Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-18
Rebel General Surprised
by the Enemy North of
Torreon is Report.
CENSORSHIP FOR NEWS
ConstitutionaIist Forces Are
Said to Be Surrounded BY
Troops of Huerta.

reference 10 peuulnB bdtIS g. 4NA
reon was contained in the dispatches
- the state department over night
The dispatches summarized say:
~ReJease OF Andrew Hamilton, ar
-sstad with Byrd and Goldschmidt,
reported. other two thought to be
transferred to Mexico City on charge
os furnishing aid TO rebels
The federals are in possession OF
vauclova- In fighting there two or
three Americans with the Carranza
forces we're killed
Fl Paso. Texas. March IS.-Thous-
ands whose fortunes are locked up IN
the military and political developments
Of Mexico today awaited authentic in
formation OF a reported battle north OF
TorreOn. In the last p hours only a
15word press dispatch got through the
censor over a single wire connecting
Juarez with the war zone.
Federal agents claim Villa suddenly
cane upon the enemy 100 miles north
Of where he expected them, and was
defeated at EscalOn, on the main line
Of the railway. at Rosario. II the
claims are correct, Villa had TO do bat
tie for life and IS still in a precarious
position, with the enemy in front and
another threatening 10 occupy the rear.
Juarez. Mexico, March 1S.-Heavy
fighting with the rebels hard pressed,
was reported here last night 4 force
Of federals Is said 70 have met Villas
army at Escalon, an important rail
road town 100 miles north OF Torreon,
and both sides having been reinforced,
the battle is said to nave ragged fierce
ly all day.
The railroad from TorreOn runs
north through Escalon to Jiminez,
Chihuahua, and beyond. On each side
Of the road are mountains These Tor
10 miles are marked with rifle pits
dug in previous revolutions. II is re-
ported that the federals. whose num-
bers are not known, moved out OF Tor
reon in two detachments pursuant TO
orders from provisional President
Huerta
Plan Rear Attack.
One detachment IS said to have
moved OEer the plains west of the rail-
road with the mountains between it
and the road. while the main body
went directly BY raj. to Escalon. The
eastern detachment evidently was
trying 10 get in Villas rear, as it was
moving in the direction of JimineZ,
which IS 80 miles north OF Escalon.
General Urbina OF the constitution
alists. however. had been posted at
Rosario to guard against just such
startegy and last Saturday is said to
have encountered the advance guard
OF the federals at or near the city,
which IS about 10 miles west Of jim
inez- He is said TO have been outnum-
bered and to have teIegraphed for
more men and artillery.
Lind In New Conference.
Mexico City, March 1S.-The depart
ure for Vera Cruz today of Foreign
Minister Rojas and family gave rise
70 rumOrs he intended to confer with
John Lind. II was stated his stay
would be brief.
Fifteen hundred federal troops with
large equipment. including 10 armor-
ed automobiles. left here today to join
the campaign against rebels a. Meta
noras. opposite Brownsville, Texas.
The war Office has no confirmation or
reported fighting at EscalOn, in the
state OF Chihuahua
Raid Follows Murder.
Juarez. Mexico. March 1s.-COnsul
Edwards has been advised that the
property OF the MADEIRA Company
Limited. az Pearson. Chihuahua. was
raided yesterday and a large guam
tity Of merchandise seized by bandits
under Manuel Kutierrez. The raid fol-
lowed closely the murder OF Oscar
Allen. an American, employed as
Tatchman for the company