the outskirts of the city.
Last night the third and final as
sault was delivered Gen. Villa par
ticipated, grimy with dust and sweat,
red bandanna about his neck. He
rode up and down the lines. swearing
and cheering, shouting and calling on
his saints. At times. he apparently
was calm and again furious.
On the way into the city from FL
Verjel this morning and particularly
in the streets of the town itself. Gen.
Villa, was constantly called on to re-
turn the salute of the wounded.
Some were limping. not to the rear
but to the front to catch up with |
their comrades. Some, already plac-
ed on hospital trains. escaped and |
returned to their commands.
Others regaining consciousness as
they were being borne away in filters /
promptly cursed their would-be res
cuers and tumbled out, joining the |
scattered procession following in the |
train OF the general.
Viva Villa, Viva Madero. Viva FL |
Constitution" they cried in cracked |
voices from parched Threats.
The remarkable endurance of these |
poems and their mad obession to re-
turn to the front greatly impressed
the Americans in the train Of Gen.
villa.
An incident Of the engagement yes
terday was the meeting Of two armor
ed trains at long range. One was on
a siding and the other on the main
track. They exchanged shots like
two warships. but with little damage
TO the federal train which had the
switch track retired around a curve
and was lost 10 sight
Gomez Palacio is a. railroad town |
and is a network OF tracks which /
made the encounter possible.