The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-25
After the Most Stubborn Figh1
: of the Revolution.
THE CASUALTIES ARE HEAVI
Thousands Killed and Wound
ed ON Both Sides.
Heaps Of Dead Lie Upon the
Mountain Side.
VILLA HIMSELF IN THE LEAD

Five Members Of His Staff Shot
: by His Side.
His Soldiers Forced to Advance
on Hands and Knees.
Zacatecas, Mexico, June 25.-The
1ercest fighting on both sides. and un-
usually great loss of life to both fed
erals and constitutionalists. ended last
night in the capture of Zacatecas by
General Villas forces. 1t required
four days Of battle to take the federal
stronghold of central Mexico. The
federals under General Medina Bar
ron defended their positions stubborn
ly. But they finally were overcome
by the forces of General Villa and
General Natera.
The constitutionalist soldiers scaled
hill after hill and mountain after
mountain, killing and wounding
thousands of federals and sustaining
heavy losses themselves So far it
has been impossible to secure an ac-
curate estimate Of losses on both
sides. Tho heaps of dead on the
mountain sides and in the city bore
mute testimony OF the ferocity Of the
fighting.
General villa was in the van Of the
attacking party. Five members of
his STAFF. accompanying him. we've
wounded. The number of constitu-
tionalist officers killed or wounded
was unusually great General Trtnt-
dad Roderfguez. one of the best of
Villas brigade commanders, was shot
through the throat and ID not expect
= erI -
many cases had to advance on hands
helQW on. the stsep
inclines passed the rifles from hand
to hand. These feats were accom-
plished under heavy machine-gun
fire.
termination Of Villas troops. though
the federals had thrown up trenches
and redoubts on all sides. Hillsides
afforded no cover for the attacking
troops. The Gordon of defenders
gradually narrowed until the last
hills on the outskirts Of the city
fell into the hands Of Villas
men. The battle was the most
hotly contested during the present
revolution, In the belief Il the leaders
here. Fourteen thousand federals were
entrenched in seemingly impregnable
positions. Five thousand prisoners
were captured by General Villas troops.
thousand rifles and three carloads OF
cannon and rife ammunition were cap
tured
The dead on the federal side, ac-
cording to official figures, numbered
1000 and 1000 wound i, while the
losses to the attacking side were not
stated definitely. The federals were
reported to have dynamited many
buildings Of the city before evacuat-
ing, staying those Of Villas troops
who had occupied the buildings in the
street fighting.
Villas Story.
General Villa, himself. gave out the
following account Of the battle:
After four days hard attack today
numbering $4,000 commanded by Me-
dina Barron and five other generals,
were defeated completely by my
forces, which were aided effectively
by General Natera's men. Up to this
moment we have five thousand pris-
carloads of rife ammunition and can
non shells and nearly six thousand
mauser rifles and a large quantity of
provisions and other munitions of
war.
The enemy who escaped went in
dynamiting the postoffice. the state
treasurer's office and the stamp reve-
nue. office buildings. The explosion
killed many OF our men and destroyed
part Of the city. The dead of the
enemy number about 1000 and 1000
wounded.
ION our part we cannot tell the
losses OF the battle which lasted for
five consecutive days, but I think
there are 1ot more than 5OG dead and
500 wounded. Among the latter are
Generals Herrera and Rodriguez, who
were severely wounded. Our artillery
operated splendidly. The federals de-
stroyed every fort, the last being Ell
Grillo."
Juarez Rejoices.
Ell Paso, Tex, June 25.-Zacatecas,
an important city of central Mexico,
has fallen into the hands of the consti-
tutionalists. This is announced by
Villas officials here. Two Of Villas
generals were wounded
1t was believed here that Villas lack
of effective artillery ammunition had
made it necessary to rush the fed
eral positions with infantry, taking
the city by a sudden attack, which, ac-
cording to official reports, resulted In
the capture of q large portion of the
garrison and its munitions.
The border city Of Juarex at once
plunged itself into q celebration. The
bands played on. the plaza and the
troops paraded in the streets.
The telegram telling the news was re-
ceived by Colonel Oxnelas, Juarex, COM
mander, ana by La Zario De La Cara,
Villas agen. here. It was signed by
General Ore<tes Pereyra, commander at
Torreon. who did not give the source OF
his information. The messages follow: