The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-21
KHAKI CLAD TROOPS
 OF GENERAL VILLA
 OCCUPY TORREON
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desert dust marked their progress over hummocks of cacti crowned sand, and through dry water courses. Great tank wagons laden with the water supply which has been Villas greatest prob lem, rumbled in the trail. the wheels at times almost hub deep in the sand, When branches of the tough mesquite bush and soap weed were matted under the wheels, study peons put hands to the spokes, there were streams of pro- fanity addressed to mules in a language said to be in this respect the most ade- quate in the world and the column would proceed.
 The lips of the few foreigners in the army were cracked and swollen from the heat and alkali dust. but the Mex jeans, trained to such conditions, GOV cred their mounts with folds of their blankets and fared better. All eyes were blood-shot
 In this way, amid all the suffering which the harshest waste of arid land in Mexico can furnish, the outskirts of Torreon were reached.
 No Opposition
 There was no opposition and General Villa declared there had been none since he began to repair the railroad south of Jiminez. The federals con- tented themselves with strewing all possible obstruction except bullets in his way. There were occasional ex- change of shots between Outposts but nothing that assumed even the dignity of a slSirmish. -.,i.,....f- .. General Villa was everywhere. for now that the eve of the battle is at hand, he is fury of energy, now grabbing the halter of a refractory mule now criticising the lashings of a pack saddle, or snapping orders at q lesser leader. He went from point to point in his private car. attached to Q light engine and wherever he alighted his horse, saddled and bridled, was in stantly awaiting.
 "Torreon will be mine in a week." he exclaimed jubilantly. Never has a revo- lutionary army in Mexico had better men, and never have they been so thoroughly equipped. Every prepara- tion has been made and we can't dail.
 It is no figure of speech to say that the light of battle burned in the rebel leaders eyes. They are extraordinarily wide set, so that when he looks at a visitor at close range they seem almost to cross, and their dark depths. always glowing, seem actually to flame in mo- ments of excitement. His subordtnates rarely ever argue with him, and in such moments. never. It is a danger signal -one which the scotchman Benton is said to have failed to heed.
 Angeles Second in Command
 General Felipe Angeles. chief of the artillery corps, was named second in command to take full charge in the event of the death or incapaitation of Villa. Angeles is a member of General Car ranza's cabinet and was detached at Villas urgent solicitation to participate in the battle. He is & veteran, big gun expert and many an artillery officer in the enemy's ranks at Torreon received his schooling from him. His loyalty to Madero's memory has endeared him to the rank and file of the troops. General Aguirre Benavides was placed in command of the disposition of troops, although Angeles himself selected the position for his guns. They were trained on the hill tops, while soldiers busied themselves throwing up banks of sand around them and digging caves to store the ammunition. In the latter there is a supply of homemade shrapnel, which the soldiers refer to as Villas pills.'' Virtually all of the rolling stock of the railroad Is congested on the line between Chihuahua, Jiminez, Escalon (where there is a water supply and the front. Villa has food for a month, 2O00 rounds of cartridges to the man and his railroad service, unless cut, can maintain the water supply indefinitely.
 It is believed here that the federals are completely cut of from the outside world. even by wire, although the wire- municQte with the national capital. FOO miles to the south. Villa professes to believe that he will capture the entire army.
 Scouts for sometime have reported that guns and ammunition were being shipped