Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-03-23
FederaIS Lose in Two Small
Engagements, 106 Dead
Being Picked UP on One
Field and 90 ON Another
REBELS CONCENTRATE
FOR DECISIVE BATTLE
Co08tItutIonaIists Occupy All
Points Of Strategic Advan-
tage and Commander-in-
chief Is Ready to Open Fire,

.ey MORNING JOURNAL crrciAL LEASED wlHrl
C,nstitutionalist Field Base. Bernie
lilo. Durango Mexico, March S2 =
uaylng cleared the way for a dirccl
attack ou Torrcon by his successe-
~ Friday ana saturday In establish
Ing l bnsc here and driving in nc led
eml advance guards from Mapiml'
Tlahuahlo, Sacramento, Noe, BRIT
bingham junction and smaller points
IN the cuvrons Of the Iiuerta strong
hold. General Faucisco villa, ths
rcbel communicated lell mere
today for the south.
The zig-2ag front OF the khaN-cla !
rebels, including the almost naked
Indians who offered their services and
those az their bows ana arrows al
Chhua huu q month ago but who have
been given modern uniforms and
arms was nearest the enemy las'
night at Birmingham Junction, only
seven miles north Of Torreon. other
columns were fifteen, twenty two ano
even more miles away, but all were
reported i'm motion along tho route
opened by the vanguard, IN the dlrcc-
uon of TorreOn
Main itght at ToITeon.
Before leaving for the front. Cen
oral Villa said he doubted whether
tne federals would make further re-.
Astance until his assault or then
main positions takes place, AL l1ugf
there were rumors that the emN
would make show Of resistance al
Gomez palacio, "a suburb of ToreoE
reached 10y street car, and noted foi
its big railroad shops. &rRta+iy Go
mez rulasIo ls inaeiiou llafl,t wher'
passengers change cars for Monterey
n Hes in the shadow of great brown
hu}k OF mountain known as Cerrt
IA pua. which the federals are re-
ported 10 hnvo fortified II this prove.
true the position must be taken. a'
the big guns have ample power Il
cover tne three miles between th'
mauntlns and Torreon. II les sale
that the manning of La Plla woul,
he a legitimate part Of the defense OF
Torpon. alth lugh It's comparative iso
lanlh would make support from othe'
pats OF the federal defenses practi'
cally impossible The defenders woul.
h iu danger OF being absolutely cti'
IT. and for this reason the rebel.
aoubt if the enemy If he is really
There. win make moro than long
range defense before falling back upor
the main force.
Land With Irrigation bitches.
THE countryside between Gomez IA.
lacio and Torreon Is laced with irri
CATION bitches and IN the irrigation
season is rich with cotton and Other
crops It is thickly settled and th'
vhitcwlshod adobe farm houses fairly
sparkle in the sunlight.
Into some of these bitches 10 is ne
ported that the federals have let the
water 10 impede the rebel advance
while others are being utilized o'
trenches for the protection of rifle
men and rapid-fre guns.
The first important movement o
The week just passed took place whei
General Vila, having appeared sud
denly from Chihuahua. set has troou
In motion early last Friday mornin-
irom Ycrmo. which Is about 100 mile
north Of Torreon. Fifteen miles nOrtl
Of this city he came upon strong ad
vance column Of the federals who ar
believed to have hccn under order
10 retreat upon appearance of the en-
omy Tho appearance of tho rebels
was so sudden. however that the re
Treat became almost a rOut The fed
erals, like the rebels were mounted
ana the encounter became sort o
sleeplechasc with the pursuers
smothered in tho dust Kicked mp b.
ther mounts. firing blindly from tn
saddle, not in the least impedel D.
me scattered bullets which the fed
erals sometimes turned TO fire.
Many Fcdtrals Killed.
The fight continued at galop rieh
INTO the streets Of this little city
and here Il was that most Of the fec
eial losses occurred. The bodies q
lug were picked MP 10y Villas mel
ne fc lcrals are believed to have ear
red off those who were wounded !
.ne city, as only three were foun,
me rebel loss was practically nothinl
ON the heels of the cavalry cam
Wher troops. and General BcnavidC
win Cd superioc force was sent by ra
against Tlahualilo, q town northea,
Of Bermeinlo.
AT a great irrigation ditch shortl
-uef leaving Bermejillo. Benavidt
Iaine upon federal force which h
4 sematod to number 400. An hour
4 1tasement ensued MS result
"nNh the rebel commander reporte
"eneml villa the rout Of the ct
4 my leaving ninety dead on the fiel
D ,l s own loss he reported as thrC
leo ana seven wounded
rms force Of government troor
ehls Co have been far In advance
pPoft and the town Of Tlahualil
@ sarrisoned by a rebel squad wit
Nut resistance.
Other Points Occupied.
9ethWhile General Herrera ocet
santa Clara ana sent a force
llse the ditch where Penavides ha
4h'shed opposition. Another for.
'nels under General Urbina in III