Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1914-04-02

Gomez Palacio March -, 900 a. M
Four days of fighting, including three
desperate assaults by rebels, were
crowned to-day when General Fran
cisco villa moved into the city and
established his headquarters on that
side of the town looking toward Tor
reon, and within three miles of that
great goal of the campaign.
The final and deciding assault was
delivered yesterday. 1t was preceded
by a bombardment, after which the in
fantry and cavalry dashed into the
streets. Rifles, machctes, pistols and
hand srenades were used in a hun
dred different encounters in the mar
row thoroughfares. The grenades, of
home manufacture, We're lighted with
the cigarettes which are an unofficial
part of the equipment of every Next
can soldier.
General Villa does not yet know his
own loss, except that it 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 mingled
In the streets or found hudded under
The piles of earth which had once been
adobe houses or corrals, wrecked by
rebel shells.
BATTLE WAS DELIRIUM.
Veterans say that no more furious
battle ever was fought in Mexico. 1t was
4 delirium.
General Villa did not stop to mourn his
losses. but with characteristic energy
began preparations to move on Torreon
lie expects to cooperate with four thou
sand men under General Herrera, who Is
under orders to attack the town from
the east.
The newspaper correspondents We're per-
lnitted to enter the city with Villa. Every
where rebel soldiers We're engaged in res
cuing the injured and taking them to the
railroad. There We're stretchers, but not
nearly enough of them, but a stout pole
with a blanket suspended hammock ia sh-
ion, sufiiced.
HEAT HAMPERS FIGHTERS.
The day was hot and the air fairly reek-
ed of stale blood. Those with flesh wounds
dlsdained to desist, and many a soldier.
limping from wound in the leg, or with
one arm supported in a bloodstained
bandage. was seen among the stretcEer
bearers.
Villas first assault in force took
place four days ago. There was com
paratively a small number Of federals
in the city and premature reports of
victory were sent out. Soon, however
the federals received reinforcements
and, in the desperate fighting which
followed, the rebels had rather the
worst of it, and General villa with
drew.
The next day, Wednesday, General
Angeles, the artillery commander
shelled the city all day and part OF
the night. Villa had learned that the
federal commander, General 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
commandment, concentrated every avail.
able man for fresh assault.
VILLA SHOUTS AND SWEARS.
This was delivered Wednesday night
but 1t was not decisive. although tn,
rebels held the stone round house anc
Verjel this morning, and particularly
few other natural defenses in tn,
outskirts OF the city.
Last night the third and final as
sault was delivered. General villa par
ticipated, grimy with dust and sweat
D. red bandanna about his neck. II.
rode up and down the lines swear
ing and cheering, shouting and caIlint
on his saints. At times he apparent,
was calm and again furious.
LAST ATTACK HIDEOUS SCENE.
Through it all he urged his me-
forward and all seemed to realize tina
the attack was the last one. Huma
flesh could stand no more of the hea
the thirst and hunger, and the crue
scenes which followed one another un
til the whole picture was confuse
blur Of blood and fire, where men j
their dying agonies whned for waite
or cried out uncanny WAS petition
to Our Lady of Guadalupe. and a
times even the babel Of the deliriou'
On the way into the city from f.
in the streets of the town itself Gen