New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-03

was the dispatch from Villa at mid
night last night, in which he SAID ne
virtually had the town. Efforts to-day
TO learn more failed. Even rebel Of
ficials felt that if Villa had achieved
success he would have sent word. They
know he would have kept silent had he
been repulsed.
The public here regarded the absence
of news as unmistakable sign that the
Federals were not so nearly whipped
as Villa had imagined, and that posi-
blv they had forced the rebel army
to retreat from the positions 1t had
taken in TIE city of Torreon.
Federal advices received in Ell Paso
to-day told of Federal renforcements
reaching Torreon and of rebel rout,
but the messages were looked upon with
suspicion. as it was we'll known the Fed
erals outside Of Torreon had little OPP
portunjty for learning anything Of the
situation there.
1t was admitted here that despite the
offer of reinforcements made 10 VIVA D!
General Manuel Chao, none couId he
sent There are only three rebel gar
risons in the state of Chihuahua now
at Juarez, chihuahua city and Casas
Grandes. Not a man can be spared
from either Of these because of the ac-
tivities of Federal filibusters.
Constantly there are reports of bodies
of Federals moving toward one or the
other Of the three points. and 1t Is
l-nown there are a thousand or more
Federals operating in several bands IN
the state.
Villa has had terrific losses thus far,
he has met with resistance which he
did not expect, he has found the foe
worthy of his best efforts and his
chance of capturing Torreon is by no
means assured.
Plainly the rebel leaders here are
worried over the Torreon situation.
Villas encouraging messages, his eXpec-
tations and his predictions of success
had led the rebel officials to believe
that Torreons complete occupation
would be accomplished to-day. with his
army occupying practically the whole
city and with the 'ederals driven from
their positions in the city and penned
in a canyon in the outskirts, as had
been reported.
All the official messages concerning
the situation at Torreon were not made
public by the officials in Juarez to-day.
The absence OF definite announcements
concerning the situation, and the re-
fusal Of The rebel censor to permit press
dispatches to come out during the day
gave rise to the usual flood OF startling
rumors, and this has become such
regular thing that rebel headquarters
officials no longer take the trouble to
deny them.
The most sensational report of the
day was that telegram had been re-
ceived in FL Paso from Enrique {.
Creel. former ambassador to the United
States, and now said to be in Mexico
City, stating that a large number or
Federal reinforcements had reached
Torreon, that the rebels had been re-
pulsed and that Villas army was In
full fight TO Chihuahua. No one could
be found who would admit having re-
ceived such message.
All that JuareZ knew to-day was that
fighting still was i'm progress all dur
ing the day on the outskirts OF Tor
reon. and that Villa was finding greater
difficulty in making progress toward
the final and complete occupation OF
the city than he had anticipated.
Roberto Pesquiera. Carranza's per-
sonal representative. said tonight that
unquestionably the battle In Torreon
still was in progress. with no change In
the situation since last night Senior
PesquIera would not say he had re-
ceived advces from the front. but in
timated that II there had been a change
he and General Carranza would have
been promptly advised.