The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-23
Rebels and Indians Face TOrreOn, Anxious to
 Fight
REPORT SAYS CERRO
 LA PILA FORTIFIED
Federals Use Irrigation Ditches as Breastworks--Part of Huerta's Army Routed by Detachment
 of ConstitutiOnalists

Constitutionalist Field Base, Berme- jiIlo, Durango, Mex. March 22.-Havins cleared the way for a direct attack on Torreon by his success Friday and Sat urday in establishing base here and driving in the federal advance guard from Mapimi. TIahuaIilo, Sacramento, Noe, Brittingham Junction and smaller points in the environs of the Huerta stronghold. Genera. Francisco Villa, the rebel chief. left here today for the south. The xig-xaa front of khaIxai clad rebels. including the almost naked Indians. who offered their services and those of their bows and arrows at Chihuahua a month ago. hut who have been given the enemy last night at Birmingham Junction, only seven miles north of Torreon. Other columns were Is. 22 and even more miles away. but all were re- ported i'm motion along the route, opened by the vanguard In the direction of Torreen.
 General Villa Confident Before leaving for the front Gen. eral Villa said he doubted whether the federals would make further resistence. although there were rumors that the enemy would mak-. a show of resis- tence at Gomez Palacio, a suburb of Torreon. reached by street car, and noted for its big railroad shops. Nor mally, Gomez Palacio is junction point where messengers change cars for Monterey It lies in the shadow of a great brown hulk of a mountain known as cerro La Pila, which the federals are reported to have forfeited. If this proves true the position must be taken. as the Jig guns have ample power to cover tho three niles between the mountains and Torrcon.
 It Is said the manning of La Pila would be legitimate part of the de- |fense of iTopreon although it's com pafatIve isolation would make support from other parts of the federal defenses virtually impossible. The defenders would be in danger of being absolutely cut off and for this reason the rebels doubt that the enemS, if he really is range defense before falling back on the main force.
 FederaIs Use bitches
 The country tide between Gomez Pa lacio and Torreon Is laced with irriga- tion ditches and in tbe irrigating sea son is rich with ccttcn and other crops It is th.cSly settled and the white washed adobe farm houses fairs sparkle with the snnlght. It is re- ported the foderala have let the water into some of the ditches to impede the rebel attsante, while others are being utilized as trenches for the protection of rifemen and rapid fire guns.
 The first important move of the week just passed took place when General Villa. having appeared suddenly from Chihuahua set his troops in motion last Friday morning from Yerbo, about loo miles north of Torreon. Fifteen miles ne rth of this city he came upon strong advance column of the federals who are believed to have been under orders to re- treat on appearance of the enemy. The appearance of the rebels. however. was so sudden that the retreat became almost A rout. The federals, like the rebels, were mounted and the encounter became a sort of steeplechase, with the pursuers, snoth- cred in the dust kicked up by their mounts, firing blindly from the saddle, not in the least impeded by the scattered bullets which the federals sometimes turned to fire.
 Fight in City
 The fight continued at gallop right 4l,. of Iiftla city and here 1t was that most of the federal loses oc- cured. The bodies of 10S were picked by the Villa men. The federals are be- lieved to have carried off those who were wounded in this city. as only three were found The rebel loss was virtually nothing.
 On the heels of the cavalry came other troops, and General Benavides. with a superior force, was sent by rail against Tlahualilo. town northeast of Berme- jillo.
 At a great irrigation ditch shortly after leaving Bermejillo Benavides came upon a federal force which he estimated to number 400. An hours engagement en- sued as result of which the rebel com mander reported to General Villa the rout of the enemy, leaving 90 dead on the field. His own loss. he reported, was three killed and seven wounded.
 Tlahualilo Garrisoned
 This force of government troops seems to have been far in advance of support and the town of Tlahualilo was garri- soned by rebel squad without resis- tance.
 Meanwhile General Herrera occupied Santa Clara and sent force to bridge the ditch where Benavides had vanquished opposition. Another force of rebels under General Urbina, in the midst of these ex- ,citing events. had been moving on Ma pimi, one of the most important cities on the Torreon district, and occupied it with out fight. Urbana was reported i'll to- day, but his troops were said to be moving south under Colonel Borunda.
 Other rebel columns whose positions cannot be given with exactitude were un- derstood 10 be drawing closer to the in- vested city from the south and south west.
 Earth Shock Recorded Cleveland. O.. March 22-- Earth shocks ,.,l,;ot cop4fpr,a6 froy,, 90 ,,~<n .