Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-21
Preparing to
 Shell TOrreOn
VILLAS ARMY OF f2,c0o OUTSIDE
 THE CITY
CONFIDENT OF VICTORY
Expects to Capture Federal Strong hold Within a Week-The Feds,sIs Now Completely Cut oH.

Constitutionalist Headquarters, Yer mo. Chihuahua. Mexico, March 2o.-- General Villa and his army of twelve thousand reoels today invested ths federal stronghold or Torreon.
 The khaki-,clad columns occupied the enVirohs Of the city without op- position and today was spent in wheel ing the field pieces into position to shell the federal trenches which have oeen aug at every point where the federal commander. General Refu21o FelaSco, expects attack.
 Federal Force Numbers 5000.
 His army is estimated to number nine thousand men. South and south west of the city his position Is re- garded as almost irnpregrraois by req son or the mountains, through which only three passes run, and these have been rendered almost impossible by Notifications and barbed wire entan- elements. In other directions, the city hills.
 Villas recent progress has been slow because 1t whs necessary to repair the railroad tracks and bridges. This morning, however, the road was open from fermo, where the troops have been mobilizing, to Mapimi and Ser meJillo. which are only a few miles north of Torreon and are virtually suburbs of that city.
 At these two cities after suffering long hours in the freight cars, where they were stuffed like figs in a box and with but scanty supply of water, the troops detFained and plunged into the desert
 Great clouds of fine desert dust marked their progress over hunmocks of cacti-crowned sand and through dry water courses. Great tank wag- ons. laden with the water supply which has been Villas greatest problem, rum bled in the trail, the wheels at times almost huo-deep in the sand
 Their Passage unohs*ructed.
 The lips of the few foreigners in the army were cracked and swollen from the heat and aIkali dust, but the Mexicans trained to such conditions. covered their mouths with folds Of their blankets and fared better. All eyes were bloodshot. In this way amid the suffering which the harshesf waste of arid land Mexico can furnish, the outskirts of Torre0n were reach ed
 There was no opposition and Gen era1 Villa stated that there had been none since he had begun to repair the railroad south of Jiminez. The fed erals contented themselves with strew- ing all possible obstruction except bull lets in his way There were occasional exchanges of shots between outposts, but nothing that assumed even the dignity of .. shirTnish-
 Villa Confident of Victory.
 General Villa was everywhere. for now that the eve of the battle is at hand, he is a fury of energy, now grabbing the halter of a refractory mule, now criticisinE the Iashings of a pack saddle, or snapping orders at a lesser leader.
 ''Torreon viii be mine in a week. he exclaimed jubilantiy: Every preparation has been made and we can't fail"
 General Felipe Angeles. chief of the artillery corps was named second in command to take full charge in the event of the death or fncapacftation Of Villa Angeles is a member of Gen eraI Carranza's cabinet and was de- tached at Villas urgent solicitation, to participate in the battle. He is a veteran expert of the big gun arm of the service.
 FederaIs Completely Cut Of.
 Villa has food for a month 2,e60 road service, unless cut, can maintain the water supply indefinitely. It Is believed here that the federaIs are now completely cut off from the outside world. even by wire, although the wireless stations may permit them to communicate with the national cap ital 700 miles to the south. Villa pro fesses to believe he will capture the entire army.
 Few Foreigners Left.
 Normally there is a largo foreign colony at Torreon, but most of these as caretakers of important property.