The Detroit times., 1914-03-24
FINAL ASSAULT ON
TORREON BEGUN



all morning, but did not open a Sc
| rious attack until Villas men arrived
In the afternoon. Villas cavalry re-
Inducements were sent to the firing
line at once. while his foot soldiers
were held In reserve behind Ortega's
column.
For hours the fiercest fighting pro.
ceeded. The rebel horsemen charged
repeatedly but apparently could not
disortsanize the defenders. As night
came on the superior constitutiOnalist
artillery began to have its effect and
the federal outposts were gradually
withdrawn. SEEKING his opportunity
Ortega ordered final assault on the
suburb. The cavalrymen, screaming
and cursing at the top OF their voices
in an effort to terrify the defenders,
were sent forward at q gallop and Or
tega's main body followed. At 8 p.
m. the assault was successful and the
victorious rebels swarmed into Comes
Palacio, SEEKING the garrison.
But this did not end the battle. See
ing the desperate plight Of Gomez Pa
lacio, Gen. Refugio Velascc, federal
commander OF Torreon, sent heavy re-
Inducements out from TorreOn ITSELF
In some quarters 1t Is said Velasco
personally headed this force. Both
armies used their artillery with deadly
erect and In some quarters the fight.
Ing was 80 close that hand grenades
were brought into play. Bursting
shells and the hand grenades quickly
set IRE to a dozen warehouses In 90.
meg Palacio, but nei her forces paid
any attention to the threatened con-
f1agration.
With the federals slowly giving
ground, Gen. villa early today ordered
up all reinforcements available from
his troops In other parts of the field.
The present indications are the final
battle for the possession of Torreon
will be fought In a large irrigation
field lying between that city and Co.
mez Palacio. This IL a valley through
which runs the street railway line con-
meeting Torreon with the suburb. It
has been formidably fortified not only
with rife pits, but also with barbed.
wire entanglements of all descriptions.
Villa realizes his reputation as a mill.
tary leader depends on what he IL able
to do In this emergency, and he Is de.
'armined to carry the fight at all haz.
ards.
Meantime, the other constitutional.
list field commanders have been fight
ing savagely. Gen. Eugenio Aguirre
Benavides and Gen. Macliovos Her.
rera, who were in Matamoras Sunday,
are attacking Torreon from the east.
while Gen, Calitto Contreras and Gen.
Panthl Natera are conducting an as
sault from the south. The three Ar
rteta brothers are active to the south.
| west. These attacks are generally re-
yarded as mere feints ordered by Villa
tnrce Velasco to divide his garri-
| son.
After having been driven out of
Gomez Palacio at 8 o'clock last night
and sustaining tremendous losses. the
federals returned the attack at mid.
night Early today they were still
engaged In desperate conflict. but
steadily retreating. The town Is afire
In q dozen places and is threatened
with destruction.
| II Is estimated that 1000 rebels
and about 5000 federals are engaged
In the fighting about Gomez Palacio
| JUAREZ, Mexico, March 24.--Con
tinued success of constitutionalist
arms near Monclova, Mexico, is re-
ported in dispatches received at Gen
lvenustiano Carranza's headquarters
here today.
Gen. Cesario Castro has captured
the town of Salome Botello, after
routing the federal garrison. He dvn
amited three federal troop trains
killing so federals. wounding 20, and
capturing a large supply of arms and
ammunition.
Later Gen. Castro and Gen. Murgia
Joined forces and captured Moncloya
taking 800 federal prisoners man,
arms and quantity Of ammunition
Murgis then marched against Sar
Buena Ventura and Castro against
Nadaores.
Gen. Carranza says the railroad
south OF Piedras Niegras Is now con
trolled by rebels.
Although she is only thirty-on'