The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-06-26
VILLASPARES
LIVES OF FOES
118 Huerta Officers Face
Firing Squad and Are
Marched Back.
FEDERAL DEAD 5000
Fighting Was Hand to Hand
and Ficrcest of
Revolt.
on TO MEXICO CITY NOW
Rebel Armies VIII March at
Once to Attack Aguas-
calientcs.

FL PAso. June 25.-Details OF the
fighting which preceded the capture OF
zacatecss received here to-day show II
10 have been the most desperate since
the revolt began. The Federal loss Is
given as 1000 to 5000 dead. with several
thousand wounded. while the rebels are
known to have lost nearly 1000 dead.
Contrary TO his usual practice of hav-
ing Federal officers executed when cap
tured Gen. Villa exercised clemency on
Tuesday night. when lis OF Gen. Bar
rons officers were made prisoners. Gen.
villa had these men taken out In front
Of hring squads and then. when the Or
der fire" was expected from the lips Of
the commander Of each squad 1t was
announced that villa had decided to spare
their lives.
The effect on the Federals OF the dra-
matte situation staged by the man they
regarded as butcher was staggering.
some wept. but most OF them gazed open
mouthed at the firing squads.
Even the rebel soldiers were unpre-
pared Tor Villas act. The Constitution.
alists had expected him to carry out what
has been his usual method of dealing
with lluortas officers.
The officers We're told that the only
EXCEPTIONS would be In the cases OF such
officers were subsequently proved 20
have been guilty OF murder or of unusual
aud extreme cruelty to Constitutionalst
prisoners Or non-combatants.
OF the several thousand Federal
soldiers who. surrounded in the final as
sault. threw down their arms aud sur
rendered. the majority have volunteered
TO light for villa against the Government.
They were surprised to see that villa =
army is well clothed, well treated and
PAID regularly.
VIII Waste No Tine.
With Zscatecas IN his hands and his
army In fighting trim aud eager to reach
the Mexican capital. Gen. Villa will not
waste any time In pushing southwark.
The bulldog OF the rebel army AZ he
i called. will only wait until tho railroads
behind him can be repaired OF the damage
done by the high waters 80 he can get
provisions before proceeding against
.Agusscalicntes oueretaro and Mexico
city.
villa has several reasons for hurry.
One IL that he wants to have the war
over. another Is that he is averse TO allow
ing his men to remain In idleness and
stll another Is that he wishes to dash into
tho capital before the Csrranza generals
in Jalisco or San Luis Potosl can get
moving on San Luis Potosi. and Gen
Obregon. another Carranza man. Is in
Jalsco, moving against GusdalaJara
These towns once In their possession. they
might got to the national capital ahead
OF villa The campaigns OF the future
will constitute race between villa and
Carranza for the privilege OF encounterins
Huerta.
kilograms Of congratulaton to villa
have been passing through III Paso to-
day from all parts of the world. His mill
tary successes In the last year and hall
are considered the most remarkable since
the days of Napoleon. No general OF
commander OF an army. II Is declared
ever fought and won so many victories In
such short time without the loss of al
engagement. II has hardly been year
and a half since villa entered Mexic,
from Ii Paso on borrowed horse with
$50 and revolver to start a revolt.
Villas only drawback now IL the dis
ruptlon OF his lines OF communication
The railroads are cut behind him and re-
pairing these may cause delay. Several
trainloads OF provisions now at Juarez
for his army may be bonded through the
United States and sent around by way OF
Eagle Pass to Torreon IL the high water
does not subside. il this food cannot be
cent through there IL likely to he much
suffering In the rebel army, for Zacate-
as the dispatches to-day state, Is In
state of famine as I, result of having had
10 support the large Hucrta army for
several weeks past.
Villa busted himself to-day I'm restoring
order In the cIty|of Zacatecas. Closing
the saloons as a precaution against dis
order. was one of his first acts. III
despatched a cavalry command Ia pur-
suit Of the retreating Federal column
which escaped from the city after parl
OF the garrison had been captured and 1
became evident that the furious charge.
Of the rebel forces could not be with
stood.