The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-28
Battle at Gomez PaIacio the Blood.
lest of Any Revolution
in Mexico
NUMBER DEAD IS ENORMOUS
Remarkable Loyalty to Rebel Lead
or Shown by His Men
Who Cheer Him

Juarez, March 2S.-The Constitutions
alist officials here are confident Villa
will take Torreon today.
Military authorities do not doubt
that the recent engagement was tho
most terrible of any revolutionary
movement In Mexico. The losses 90
both sides were enormous.
General Villa does not yet know his
own loss, except that it is heavy. The
wounded suffered terribly from thirst,
and many died. The dead of both sides
were mingled in the streets or found
huddled under the piles Of earth which
had once been adobe houses, wrecked
by rebel shells. Veteran say that no
more serious battle ever was fou-ht in
McXcio. 1t was delirium.
Villa did not stop TO mourn his
losses, but with Characteristic energy
began preparations TO move on Tor
reon. He expects to cooperate with
four thousand men under General
Herrera. who is under orders to attack
the town from the east
The newspaper correspondents wcre
permitted to enter the city with villa.
Everywhere rebel soldiers were ongdg-
ed in rescuing the injured. There were
stretchers, but not nearly enough If
them, so that stout pole with
blanket suspended hammock fashion
safficed.
The day was hot and the air fairy
smelt of stale blood. Those with ne.'l
wounds disdained to desert, and many
a soldier, limping from wound in che
leg, or with one arm supported in 4
blood stained bandagc, was cu
among the stretcher bearers.
Rebels First Repulsed.
Villas first assault took place four
days ago. There was comparatively
n small force of federals in Gomez
Palacla and premature reports Of VIE
tory were sent out. Soon, however
the federals received rcinforcemcnts
and in the desperate fgEting which
followed the rebels had rather the
worst of 1t and Villa withdrew.
The next day, Wednesday. General
Angeles, tho artillery commander
shelled the city all day and part of the
night, Villa had learned that the fed
eral commander, General Nelasco, was
concentrating his force in the town
and was himself in the trenches, in
spring his men To do their utmost.
The rebel leader, under cover of the
bombardment, concentrated every
available man for another assault.
This was delivered Wednesday night
but it was not decisive. although the
rebels held the stone roundEousc ana
a few other natural defcnscs in the
outskirts Of the city.
Battle Won Thursday Night.
Thursday night the third and final
assault was delivered. Villa, grimN
with dust and sweat, a red bandana
handkerchief about his neck particl-
pated. He rode up and down the lines
swearing and cheering, cursinS ana
calling upon the saints At times Ne
was apparently calm, and again IN
fury. Through it all he urged ms
men forward and all seemed to realize
that the attack was the last one.
Human flesh could not stand more
of the heat, thirst and hunger ana the
cruel scenes which followed one an
other until the whole picture was
confused blur of blood aud fire, where
men in their dying agonies Whined Tor
water. or cried out uncanny Vivas' pet
itions to our Lady of Guadalupe ana
other jaryon of delirum.
Leader ldolzed uy 'iis Men.
ON the way into tie city from FL
Neriel this morning, and particularly
in the streets of the town itself, Gen
eral villa was constantly called upon
to return the salutes of the wounded
Some of these were limping, not To the
rear, but to the front. to catch up Win
their comrades.