Evening journal., 1914-03-28
VILLA ARMY IN
iTORREON, Though
NO SURRENDER
Three Quarters Of City Held
by Rebels and Capitula-
tiOn May Come Today
MANY SLAUGHTERED
IN Fierce Battle
BY The United Press.


GOMEZ PALACIO, Durango, Mex.
March 2s.-Although fully thrce-quar-
ters OF the city is in control of General
Francisco Villas Constitutionalist army
and the outcome is no longer in doubt,
lorreon is not yet surrendered.
llaRd-to hand lighting OF the most
desperate character has been in progress
in the streets all night. but at an rary
hour today, General Relugio Nclasco. the
gallant commander of the Federal
forces, had not abandoned hope and had
not ceased TO fight lie told his men
that me- will never abandon the strong
hold entrusted TO his care. until the last
man oi bis garrison is gone aud his own
liio has been forfeited Despite this
display of spirit. the Constitutionalist
forces are SO overwhelming in number
aud in equipment. that il is believed
the final crushing blow OF General VIII
las Torreon campaign cannot be de-
layed longer than night.
y lila delayed his final assault late On
Friday afternoon. from the north after
receiving . report from General Maclo
yios Herrera, commanding the troops TO
the eastward, that ne had beaten down
the Federal defense at that point pierre
ed their lines aud fought his way into
the big bullring in South Torcon.
This was the signal for Villa and ho
Immediately ordered his troops. who had
been resting all day in preparation for
the battle. TO attack. The rebel artil-
lery fire, which had continued without
intermission. all night, was increased
Villas rebel troops advanced at the
double quick and poured calling hre
into the defenders at the same time. The
resistance of the Federals at the north
Term outskirts was weaker than had been
anticipated snd Villa was able to get
into 1orreon proper without difficulty.
Farther in, however. the Federala
had thrown up numerous barricades,
nearly every thoroughfare having
been bulwarked From behind these
and from tops of the houses, the
, Federal rife men shot scores Of at.
tackers before they we're themselves
/ compelled Go retreat to other barri.
oades or other house tops. Up q
this hour the defenders have sue
ceeded in preventing the rebels TAX
ing the Plaza Principal.
AS they approached the center OF
the city. the rebels found that Nelasco
had mounted various machine guns
on house-tops. commanding all near
by streets These were worked with
deadly effectiveness. making its inn
possible for Villas men to proceed
rapidly In some sections, the rebels
we're forced TO cut their way through
the walls of adobe houses for dis
tances of several blocks In order to
get behind Federal barricades.
During last night the fighting was
at such close quarters that General
Villa was compelled to stop his ar
tillery fire. because of the danger to
his own men AT this hour, the fight.
ing continues and the losses on both
sides have been heavy. General Ri.
cardo Pona. who commanded the ex-
treme Federal outposts which attack.
ed EscalOn ten days ago. was slain
by a rebel soldier in the streets. as
was Colonel Reyna, of the Fcdcralt
General Eduardo Carranza and Gen.
eral Almanzan. two of Velasco's
principal lieutenants. have been nor.
tally wounded. General Villa says
he has lost no officers of note. though
General Trinidad Rodriguez was se-
verely wounded during the night
villa places his own dead i'm tho
Gomez PalaciO and Torreon cam
paigns so far at $50 and the Federal
dead at more than 500
IL Is rumored several large bodies
of Federals cut their way through
the rebel lines during the night and
! escaped. villa does not believe this
Continued on Page Two.