Evening star., 1914-04-05
ONLY 50 PRISONERS
TAKEN At TORRE0N
veIasco's Men May Have Been
Executed by Villa or Have
Gotten Away.
REBELS MUST NOW FIGHT
STILL ANOTHER BATTLE
Carranza Discusses With Military
Chief Possibility Of Rein
forcing Him.

IoIc1ng HIN.
CHIHUAHUA. Mexico, April 4.-When
Gen. Villa took Torreon he took only
thirty prisoners alive and unwounded,
according to Information received here
today. Whether this means that many
were executed, or that Gen. Refugio Vel
asco, the crippled but valiant federal
commander, succeeded in escaping with
practically all of his army not dead or
disabled, could not be learned. However,
1t is known that he made the first few
miles of his escape on troop trains which
he abandoned when he came to the first
place where the rails had been removed
This circumstance is construed in favor
of the reports that he got away with the
remnant of his army intact.
A dispatch from an Italian army officer
with the rebel artillery was received this
afternoon from Torreon. 1t says:
Dead horses and dead men are piled
high in the streets and plaza and the
ruins of the city are spattered with
blood. 1t Is impossible to estimate the
number Of federal dead, but superficial
inspection of public places would indi-
cate that not less than 1000 bodies are
scattered about. 1t will be a task to get
rid of the dead, but gigantic funeral
pyre probably will be built and the bodies
Of men and animals incinerated.
Picked Rurales Among Dead.
picked rurales who fought against "a
to attempt to check Villas victorious
march southwark. When Villa entered
the city only the thirty who were
made prisoners remained to tell the
tragic story of their defeat
During the close of the fighting
St1IY 10 fn6n wi nm
saw that defeat was certain, they
threw down their arms and took to
flight"
The Italians account of the number
of dead Is not RELIEF on here.
Powers Still Under Charges.
Consular Agent Powers Of Parral. who
was arrested. charged with passing
counterfeit money. is still under charges,
but is at liberty on parole Marion
Letcher. consul here. demanded that
Powers be given an immediate hearing.
but Manual Chao, military governor of
the state. has not yet found time to
duties in connection with the battle Of
Torreon.
AS to Villas future movements, local
strategists say they believe that having
rested and refltted his army. he will pro-
coed simultaneously against Saltillo and
the south. Assuming success in the ex-
ploits, they say the two armies will then
unite. probably at San Luis Potosi, for
the final campaign against Mexico City
They assume, it is said, that Mazatlan
and Tampico will be reduced by the rebel
forces already threatening them.
To Dictate From Mexico City.
Rebel officers here quote Gen. Villa as
opposed to any compromise with the
enemy. if one should be proposed.
We will be ready to dictate in Mexico
City he is quoted as saying. There
can be no compromise with the enemy.
failed through the treachery of those
who did not appreciate him or took adj
vantage of his clemency. This revolution
must be the last in Mexico. and it must
be thorough and conclusive This We
must accomplish by force Of arms so that
in the end there will be no questioning
of our orders or our laws"
Must Fight Another Battle.
JUAREZ. Mexico. April 4.-The rebels
have still another battle to fight if they
wish to annihilate the federal army which
fled Thursday night from Torreon. say
those in close touch with constitution
alist officers.
While the odds are said all to be in
the rebels favor, an admission Of Gen.
Carranza's tonight was considered sig
nificant 1t was to the effect that his
telegraphic conference with Gen. Villa
this evening concerned the sending of
additional troops and supplies to San
Pedro and Parras. where Gen. Velasco.
the federal commander, led his troops
from Torreon.
There is no news from San Pedro
because the federals in their retreat
cut all the wires and burned the tele-
graph poles We are hoping that a
courier will arrive at Torreon or Gomez
Palacia tonight with news said Gen
'CarranZa-
Can Infiict Damage.
While there is no disposition to insin-
uate that Nelasco can defeat the elated
erbels with the remnant of an army
whose spirits have been affected by a
defeat and great hardships. it is pointed
out that he is probably able to inf1ict con-
side able damage.
:. hills among which he has distrib-
:. his men are said to offer very strong
4.ural defenses, and there is always the
chance OF his being reinforced from Mon
terey, Saltillo or the south.
Pervious reports placed the number of
pursuing rebels at 1900, and the fact
that the Carranza-Villa conference con-
cerned reinforcements is said to indicate
one of two things-either that another
battle of large proportions is expected, or
that the rebels are merely attempting to
minimize their own prospective losses by
| bringing, overwhelmingly superior num-
bers to bear.
The large number of troops also is
necessary to effect the enveloping
| movement which Villa Is said to be
desirous of accomplishing. Had he been
able to block Guarache canyon at Tor
reon, Tor instance, 1T is said the fed
eral army might have been captured
! then and there. but his forces were
J insufficient to guard all egress while
! attacking the city as we'll
Truth Concealed by Huerta.
| MEXICO CITY. April 4-No newspa-
| per in the capital has published the
news of Torreon's capture by the reb-
| els Gen. Banquet, the war minister
| continues to inform the public that tn.
| government still holds Torreon and
| that fighting is in progress.
| Unofficial advices say that Gen. Javiel
de Moure Is engaged in a battle neal
San Pedro.
Cattlenen for Recognition.
| Ell PASO. Tex. April 4.-The move
ment inaugrated by former Gov. George
Curry of New Mexico, to organize
foreigners holding property in north.
| ern Mexico for the purpose of urging