The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-27
VILLA DEFEATED At
T0RRE0h FEOERALS
INSIST IN REPORTS
t'ssed asIrd moIJ psnunuoo,

ton that Villa reported that the fed
eral garrison made an attempt to
escape to the south today. but was
driven back.
1T is not only Torreon that Gem
eral Villa wants. but the troops in
Torreon, too. said General Manuel
Chao military governor of Chihua-
hua He declared that General villa
had wired that he would have Tor
reon by Sunday. if not by tomorrow
without doubt.
Rebels Claim Advantage.
This evening the rebels claim that
the advantage Is decidedly with their
forces, and that the fighting Is very
close to Torreon. Some of it they
admit is on the Gomez palacio side
OF the river. Tonight. early. the
rebels said Torreon would fall be-
fore daybreak.
That desperate fighting is going on
in the vicinity of Torreon, that the
loss has been tremendous on both
sides and that the reports are CON
fiicting as to who is winning, is all
that is positive regarding the EFFORT
of the rebel army of Pancho Villa
TO capture the federal stronghold of
TorreoD. Miguel DieboId, consul
general of the Huerta government IN
Mexico, asserts that he has dis
patches telling Of rebel defeats. and
he showed messages to his office to
prove it.
The newspaper CORRESPONDENTS at
the front have been effectively bot
tied up by Villa, and he says there
will be no press messages for the
border until he takes Torreon.
Villa Not Driven Back.
Villas officials in Juarc. this ef-
ternoon asserted that Villa vas not
driven back at Ell Nerjel Wednesday.
as believed Wednesday ntsh On
the contrary. they assert that villa
returned to Ell Nerjel. which is and
has been his field head quarters for
several days. to get into commune
cation with Juarez and Chihuahua.
This explanation clarine5 he ar
somewhat regarding rebel reports
that had appeared much at variance.
The explanation today that t;lla
only came back to be ut his field
headquarters does not square with The
federal representation of things
around Torreon The federals claim
a victory. and a big one.
At variance greatly with rebel re-
ports, Huerta's Consul-General Die
bold today gave out reports in El Paso
claiming a sweeping victory for the
i
messages came from cabinet ministers.
and they bore the Mexico City dates,
and Western Union marks of anthem
ITCHY. In a message given out BY the
general. Minister of War Blan-
auet wired: Entirely false Is the
news published Of rebel victories
around Torreon. On the contrary. the
rebels hav/ suffered serious defeats
wherever they have attempted any Of
fensive movements" Minister OF For-
eign Affairs PortillQ telegraphed as
follows:
Rebel Reinforcements Asked.
.Incorrest that advance lines Of the
rebels have come anywhere near at
lacking federal advance lines around
Torreon proper Whenever they have
coEae in contact with the federals they
have been repuisei with great losses
The rumor is current in Juarez that
Villa has sent an urgent message for
asking that every Gvil-
able soldier who could be spared be
dispatched to the front. This rumor
also had 1t that the infantry and
cavalry now escorting General Car
rama to Juarez. which Is somewhere
In the vicinity Of San Pedro. would be
en- trained when 1t reaches the fail
road and rushed to the trent to aid
the rebels now before Tqrrean. Il.
Tefrnxas Not Executed.
General Luis Terrazas received a
telegram today stating that biz son
ss B III