The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-03-21
VILLAS ARMY HAS
INVESTED CITY
OF .I0RRE0N
Expected That Opening Battle
Will Be Fought Today
CITY IS WELL FORTIFIED
Rebel Chief Confident Although Con.
frcnted by Almost lmpregnabIe
Outer C'efences

FL Paso Tex, March 91--Gen
villa and his army of 10000 rebels
yesterday invested the federal strong
hold of Torreon. The khaki-clad
columns occupied the environs of
the city without opposition, and yes
terday was spent in wheeling the
field pieces into position to shell the
federal trenches, which have been
dug at every point where the federal
commander, Gen Refugio Velasco,
expects attack -
His army is estimated to number
5000 men. South and southwest of
the city his position is regarded as
almost impregnable, by reason of the
mountains. through which only three
passes run, and these have been rem
dered almost impossible by fortifica-
tons and barbed-wire entanglements.
In other directions the city is reach
ed through the desert and high hills.
Villas recent progress has been
slow, because it was necessary to re-
pair the railroad tracks and bridges.
Yesterday morning. however, the
road was open from Yermo Durango,
Mex, where the troops have been
modifying to Mapimi and Bermejillo.
which are only few miles north Of
Torreon, and are virtually suburbs of
that city.
At these two cities, after suffering
long hours in the freight cars where
they We're stuffed like figs in a box
and with but scanty supply of water,
the troops detained and plunged into
the desert. Great clouds of fine Ges-
ert duss marked their progress over
hummocks OF cacti-crowned sand.
and through dry water courses.
Great tank wagons, laden with the
water supply, which has been Villas
greatest problem, rumbled in the
trail, the wheels at times almost hub
deep in the sand.
The lips of the few foreigners in
the army were cracked and swollen
from the heat and alkali dust but
the Mexicans, trained to such condi.
tions, covered their mouths with
folds of their blankets and Jared
better. All eyes were blood shot.
In this way the outskirts of Torreon
were reached.
There was no opposition and Gen.
Villa Sfata1 tbof tbara h,d -. -.
since he had begun to repair the
railroad south of Jiminez. The fed.
erals contented themselves with
strewing all possible obstruction ex.
cept bullets in his way. There were
occasional exchanges of sho.s be-
tween outposts, but nothing that as.
sumed even the dignity of Skin
mish.
Gen. Villa was everywhere, for now
that the eve of the battle is at hand,
he is fury of energy, now grabbing
the halter of a refractory mule. now
the lashings Of pack sad
de, or swapping orders al lesser
leader. "Torreon will be mine in
week" he exclaimed jubilantly.
Every preparation has been made.
and we can't fail"
1t is no figure OF speech to say
that the light of battle burned in the
rebel leaders eyes. They are extra
wide set. so that when he
looks at visitor a. close range they
seem almost to cross. and their dark
depths, always glawing. seem actu-
ally to. flame in moments of excite
ment. His subordinates rarely ever
argue with him. and in such moments
never. 1t is a danger signal--one
which the Scotchman Benton is said
to have failed to heed.