The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-21
Villa and Force of 10000
Rebels Invest Federal
Stronghold.
NO OPPOSITION TO
ADVANCE ON CITY
Position of Velasco Regarded
Almost as Impregnable-On
Eve of Fight, Light of Battle
Shows in Constitutionalist
Leaders Eyes-Neutral
Zone Is Established.

Constitutionalist Headquarters, Yer-
mo. Durango. Mexico. March 2o.-Gen-
cral Villa and his army of $4,000 rcbcls
to-day invested tho Federal stronghold
OF Torreon. They occupied the en-
virons Of the city without opposition.
and to-day was spent In wheeling and
dragging field pieces into place to shell
the Federal trenches. dug at every
roint where the Federal commander.
tack
Nelascos army is estimated to num-
bcr 5000 men. South and southwest
of the city his position is regarded as
almost imprcgnable, by reason OF the
mountains through witch only three
passes run, and these have been rem
dercd almost impossible by fortifca-
tions and barbcd wire entanglements.
In other directions the city Is reached
through the desert and high hills,
Villas progress, has been slow, be-
cause it was necessary to repair rail-
road tracks and bridges. Early to-day,
however the road was open from
Ycrmo, where the troops have bccn
mobilizing, TO Mapimi and Bcrmcjllo,
which arc only II few miles north OF
Torrcon, and virtually are suburbs OF
that city.
At these two cities the troops de-
trained and formed in columns.
Plunge Into Desert.
There was little loss of time In
plunsing into tho desert. Great tank
which has been Villas greatest prob
lem, rumblcd on the trail. The lips of
tho few foreigners in tho army were
cracked and swollen from the heat and
alkali dust. but tho Mexicans. trained
to such conditions, farcd better
In this way the outskirts OF Tor
reon were reached. There was no op-
position. ana General Villa declared
there had been none since lie began to
repair the railroad south Of Jiminez
The fcderals contented themselves
with strcwing all possible distractions.
except bullets. in his way. There
were occasional exchanges or snots be-
tween outposts, but nothing that as
sumcd even tho dignity of sklrmish
General villa was everywhere, for.
now mat the eve Of the battle is at
hand. he is n fury of energy. now
snatching at the halter OF a rcfrac-
tory mule now criticiziug the lashinps
l"r pack saddle, or swapping orders
at lesser leaders.
Torreon will be mine In n week"
Ito exclaimed jubilantly. Never has a
evolutionary army in Mexico had bet
yer men, ana never have they been so
thoroughly equipped. Every prepara-
t'of mas been made, and we can't fail"
Light of Battle In EycA
II Is no hGurc OF speech to saw that
thc light of battle burned IN tho roheI
leaders, eyes. They are cxrraordnar-
nN Wiae set so that when he looks at
q visitor at close range they seem al
most to cross, and their dark depths
always glowing, seem actually 10 flame
IN moments of excitement. His sub
ordinates rarely ever argue with him.
ana In such moments. never. 1t IS a
uahscr sisnai-one which tho Scotch
man, Benton. Is said to have failed tn
see ~
,o General Felipe Angeles. OF the artl-
10y 10y corps' was named second in COM
lmanh M M to take fun charge in the event
sc General Aguirre senavides was
od,op, OF troops, although Angeles himself
sciccted Inc position for his guns
-, virtually. all OF the rolling stock OF
me me ran. raiiroad H,l Is congested on the line
between Chihuahua. Jiminez. Escaior
{ thm no front Villa has food for a month.
-,""V rounds of cartridges to the man
,,iG ms raiIroad service. unless cut can
''II!h!ain .he water supply indefinitely
" Is petlevcd here that the Fcderais
arc completely cut off from the outsido
" ~. wen py wire, although the wire
ieSs stations may permit them 10 com
fnunicate with the National Capital nm
,niies to tho south. Villa processes to
army. o e"'iFe
Foreign Residents Leave.
Iorreon, although founded less than
tinn' Estra e.. @ ago, has normal popuia-
non or $4,000. 1t has great soap. cot
Ton. iour and iron manufactories and n
SIeat smeiter receives ores from the
ni,.m .ia.,es: , Mormaiiy there is IA large for
SlSh colony. but most of the residents
nhve M, ned leaving only a few as care
'dkcra OF important property.
General Carranza and Provisional
treSident Huerta some time ago agreed
bullets i'oH'
George c: Carothers. special agent OF
.md .ne slate STATE Pepartment, arrived to-day,
''e' the eunst Imr1ugnout ~ the campaign will be
known for many years. Carothers was
sHnlling, but he said he took S25 900 in
SSurahce on his life before leaving Et
Iaso. His particular duty Will be
safeguarding the rights OF Foreigners.
ri rssS fsHas ysaeh Of rast .STSa Wick
sociated Press dispatch received from
the rebel front. saying Villas army had
anxiety OF the last week during which
villa had exercised IL rigid censorship
The dispatch bore no evidence OF
n.as having been censored. and generally
Juarez II was said the embargo on news
was meant only to protect troop move
ments, and the very fact that Villa per-
mitted the dispatch to come through :
might be accepted as confirmation Of
position to make the actual attack ~
Military men on the other side OF the (