Arizona republican., 1914-03-28
After Four Days of Fight ing Including Three Desperate Assaults, the Rebels Capture Suburb of Federal Stronghold
VILLAS LOSS
 VERY HEAVY
Preparations Have Already Been Made for the Final Assault on City Which Means Progress Toward Capital
ASSOCIATED PRESS DISPATCH


 GOMEZ PALACIO, March 27, 9 a. m.-Four days of fighting, including three desperate assaults by the reb- els, were crowned today when Villa moved into the city and established headquarters on the side of the town nearest Torreon, within three miles of the great goal of the campaign. The final deciding assault was deliv cred yesterday, preceded by bom- bardment, after which infantry and cavalry dashed into the streets.
 Rifles, machetes, pistols and hand grenades were used in a hundred diff ferent encounters in the narrow thoroughfares. The grenades were lighted with cigarettes. Villa does not yet know his loss, except that it is heavy.
 The wounded suffered terribly from thirst and many died for lack of water and surgical attention. Veter- ans say that no more furious battle was ever fought in Mexico.
 Villa did not stop to mourn his losses. but with characteristic energy began preparation to attack Torreon. He expects to cooperate with 4,000 men under Herrera, who is ordered 10 attack from the east Villas first assault was made four days ago and a small force of federals was de- feated, but was soon reinforced and desperate fighting followed. Villa had the worst of it. He withdrew iobt hn ttlt after the artillery had shelled the city. but the result was not decisive.
 Last night Villa rode along the lines, swearing, cursing, and cheering and urged his men forward. The cruel scenes of battle followed. The picture was a confused blur of blood, fire, and dying agonies.
 Newspaper correspondents were permitted to enter the city with Villa. Everywhere rebel soldiers were en- gagged in rescuing the wounded and taking them to the railroad.
 General Velasco, the federal com | mander, concentrated his forces in town during Wednesdays battle, him self in the trenches, inspiring his men to do the utmost. Last night tVilla participated, grimy with dust Hind sweat, his red bandana about klis neck At times he was appar- tntly calm and again in fury. His Elen all seemed to realize that the ;#ttack was the last one. Human fflesh could not stand more of the heat, thirst and hunger which had been endured for days.
 In the assault, men in mortal agonies whned for water or called out nncanny vivas and petitions to Our Lady of Guadalupe and other jargon of delirium. Today Villa was constantly called upon to return the salutes of wounded, some of these limping, not to the rear, but to the front to catch up with their com rades. Some already placed on the hospital trains escaped and returned to the fighting. Others regained consciousness on filters, tumbled out and joined the scattered procession following Villa.
 More than patriotism inspired the rebel assaults Behind lay the mos cruel desert in Mexico. Ahead, 1T the possession of the enemy, food shelter, cooling streams of the irriga tion ditches.
 The wounded in the outskirts O the city were the first to receive as sistance, but the small hospital corps although working heroically, was ab \ solutely inadequate to the situation n The dead, who fell early in the as Assault or who had been slain by fed