South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-03-28
Battle RageS Through Night
and Heavy Fighting in
Streets Continues Today
Generals Killed.
RESERVES ARE HURLED
ON FEDERAL TRENCHES
COnStitutiOnaIiSt Leader Makes
Threat to Hang All Commits
Sary Officials When City is
Taken-TroopS Need Food.

(Constitutionalist Field headquarters
GOMEZ PALAClO. Mexico, March
2S-Torreon probably viii fall before
night. A desperate battle is being
fought on the streets of the city. The
federaIs are fighting bravely to thrust
back Villas rebels, but the constitu-
tionahsts are slowly forcing their way
intO the Eeart of the town.
The bOnbar1ment which General
Villa main .ained all day Friday ceased
last night qn2 the rebel commander
gave the order for the attack. Cross
ing the Nazas river at the head of his
troops, Villa smashed the federals' de-
fenses to the north and penetrated the
town. The battle ragged all night.
Neither side was able TO use it's artil-
lery in the darkness for fear of kill
ing its own men. but the soldiers
fought hand to hand in the light cast
10y fires burning in buildings set afire
early in the battle by the first bonn
bardment of the rebel artillery.
when the first light showed Satur-
day villa sent into the battle all his
forces that ne had held in reserve
during the night. Most of these sol
diers were then men who had been
given an opportunity after the battle
that resulted in the capture of Gomez
PallaciO-
Barricades i'm streets.
from barricades in the streets the fed
erals had succeeded during the night
in hurIing back every attempt Of Villa
10 enter the principal plaza of the city
All night the rebels had been cutting
their way through adobe houses for
many blocks in order 10 get behind
the federal barricades. but the work
was slow.
At dawn the federals opened fire on
the rebels from the house tops where
machine guns had been stationed. The
artillery cut gaps in the advancing
rebel ranks and at many points Villa :
men had 10 fall back 10 the shelter OF
the buildings that lined the streets
along which they had penetrated the
Clty.
General Villa sent message TO his
headquarters here early this morning
confirming earlier reports that Gen
eral Ricardo Pena and Colonel Fred
ericO Reyna OF the federal army had
been killed and that General O. Car
rama and General AlmanZan had been
fatally wounded.
One officer Wounded.
General CarranZa was the best cav
airy leader that the federals had. Villa
stated that none of his officers had
been killed but Colonel Trinidad Rod
rigl u was seriously wounded The
rebel officers today admitted 500 of
their men had been killed in the fight
ing that resulted in the capture of
Gomez PallaciO. Five hundred and
fifty dead federals were counted on the
battlefield.
Scores Of wounded rebels were
brought hack from TOrreOn 10 Gomez
PalaCio during the morning and sent
on 10 FL Nerjel. From the few who
were able To talk. some details of the
thrilling battle in the federal strong
hold were learned They said that
General Villas army was losing heav-
ily. but that he was hurting fresh
troops into the gaps and forcing Cen
eral Nelasco and the government sol
diers into the western part OF the city.
Without Food for ~ Hours.
Villas troops went into the battle
Saturday without having any food or
water for "a hours. The rebels com
missary department has failed miser-
ably TO meet the demands upon IL and
Villa has threatened 20 hang all his
CuarteTmaSters after he has captured
Torreon. villa must capture TorreOn.
only the federal supplies in that city
can save his troops from starvation.
In the present condition Of his COM
nissarv he would be unable 10 con-
EuCt a retreat without disaster. Cholera
has been raging in TorreOn for several
weeks and only prompt action can
prevent an appalling situation in the
city after the battle.
The weather is intensely hot and the
federal dead have been left lying
where they fell. Villa has telegraphed ed
10 chihuahua for carloads Of quick
lime. With this he will destroy the
bodies OF the dead