Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-06-25
VICTORY is WON AFTER
FIVE DAYS OF FIGHTING
Five Thousand Prisoners and Large
Quantities of War Stores
Are Taken.
THREE IN RACE TO CAPITAL
Rival Commanders, Though They
Have Done Less Fighting, Are
Nearer the Stronghold
Of Huerta.

LANAl ECAS, Mexico, June IS
After four days of preliminary
fighting the final assault on Zaca,
tecas took place Tuesday, result.
ing in the capture of the city by
the constitutionalists at 7:3o pm
The dead on the federal side
according to official figures, num-
bered 1000, and 1000 wounded
while the losses to the attacking
side were not stated definitely
though Gen. Villa estimates his
casualties at 500 dead and Soc
wounded.
The battle was the most holly
contested during the present rev.
olution in the belief of leaders
here. Fourteen thousand feder-
ais were intrenched in seemingly
impregnable positions.
5000 Prisoners Captured.
Five thousand prisoners were captured
by Gen. Villas troops. Twelve cannon,
nine military trains, six thousand rifles
and three carloads of cannon and rifle
ammunition were captured.
The federals were reported to have dy-
namited many buildings of the city pc
fore evacuating. staying those of Villa 8
troops who had occupied the buildings in
the street fighting.
Gen. Villa himself gave the following
account of the battle:
Villas Story Of Battle.
After four days hard attacks today
was the decisive one. The enemy. num-
bering 1900. commanded by Medina Bar
ron and five other generals, were defeated
completely by my forces. which were aid
ed effectively by Cen Natera's men. Up
to this moment, ave have five thousand
prisoners. twelve cannon, nine trains, two
carloads of rife ammunition and cannon
shells and nearly six thousand Mauser
rifles and large quantity of provisions
and other munitions of war.
THE enemy who escaped went In the
direction Of Aguas Calientes after dyna-
er's office and the stamp revenue office
buildings. The explosions killed many of
our men and destroyed part Of the city.
The dead of the enemy number about
1000 and 1000 wounded.
"On our part we cannot tell the losses
of the battle. which lasted for five con-
secutive days. but think there are not
more than 500 dead and 500 wounded.
Among the latter are Gems Herrera and
Rodriguez, severely wounded. Our artil-
lery operated splendidly. The federals de-
stroyed every fort. the last being Ell
Grillo."
Villa Leads the Attack.
The federals under Gen. Medina Barron
defended their positions stubbornly. But
they finally were overcome by the forces
Of Gen. Villa and Gen. Natera. The con-
stitutionalist soldiers scaled hill after hill
and mountain after mountain, killing and
wounding thousands Of federals and suf-
fering heavy losses themselves. So far
it has been impossible to obtain an &C.
curate estimate of losses on both sides.
The heaps of dead on the mountain sides
and in the city bore testimony Of the
ferocity of the fighting.
Gen. Villa was in the van of the at
| lacking party. Five members Of his
staff, accompanying him, were wounded.
| The number OF constituencies officers
killed or wounded was unusually great.
| Gen Trinidad Rodriguez, one of the best
| of Villas brigade commanders was shot
| through the throat and Is not expected
| to live.
| The constitutionalists In many cases
had to advance on hands and knees, as
those below on the steep inclines passed
| the rifles from hand to hand. These
| feats were accomplished under heavy
machine gun fire. Nothing seemed tc
lessen the determination of Villas troops
| though the federals had thrown ul
trenches and redoubts on all sides. Hill.
sides afforded no cover for the attack.
ing troops.
The Gordon of defense gradually mar.
rowed until the last hills on the out.
skirts of the city fell into the hands Of
Villas men.
Effects Of the Victory.
Ell PAso. Tex. June 2-The takins
of Zacatecas by Villas troops places tn,
entire northern part of Mexico and mucf
more than half of the republics terri
tory in the hands of the constitutional
lists.
three rival constitutonalist leaders t.
Mexico City.
Cen Villa from Zacatecas probably will
move against Aguas Calientes, almost di
rectly to the south. and whence the rem
nants of the Zacatecas garrison retreat
ed Gen. PaDlO Ionzales, the eastern oil
visional commander. who took Tampico
has been ordered to take San Luis Pc
tosi. now weakened by an almost com
plete evacuation.
Gen. Aware Obregon. commander Of tn,
army Of the west. Is about to attacl
Guadalajara. If successful his troop.
would have even q clearer road to tn,
national capital than those Of Villa o,
Gonzales
Roadway to the Capital.