Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-05-20

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Estaeion Amargos. Mexico, May
| l19sr(via EllPaso, May s20) "A bril-
liantly planned attack pressed home
with splendid dash and determination
gave the eonstitutionaliat troops, led
by General Francisco Villa In person.
I a decisive and important victory at
Paredon, May IL, in the first real
battle of the campaign against the
federal stronghold of Saltillo.
Forty-five hundred federal troops,
lretreating from Monclova to Saltillo,
were met by about 1000 constitution
alists led by General Villa and were
decisively beaten. Not only did Gen
eral Villa administer defeat but he
prevented the arrival at Saltillo of
the Monelova federal garrison, which
would have added materially to the
defensive force of the objective point
of the campaign. He also captured
supplies which would have been of
the utmost value to the garrison of
Saltillo and which have added a tre-
mendously Increased strength to the
power of Villas attack
: The eenstitats sopalS lost lEiillea
aa g waendea tire fsaatal eas-
'daities were % killed ana foxeE so
wounded. The constftutiqpaiists cap
tured 900 prisoners. nine pieces of
artillery, over 100000 rounds of
small arms ammunition, large guam
tity of artillery ammunition and large
supply of provisions, in addition to
five troop trains which carried the
Huerta soldiers.
The federal garrison of Monelova,
4,5O0, had evacuated that
town. May Is in five troop trains on |
the approach of General Francisco
Murgia constitutionaiist commander
at Piedras Negras, who was adyanc-
ing, from the south to attack the
town. Warned by Mnrguia and by his |
scouts that the federals under Gen
erals. Charles Alvarez, Guardiola and
I. Munog, were attempting to ,consoli-
date their forces with the Saltillo gar
rison, General villa prepared TO re-
ceive them at Paredon. Villa divided |
his forces into three, columns. the /
center one of which ne led in. person.
q AS the first two troop trains steam
ed into the trap prepared for them at
f0:45 a., m. on May II, villa swung
his three columns + simultaneously. /
The constitutionalist attack was bril-
liantly executed and, well sustained.
In 40 minutes the federals not dead.
wounded or prisoners, were scattered
in flight, leaving their ammunition
and provisions behind them. +
The conatitmtionakst cavalry. dis
mounted and acting as infantry fairly
swept the federal lines back with the4-
rapidity of their rifle fire AS the
federals. swarmed out their cars and
took up position in open order along |
the railroad track, they were met by
"a withering yolley. FOR a time they
faced the shafl5 Of bullets saubborniy
ana sent back an effective fire In rel
turn. but the constibtionalists under
villa and his brigade commanders
RIaclovia Herrera Trinidad Rodri-
guez.a Roaul Maderon and Perez. were
not to be denied The constitutional
ut advance newer faltered and Is
their lines dashed forward from three
sides under Villas personal eneonr-
melf ana that of the brigade COM
manders,A all Of whom distinguished
themselves FOR, braverys the fedderals
broke and ram III * sss7s Il
Artillery played a small part in the
engagement The constitutionallstss
guns had little opportunity TO get ac-
ton on account Of the sudden develop
ment Of the battle and It's brief dura-
|tion. The federal guns could not BE
hauled from the cars and put into &C
ton IN time to play an effective part