Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-24
VILLA IS VICTOR
AT GOMEZ PALAC|O;
TORREON IS NEXT
Defeat of FederaIs' Outpost
Achieved Only After Des-
perate Fighting.
LOSSES IN THE BATTLE
HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES
Stubborn Resistance of Defenders
Comes as Surprise to At
tacking Forces.
REBELS AGAIN ADVANCING
Gen. Benavides' Brigade Leads in
What May Be Deciding
Clash of the Mexican
Revolution.
LOSSES IN THE BATTLE
HEAVY ON BOTH SIDES
REBELS AGAIN ADVANCING

Revolution.
IL AREZ. Mexico. March 24.-
Gomez Palacio was in the hands
OF the rebels TODAY. according to
information given out at the Of
fee OF Gen. Choa here. and Gen.
Benavides. at the head OF the
Zaragosa brigade. was moving
against Torreon.
No statement OF casualties in
-he desperate street fighting in
Gomez Palacio last night was
a-ailable. i
News Comes From Villa.
onflrmation OF the rebel vic
;Jry in the latter city was re-
ceived when a telegram from
Gen. Villa was picked up here.
It ordered that certain supplies
De sent directly to Gomez Pala
clio.
Benavides is said to be advanc-
ing from the east after cutting
the railroad to Saltillo. Strate-
sists here think that he will be
the first to enter the federal
stronghold. They believe. that
the bulk of the federal forces was
engaged at Gomez Palacio, and
that although the latter retired
they will not have time or spirit
to unite against Benavides. who
Is advancing from a different
direction.
Ell NERJEL, Mexico, March "a
Meeting stubborn resistance at Gomez
Palacio. only few miles north and
east of Torreon, Gen. Francisco Villa
and his 1900 rebel troops yesterday
began the most important battle of the
constitutionalist revolution, and the
rebel chieftain's march to Torreon was
"eriously checked.
Today the field hospital here is
crowded with wounded which streamed
into Ell Verjel as fast as they could be
returned from the front Given emer-
gency attention here, the seriously
wounded were hastened on to the gen
era1 hospital at Bermajillo. The fed
eral loss appears to have been much
heavier than that of the rebels, but nc
accurate estimate of their dead and
wounded has been made
Bent on Crushing Blow.
Apparently determining to deal Gen
Villa crushing blow before he ac-
tually reached the gates of Torreon
Gen. Velasco sailed out of the invested
city under cover of the guns on the
sides of Cerro de la Pillar and strongly
garrisoned Gomez Palacio. Made con
fdent by his easy victories en- route
Gen. villa heard the report from his
scouts that Gomez Palacio was strong
ly fortified and gave the order to at
tack.
The guns of Cerro de la Pillar wer,
opened up. Volley after volley from tn,
federal trenches and the fire of rebe
artillery and small arms opened the frs
serious engagement of Villas troops an,
the federals who hope to check the marcl
of the constitutionalists to the nationa
capital.
The rebel cavalry pressed forward
toward the mountain and before man!
minutes of fighting Villas men had takel
the water tank, securing their first van
1age ground.
Federals Forced Back
From there they fought on to the Brit
tingham soap factory, infantry engagin
the defending forces within and upol
the buildings. Another hour and the fed
erals rctreated to the Quartet, where tn
hottest fighting of the battle took place
Fighting from the front gaining sroun
foot by foot. the rebels finally drove I'll
federals back again toward Torreon.
But SO heavy had the firing becm s
, many were the shells that burst in tn
'uartcl that scarcely had ii been occupie
by the pursuing rebels than it caugh
fire and the conquerors were forced L
abandon it
The federals retreated in order. how
ever. keeping up insistent firing a
they were beaten back the road t,
Torreon- AS the rebels advanced the,
rushed forward over the bodies of th
federal dead and wounded.
Gen. Villa reiterated his confidence tha
Torreon would be his by Thursday.
Villa Confident of Victory.
JUAREZ Mexico March a4.-Althol1el
desperate fighting was still in progress a
Gomez Palacio. at the gateway of Tor
'eon. at II O'Clock last night, when tn
last dispatches came through, Gen. VIII
felt so confident of victory that he re
turned to the main base at Bermeiillo +
telegraph TO Chihuahua and other point
about the handling of supplies and tn
movement of troops.
The rebels are reported TO have ToI
reou closely invested, and last report
were that the whole army was confjdeT
of tire early fall OF the federal stroue
hold. The occupation of Lerdo. a!no,
without resistance, and the expected Vi,
tory at Gomez Paiacio. would leave. onl