The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-16
Rebels Lost $50 in Wounded On
the Last Day.
Federal LOSS REACHED $500
Huerta's Army Narrowly Es-
capped Utter Annihilation.
Was Forced to Flee, Leaving
500 Dead in Streets.

15.-(Torreon, April 16.)-A survey
of the battlefield Of last week shows
that the battle for the possession OF
this city. which engaged practically
the full forces Of rebels and federals
was the bloodiest Of the revolution.
The battle was at its climax Saturday,
Sunday and Monday and ON the last
day the rebel loss In wounded alone
was $50 men. In all 1900 rebels
were wounded SO seriously as to re-
quire hospital treatment during the
engagement. The rebel dead may
never be known owing to the wide
area covered by the battle.
The federal loss was at least $500
In killed wounded. prisoners and dis
persed.''
BY dispersed is meant those fed
erals VINO were separated from their
commands and fed individually, or in
small detachments, to the hills or into
the desert probably to perish there
for lack Of food and water. Twelve
hundred regulars were captured by
the constitutionalfsts.
The men were mustered into the
rebel ranks while their officers will be
held as prisoners. A number Of So
called volunteers or red flaggers''
were captured and executed. These
men were former followers of Ma
dero who are alleged to have Joined
the Orozco rebellion which overthrew
him.
All the prisoners including one ma
jor. three captains and ten ieuten-
ants are being sent to Torreon.
The Last Days Fighting.
The last days fighting was begun
with Herrera's and Benayides's
brigades attacking from the south
while General Villa with two brigades
and General Contreras charged from
n = nvc
nandez attacked from the east. FAIL
ure of the rebel column assigned to
attack from the north, to arrive on
time. probably saved the federals
from annfhilation.
The assault was met by q wfther-
Ing artillery fire. Tho federals were
all but surrounded and fought des-
perately, their hre tearing great gaps
through the rebel ranks. They fought
from the cover Of irrigation bitches
and adobe houses over a line 20 miles
in length but gradually they were
forced toward the center Of the city
Their escape was through the north
left open by the non-arriva1 of the
troops assigned to that position. The
fugitfves. once clear, turned east In
the general direction Of Monterey.
This was at five o'clock in the after
noon, after ten hours of terrific fight
ing. The retreat was almost a rout
Willie Au lIIC SSKOCtS llVS uuuOfSQ 10Q-
eral dead were found. Three thou
sand men were sent in pursuit Of the
fugi.ives.
The presence Of General Velasco
who evacuated Torreon April 2, at San
Pedro was a surprise to General Villa
He learned from the prisoners that
when the federal generals, De Mourne
and Mas, were driven from the town
last week they sent word to General
Velasco, then at Parras, sixty miles
south, that they were in danger OF
being surrounded. Veiasco by forced
marches succeeded in joining them on
the tenth at Benavides Junction, only
a few miles from here. Later the
troops of Generals Argumedo and
Campo came up and the rebel garri-
son then hero was driven out on the
eleventh.
That night, Villa, with five thousaud
reinforcements and twenty field pieces
arrived and began an immediate at,
tack. which eliminated Monday in the
flight of the federals.
Five Americans Captured.
Torreon. Mexico. April 16.-Fivs
newspaper men, said to be Americana
assigned to the federal troops. are re-
ported to have been among the pris-
oners captured at the battle of San
Pedro de Las Colonias. Upon receiv-
ing this information, General Villa
sent a newspaper man with his own
forces to investigate. with instructions
that the prisoners be treated with
every consideration and sent to this
city.