Omaha daily bee., 1914-04-05
FEDERAL POSITION DANGEROUS
Prospect for a Successful Retreat
Now Seems Remote.
REBELS MAKE GREAT GAINS
Now Control Nearly Half of the Re.
public's Territory.
EUERTA DENIES FALL OF CITY
Officials In City OF MeHIca Are Try
ins TO Hold Back News of Dir-
aster for Psychological
Reasons.

JUAREz. Mex, Aprl G-Tho opinion
that General villa intends 10 taHe every
advantage OF the defeat OF the fcderals
~ Torrcon was expressed here today II
was based on the intelligence officially
announced last night, that Villa had left
suddenly for San Pedro TO take personal
charge OF rebel troops reported to have
participated in an encounter with fleeing
federais.
The sudden departure of Villa late yes
terdny from Torreon prevented the prom
Used telegraphio conference with General
CarranEa, by which II had been expected
to gain detailed information concerning
tho closing days OF the struggle for the
possession OF Torreon.
A temporary hospital Is being fitted up
at the race track and II Is stated that 900
wounded from Chihuahua will be brought
here 60 convalesce.
No new information as to the pursuit
OF tho federal force from Torreon was
received this forenoon.
stin Deny Capture OF Torreou.
MB%ICo CITY, April 4.-The federal
government sull obstinately denied the
capture OF Torreon by the rebels. lt
was assumed In many quarters. however.
that General Huerta and his ministers
wero not IN ignorance OF the fate Of that
city.
1t was suggested that the withholding
Of the news from the public was based
on psychological, rather than on military
grounds. II was said by various persons
that tho temperament of the Mexican
populace was such that news OF dis
aster like the fall OF Torreon might easily
start an avalanche OF public opinion
against the administration, which would
find itself embarrassed at critical mo-
ment In It's career t
The taking or Torreon gives the con-
stitutionaiists control OF nearly half the
republic. with the exception OF the cities
| OF saItillo and Monterey, the capitals Of
the states OF Coahuila and Nuevo Leon.
Military men regard the retreat OF
| General veiasco from Torreon as a
/ dangerous undertaking and they consider
the position OF General Javier de Moure
and General Joaquin Mas at San Pedro
as precarious.
| So far as Is known here the federal
troops stu have possession of the rail-
| road between Torreon and Saltillo, at
which place connections can be made
with the south.
/
along this main line south OF Saltillo. One
body Of them under General Eulalio GU
tierrez has It's headquarters at Conception
Del ORC. the terminus of a branch line
from saltiilo and within striking dis
tance OF the main line, The presence OF
this body and that OF other rebel forces
in the same vicinity renders improbable
an unopposed retreat OF the federals
toward the south.
The escape OF General Velasco and his
men from the rebels. however. does not
appear to be a simple task. Their retreat
toward Durango to the southwest or TO
the northeast is said by military men to
be impossible unless they cut their way
through rebel territory.
The railroad which connects Torreon
and ZacatecRs to the south has long been
out OF commission and now serves only to
mark the trail over which General Vel.
asco and his troops will have to march
Before reaching Zacatecas It is thought
certain that General Velasco will encoun-
ter the rebel forces under General Panfilc
Natera and probably will suffer from
flAnking attacks by rebel troops from
Durango.