The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-01
ADVANCE MARKED BY BLOOD,
VILLA STORMS GOMEZ PALACIO
IN Ills MARCH ON TOR
TEON.
both Sides Suffer Heavy Loss i'm
Fierce COnflict-Battlc Described as
Most Stubborn Ever Fought on
Mexican SOil-Rebcls Prepare for
Further Advance.

"0" didclO, MEXICO, Marcn ~,
-Four days of fighting, including
three desperate assaults by the
rebels, were crowned today when Gen.
Francisco Villa moved into Gomez
Palacio and established his headquar-
ters on that side OF the town looking
toward TOrreon and within three
miles of that great goal Of the cam
paign.
The final and deciding assault was
delivered yesterday. 1t was preceded
by bombardment. after which the
infantry and cavalry dashed into the
streets.
Rilies, machetes, pistols and hand
grenades were used in 100 different
encounters in the narrow thorough
fares. The grenades, of home manu-
facture, were lighted by cigarettes, an
unofficial part of the equipment of
every Mexican soldier.
Gen. Villa does not know his own
loss, except that it was heavy. The
wounded suffered terribly from thirst
and many died for lack Of water and
surgical attention. The dead of both
sides were mingled in the streets yr
found huddled under adobe houses
or corrals wrecked by rebel shells.
NGtpranc en- 4,
tie ever was fought in Mexico.
Gen. Villa did not stop to mourn
his losses. but with characteristic
energy began preparations to move
on TorreOn. He expects to cooperate
with 400 men under Gen. Herrera,
who is under orders to attack the
town from the east.
Newspaper correspondents were
permitted to enter the city with Villa.
Everywhere rebel soldiers were res
cuing the injured and taking them to
the railroad on impruvised stretchers.
The air was hot and redOlent of
stale blood. Those with flesh wounds
disdained to desert, and soldiers
limping from a wound in the leg or
with one arm supported in a blood
stained bandage were among tte
strctcher bearers.
Villas first assault in force took
place four days ago. There was co n
paratively small number Of fed
erals in the city, and premature re-
ports of victory were sent out. Soon,
however, the federals received rein
forcemcnts and Gen. Villa withdrew
after hard fight.
The next day Wednesday, Gen.
Angeles, artillery commander, shelled
the city all day and part OF the night.
Villa had learned that the federal
commander, Gen. Velasco, was con-
centrated in force in the town and
himself was in the trenches, inspir-
ing his men, and the rebel leader un-
der cover of the bombardment con-
centrated every available man for IA
fresh assault.
This was delivered Wednesday
night, but it was not decisive. al
though the rebels held the stone
roundhouse and few other natural
defcnses in the outskirts of the city
Last night the third and final as
sault was delivered. Gen. Villa,
p,.;,,
bandana handkerchief about his
neck. participated. He rode up and
down the lines. swearing and cheer
ing, cursing and calling on the saints.
At times he apparently was calm and
again in fury. Through it all he
urged his men forward and all SEEM
cd to realize that the attack was the
last one. The scene was q confused
blur Of blood and fire, where men in
their dying agonies whncd for water
or cried out uncanny viva's, petitions
to Our Lady of Guadalupe" and
other jargon of delirium.
ON the way into the city from f.
Ncrjcl early today and particularly in
the streets Of the town itself Gel.
Villa was constantly called on to re-
turn the salutes of the wounded.
Some of them were limping, not to
the rear, but to the front to catch
up with their comrades. Some alre liy
placed on hospital trains, returned to
their commands. Others reSaining
consciousness as they were being
borne away in littcrs. promptly
tumblcd out. joining the scatt cred
procession following in the train OF
the general.
viva Villa. Viva Madcro, Viva Cl
Constitution. they cried in cracked
voices from parchcd throatS.
The remarkable endurance of tn ,se
poems and their mad obsession to re-
turn to the front greatly impressed