Evening star., 1914-04-07
BOTH SIDES CLAIM
GA|NSAT TORREON
Mexican FederaIs and Rebels
Confident Opponents Have
Been Trapped.
RETREAT FROM CITY HELD
TO BE PIECE OF STRATEGY
Senor Algara Regards Villas "Vic'
tory" a Observation-Disclosures
Laugh at Embassy's Claims.

Washington spokesmen for the rival
factions in the warfare In Mexico both
emphatically claim the advantage In the
conflict around Torreon today. Both
sides claim that they have their enemies
in q trap.
Confidence which has been expressed
day after day by Senior A. Algara, charge
OF the Mexican embassy here. that Gen.
velasco. who had been defending Tor
reon. was in an advantageous position
and had Gen. Villa at a grave disadvan-
tase was in q measure confirmed by a
cable dispatch to the Navy Department
yesterday from Rear Admiral Frank f.
Fletcher. commander OF the American ma
val force in Mexican waters. But 1t Is
stated today that this dispatch was based
on delayed news from Torreon and does
not report accurately conditions there.
Admiral Fletcher reported that Gen.
Joaquin Mas had reached San Pedro.
about thirty miles from Torreon. with
/, 100 men and seven trainloads more en-
route and that Gen. Javier de Moure had
left San Pedro and arrived in the VI
cinity of Torreon with 1900 men and
said to be gathering for another battle
to regain Torreon. attacking Gen. Villa,
trapped in the deserted city, with a
force wearied by eleven days of siege.
Cabinet Discusses Mexico.
The cabinet discussed the Mexican sit
uAtion today. Confidential reports from
Official sources In Mexico were received
saying the Huerta forces were concen-
trating for an attack to retake Torreon.
No details were given, but officials here
look for another battle soon, in which
the constitutionaiists will be confronted
with the task of keeping the fruits of
their hard-fought victory.
Algara Voices Confidence.
Senior Algara said today that for the
last week he has had a series of en-
couraging messages from Mexico City
and from consul generals along the
border assuring him that the ultimate
outcome Of hostilities around Torreor
will be in favor Of the federals. In
dependent OF Gen. Velasco's movements
the federal generals are pursuing a
Huerta and his advisers" said Mr.. Al
CARA. 'The withdrawal from Torreon
was q move in this campaign. My own
idea Is that Gen. Velasco found Torreon
too much incumbered by the dead and
the supplies depleted, so he withdrew
to the south where he would have even
more advantageous grounds to resist
Gen. Villa, and where he would have
a good food supply in friendly terri
tory. He withdrew from the city de-
liberately and took everything of value
with him. He left nothing but ruin be-
hind him.
Villas touted victory, I believe. is
moro of a defeat. He went into Tor
reon with his forces depleted and weared
by eleven days of fighting, following
forced marches. There were no supplies
for him in the city, and disease threat
ened. If he is following velasco, that
the hills and pour deadly fire on the
pursuers. Gems. de Maure and Mas can
either unite with Gen. Velasco or swing
around and attack Gen. Villa from sew
the city he can be attacked from both
the north and the south, hemmed in as
he will be without provisions and with
a battle-worn force"
Laugh at Embassy's Claims.
At constitutionalist headquarters, how
ever. officials laugh both at Admiral
Fletchers dispatch and at the Mexican
embassy's claims. First, they say that
Admiral Fletcher's dispatch contains
news about a week old. They assert that
this dispatch was picked up at Vera Cruz
by the admiral several hundred miles
from Torreon and cut off from direct
communication. They claim that the only
telegraph offices near Torreon are at
Lerdo and Gomez Palacio. both in the
hands of the rebels, and that the nearest
point from which federal dispatches can
be sent is Saltillo. 100 miles from Tor
reon. whittier messages have to be sent
by runners
Then the messages have to be wired
to Ell Paso. thence to Galveston, cabled
to Vera Cruz, where Admiral Fletcher
probably picked them up and then wired
to Mexico City.
I'VE know that Gen. Velasco broke out
Of Torreon at the only unguarded pass
through the mountains south Of the city, -
constitutionalist. spokesman here say.
Then he circled to the north, and is now
near San Pedro, about thirty miles north
east OF Torreon, and he is evidently try
ing to reach Saltillo.
Gen. Mas would not dare to draw a
heavy force from Saltillo to aid Gen.
Velasco. for if he did Gen. Pablo Con
zales. commanding the constitutionalist
forces in the northeast would swoop
down on Saltillo and Monterey, about
which two cities he has massed a large
force. Gen Gonzales is planning to at