The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1914-04-02
DEFENDERS ARE
READY TO QUIT
VelaSCC Would Surrender Con-
ditionaiIy to General Villa
FEOERALS HOLT TWO CuARTELS

Genera! VeIasco Can RepeI Attacks
by Enemy Without Endsngerinu
Own Position-Carranza Sees in
Surrender Offer Recognition Of
Neutrality-suspicious. Loss of Life
on Both Sides in Torreon Battle.
Juarez, Mex, March 31.-Demand-
ing that his 5000 officers and men be
granted amnesty Federal General
Velasco, defender Of Torreon, has
made an Ter Of surrender to Rebel
General Villa. This is the unofficial
report here.
1t is stated that Villa has wired to
General Carranza here for advice
about the surrender offer as his own
army is in q badly battered and dis
organized condition.
Unomciolly it has been learned in
Juarez thet Velasco still holds two
big cuartels in Torreon Villa having
taken one of the three. In the larger
Of the cuartels Velasco, it is said,
has 5000 men, food sufficient to last
several weeks and an abundance CT
ammunition. The Quartet is a large
warehouse located in low spot in
such way that rebel cannon cannot
be trained upon it and the only way
to reach it is through a pass between
two hills.
Following the receipt of the dis
patch from Villa a conference Of
rebel officers was held in Juarez and
arrangements We're made to get a
through leased wire from Juarez to
Washington for the purpose, it is said,
Of getting into direct communication
with the United States state depart
ment.
1t is said Carranza may ask the
state department for recognition for
the rebels if he grants general
amnesty to the federals at Torreor,
claiming that in treating with Villa
for surrender the federal army recog-
nizes the existence of the Constitu-
tionalist government and the United
States should be magnaminous enough
to recognize it.
An argument in favor Of accepting
the offer Of surrender is said to have
been made by Nelasc0. for it is said
in Juarez that the federal position
might not be taken for weeks and in
the meantime the rebels would lose
many men in attempting to 'dislodge
the fedeTals.
Juarez sent to chihuahua 100 cots,
large supply Of blankets and a large
quantity of hospital supplies for the
use Of the wounded rebels in the Chi
huahua hospitals, also five machine
guns and n quantity of ammunition.
General Manuel Chao. who. came
north to extend a welcome to General
Carranza for Villa, returned south
again. It is stated in Juarez that the
commission Investigating the death of
Benton and Bauch has prepared It's
report TO submit to Carranza. Nothing
was given out On the matter.
Carranza took time to pose for the
moving picture men with Buffalo
Bill (William F. Cody. Dr. Henry
Allen Upper, representing the inter
national peace forum. also called on
Carranza. He had a letter of intro
duction. he said. from United States
Senator Morris Sheppard.
According to the department of in
formation in Juarez a message Was
received from Brownsville, Tex, re-
porting the arrival of several cannon
of large caliber and long range, to-
gether with ammunition as well as
500 rifles with several hundred thou
sand rounds of ammunition. These
munitions will be distributed among
troops of the Constituencies