New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-03-29


resistance would be impossible. No ar
tlilery could he taken through the pass
hn. the Federal army could pass
through Il during the night ana IL IL
believed they may do so
should the Federals evecuste Tor
-son they would leave behind nearly
three thousand OF their men In dead
wounded and prisoners.
Explosive Grsnades Used.
Five thousand hand grenades charsed
with nitro glycerine, which had been
sent to Villa from chihuahua early in
tho week. were distributed among the
rehels in Torreon this afternoon, and
,he assault upon the Federal position
Was renewed The hand grenades are
aowerful instruments for destruction
aud are said to have worked fearful
havoc 10 the buildings sheltering the
Federals.
The La Union soap factory, one OF
the largest plants in Torreon proper
was one of the points attacked as
large force Of Federsls had made 1t
rallyins point. The buildings are re-
ported to have been wrecked. and many
Federals are believe To have persisted
in the ruins.
While this was the most important
engagement hghting continued all day
in the streets of Torreon without inter
mission. During the afternoon Pancho
villa called all rebel detachments
from east and south of Torreon ana
concentrated the whole rebel effort In
an attempt TO dislodge the Federals In
the western part of Torreon.
AZ times during the morning the
rebels would set within short dis
lance OF few OF the buildings IN
which. and behind which. the Federsls
had sought, refuge but always The
steady fire Of the Federal rides would
drive them back.
Rebels 6urniag the Dead.
The gathering up of the dead and
wounded from the Gomez Palacio ana
lerdo battlehelds continued to-day
some Of the slain had been lying on
the feld in the almost tropical sun for
DAYS. and II was necessary to burn
them quickly.
Dead and wounded Federals still are
lvlne in the streets of Torreon and In
the Federal trenches around the city.
and these Villa is endeavoring to nave
removed for fear Of an epidemic. The
situation already is desperate. typhoid,
tvphus and smallpox being prevalent
among the Federal troops and among
the people Of the city in the poorer
quarters, for the water supply is pol
luted and the odor in many parts OF
the city is almost unbearable.
Half dozen times during the day
oouriers brought word to Gomez Pala-
clio that the citr had been surrendered.
hut the reports We're promptly proven
false. The Federals were hard pressed
all day. however. and their surrender
therefore was momentarily expected.
Juarez. Mexico. March 2S.-The peo-
pie Of Gomez Palacio are starving. The
stores have been depicted of their
stocks for days The rebel siege pre-
vented replenishing of stocks, and hun
ser is general among the fifteen thou
SAND native inhabitants. To give relief
quickly Pancho Villa now in posses
sion Of Gomez Palacio. today tele
-raphed 10 rebel headquarters In
Juarez to forward at once, for distribu-
;ion among the people, one carload
each of -four. coffee, rice, sugar AMI
beans. Five cars Of food supplies were
loaded during the afternoon and for
Warded tonight
Takes Duty off Food Supplies.
In his dispatch Villa also said that a
commission of Gomez Palacio mer-
chants, at his request would visit the
border at Juarez Immediately 10 re
plenish their stocks of food supplies,
and Villa directed that their purchases
should be admitted duty free and for
warded free of transportation cost.
From dispatches received in Juarez
during the afternoon rebel leaders
gather that there is not much of the
business or manufacturing portion of
Gomez Palacio left. following the sew
eral commandments TO which that town
has been subjected.
The S5OOO,0O0 La Guna soap nd
cotton seed products plant Of Juan
Birmingham. for instance, is said to be
almost in ruins; the zig shoe factory
and warehouses arg wrecked. and prac-
tically all ,>he business houses in the
centreSOI the town have been either de-
,tvfoushed or badly damaged.
"A telegram from the Barreal an
nounces the arrival there of General
Carranza. He reports that he did not
catch sight of an armed enemy once
throughout his long overland trip.
The authorities here to-day posted
notices that for the next forty-eght
hours the sale of liquor would be pro-
/hibited under penalty of death, and no
persons would be allowed TO enter the
city after 10 o'clock at night