Arizona republican., 1914-03-18
Heavy Fighting With the Rebels Hard Pressed Is Reported in Progress a+ Escalon, North of Tor reOn
OLD RIFLE PITS
 PUT TO USE
Both Sides Are Reported to Have Received Reinforce ments and Most Sanguine Battle May Be Expected Today
r.ssocr,rrn PRESS pIsPArCHl

ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH
 JUAREZ. March 17.-Heavy flght- ing with the rebels hard pressed, IS A force of federals is said to have met Villas army at Escalon, 100 miles north of Torreon. There was a fierce battle all day on the mountains on each side of the rail- road. for ten miles and in rifle pits dug in previous revolutions. It is reported the federals are moving north from Torreon under Huertas orders and outnumbered the forces back of the constitutionalist advance guard.
 Both sides are reported to have been reinforced The main body went by rail to Escalon. and a de- tachment was sent over the plains west of the railroad, evidently at tempting to get in Villas rear, which is fifty-five miles north of Escalon, General Urbina cOnstitutionalist. rested at Rosario 10 prevent such strategy. is said to have encoun- tered the federals at Rosario. 1lo miles west of Jiminez. It is said that Urbina telegraphed back for more men and artillery.
 It is believed the main battle at Escalon was begun last night. and apparently it was nicely timed b" General Velasco, the federal com mander. to occur after reinforce ments were detached to assist Ur- bina. The bare facts of an impor- tant engagement were contained in a fifteen word telegram. No details are available
 The Zaragoza brigade of 13,0OO vet erans under General Aguierre Bena- vides. encountered the federals at Els calon. and it is reported they were pressed back. It is assumed that Villa brought endorsements today, and that the battle was renewed with increased vigOr.
 The rebel troops have been moving south from JuareZ and Chihuahua. closing in from other directions, for claim to as high as 25.000 men. but .000 is regarded as closer es- innate. Refugees from Torreon in the last two weeks placed the feder- al force under Gen. Refugio Velasco at 1000 to 5000 and up. and they recently added that he is rapidly be- ing reinforced.
 4 fortnight ago the rebel generals under Villa were as follows:
 At Jiminez General Herrera. 1000 men: at Escalon, between Jiminez and Torreon. Geoneral Garcia, 1.2Oo; near Mapima. General Urbna, 2.50O: Hills of Durango southwest of Tor reon. General Contreras. 5000: south of Torreon. in the mountains. General Natera. 1000: General Aguilar has been recruiting east of Torreon, and recently General Aguierrero Bena- vides with the Zaragoza brigade. en- trained at Chihuahua for Escalon-
 Rebels have insisted for some time that Torreon is absolutely cut or from the rest of the world. but an official communication from railroad circles yesterday reported the rail- road line open between Eagle Pass. Texas. and that city. The first hint received here of the imminence or an actual battle was on Saturday. when it was said that as all the trains were needed for the transportation Of troops, the regular tri-weekly service between Chihuahua and Juarez had been abandond temporarily. This was taken to indicate an early move southward. and the inn pression deepened Sunday when the censorship at Chihuahua. which has been practically nominal. suddenly descended on press dispatches, and let only the briefest paragraphs get through Last night and today. dur
 ing Villas actual departure, the cen sor apparently stopped all except of
 ficial business.
 The country north of Torreon is l Sahara like waste. and one Of Villas greatest problems was solved | by the use of tank cars and reser voirs to assure water for the men
 and horses.
 The desert is one of the worst m l Mexico Cactus alone thrives. anu
 under the drifting sands travellers 1 frequently come upon the bones 0; 1 animals that perished of thirsS even those of men, for General Orozcc fought over these parts of the coun-
 try two years ago. His men suffer
 ed terribly from thirst. So precious
 is the supply regarded by Villa tha'
 he has ordered that none shall bt
 wasted in the superfluities of bath | ing and cleansing linen.
 Villa is supplied with a wireless
 outfit by means of which he is abl'
 to communicate with Chihuahua anC 3uarez. The federals also have sta
 tions connecting Torreon and thu U (Enrt ini1od Th l