Evening journal., 1914-04-04
TORREON HAS
NOT Fallen,
SAYS HUERTA
Enemies Say He Is Keeping
News of VelaSco Slaughter
From the People
MAY DESTROY CAPITAL TO
keep IT FROM REBELS
BY The United Press.

BY The United Press.
MEXICO CITY, April A grim old
Indian, stoically game 90 the very end,
Nictoriano Huerta, with gritted teeth.
unhinchingly faced his fate today. as ho
stoutly denied that Torreon mad fallen
on chat his army had met with losses.
There was something cruel in the
frmncss of the man who for more than
year has ruled this waf-ridden couu-
try, and who now IL in danger of going
down amid death and destruction. iust
as he rose 10 power over the mutilatod
body OF Francisco Madero.
"'rorrcon has not fallen. IL i- a lic,'
he said TO all 20 whom he talked. Ills
manner was that of q man who cX-
pected the worst but did not fear IT,
IL Is Obvious that llucrta has detcr-
mined TO keep the news of Neaacos
defeat away from the people OF the city
ns long as possible. He has So CONS
pletely cut Of ali lmes OF commmica-
tion with the north that not even cour-
iers have been able 90 get through with
reports TO any place where they could
be forwarded by wire.
IN cafe last evening General
iIuerta met Charge O'Shaughnessy. lie
greeted the American officer cordially
and with a smile said:
"Torrcon has not fallen. Our men are
driving villa back
] Huerta's smile seemed TO says
"This IS what we wish TO be known,
1 Kindly spread the report
] u is doubtful of the world has ever
witnessed lust snch a scene as Is pre-
scented here today IN this capital.
which has seen no many bloody
changes Of government There Is a
suppressed uncertain fear of what Is
TO come. Despite the secrecy of tho
government officials. the news from
Torreon has filtered IN from tho
United states In dispatches which
were Immediately classified as lies
by Huerta. The local papers are all
under Huerias domination Yet
throughout the city there Is a feei-
ing Of fearful uneasiness.
Most men who know Huerta believe
that be will die lighting. Many con-
! slider him capable Of attempting 70
destroy the city II he is convinced
, that villa will wrest II from him.
, The ruling opinion. however. Is that
Huerta will barricade himself against
attack as long as possible and then
hold out TO the bitter end.
'When Huerta falls It. will be from
( a wound in the face. said one Of his
. friends. "He will never turn his back
! to the enemy"
! General Yelasco and his army ara
= completely lost SO far as any news
{ here Is concerned II seems that they
= have fed TO The mountains, every man
! for himself.
b Everywhere prices are soaring. The
{ value Of a Mexican peso is falling
b rapidly. Soldiers and citizens alike
! are trying to change their money into
T gold. For II Is only gold that will
! profit anyone seeking to fee when thu
= crash comes.
/, Congress was In secret session all
B night endeavoring 10 devise some
means of meeting the financial panic
as we'll as the threatened collapse OF
The government. Huerta has been
F in close touch With the leaders. Even
, with the fall Of Torreon. they have
weeks aud perhaps even longer. thcy
believe. before villa can approach The
, capital.
7 In the meantime, the grim old war.
= rior. firm and fearless, at the head
y of the tottering government calmly
. takes his cognac and smiles.