The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-04
People Of Mexico City Ignorant
of TOrreOn's Fall.
Loss Of Town Persistently De-
MED by the Government.
IS AFRAID TO LET THEM KNOW
News Might Turn Public Opin.
ion Against the President.
Rebels Now Control Practically
Half Of the Republic.


Mexico City. April 4.--The fedora
government still obstinately denies the
capture of Torreon by the rebels. Il
was assumed in many quarters thai
General Huerta and his ministers were
not in ignorance of the fate of that
city.
1t was suggested that the withhold
ing of the news from the public wa
based on psychological rather than or
military grounds. 1t was pointed out
by serious minded persons here that
the temperament of the Mexican pop
ulace was such that news of a disaster
like the fall of Torreon, might easily
start an avalanche Of public opinion
against the administration which
would thus find itself seriously embar-
raised at q most critical moment OF
its career.
The taking of Torreon gives the
constitutionalists control OF practicaliy
half the republic with the exception
of the cities of SaltillO and Monterey
the capitals Of the state OF Coahuila
and Nuevo Leon. Military men regard
the retreat OF General Velasco from
Torreon as a most dangerous unuer-
taking and they consider the position
Of Jayier Moure and Gen. Joaquin
Mas at San Pedro as precarious.
So far as is known here the federal
troops still have possession OF the rail-
way between Saltillo and Torreon at
which latter place connections can pe
made with the south.
Line of Retreat Beset by Rebels.
The rebels infest the region along
this main line south Of Saltillo. One
body of them, under General Eulalio
Gotierres, has it's headquarters at Con-
ception Del Orc, the terminus Of a
branch Hne from Sahillo and within
striking distance Of the main line.
The presence of this body and that of
other rebel forces in the same victn-
ity renders improbable an unopposed
retreat of the federals toward the
SOUTH Northward from Saitho to-
ward Monterey, little difficulty might
be encountered by the federal troops
and n is not improbable that the
fugitives from Torreon will make an
attempt to join the federal garrison
at Monterey.
The escape of General velasco and
his men from the rebels does not ap-
pear to be a simple task. Their re-
treat toward Durango to the soutn-
west or to the north or east Is said
by military men to be impossible un-
less they cut their way through rebel
territory. The railroad which con-
meets Torreon and Zacatecas, to the
south, has long been out Of commits
trail over which General Velasco and
his troops will have to march. Be
fore reaching Zacatecas 1t is thought
certain that General VelascO will en-
counter the rebel forces under General
Panfilo Natera and will probably suf-
fer from thanking attacks by rebel
troops from Durango.
Rebels Next Move.
Military men, not intimately con-
nected with the federal administration.
express the opinion today that General
VelascO's retreat will resolve itself into
an effort of each man for himself. They
say that the next move Of the rebels
will be to start campaigns against Sal
tillo and Monterey and possibly sub
sidiary expeditions against Zacatecas.
lying directly south of Torreon. At the
same time the rebel task Of attacking
and capturing Tampico, on the coast
of the Gulf Of Mexico, continues under
the direction of General Pablo Con-
zales from his headquarters in the city
of Victoria. Another large quantity OF
small arms and machine guns-al-
though 1t is not to be compared with
the amount captured at Torreon-was
added to the rebel supply this week
when a federal force under Colonel
Enriquez Perez was cut to pieces
northwest of San Luis Potosi.
The federal generals. Moure and
HidaIgo, are said to have twenty or
ammunition. General Hida1go is be-
lieved to be at Saltillo, but hopes to
Join General Moure east of Torreon.
If the rebel troops captured all the
guns which were in possession of
General Velasco, military men declare
that they now have a majority of the
field pieces in the republic. Should
the equipment OF Generals Moure and
Hidalgo be added to this their posi-
ton will be greatly superior to that of
the forces commanded by Provisional
President Huerta.
Rebel Losses 1900.
Washington. April 4.-One official
message today from Consul Agent
Carothers at Torreon reported the re-
bel loss in killed and wounded about
that city was 1900 No estimate was
made Of federal losses. The message,
was the only official word received
from Torreon since yesterday. Rear
Admiral Fletcher reported there were
no Developments at Tampico.
The Mexican embassy was without
news from Mexico City.
Rebels Occupy TOrreon.
Torreon, April 3.-via Ell Paso-
April 4.-This city from which Gen.
eral Refugfo Velasco and most of the
uninjured of his command fled yes
terday. was occupied by the rebels in
force today and the work of burning
the bodies of the dead, clearing away
the wreckage of shell shattered adobe
walls. street barricades and barbed
fire entanglements was begun.
Although Villa took a considerable
number of prisoners, VelascO escaped
from the Canon de Huarache with a
considerable portion of his force He
was pursued last night by General
Hernandez, who lately reported that
he had fought a small rear guard en-
gagement with the retreatfng force
and later General Villa with reinforce
ments left here to make an attempt
to capture or annihilate it.