The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-27
The Rebel General Occupies .
Suburb Of ,Torreon.
LOSSES HEAVY on BOTH SIDES
Expects to Occupy the City
Proper by Sunday.
Federals Still ClAim Coastitu-
tionalists Have Been Routed.

aIteE IouF Gays OF Almost l0CeS80nt
fighting during which victory seemed
first with one side and then with the
other, occupied Gomaez Palacio today.
day.
Losses on both sides have been
heavy.
The rebels delivered three assaults
before permanent success was achieved
and at times the battle extended into
the roads leading into Torreon proper.
Villa predicts that he will have the
latter city by Saturday or Sunday.
Telegram From villa.
Juarex. March z7.-The federal SOL
diers at Torreon last night failed in q
ten hour fight to retake Lerdo. accord
ing to telegram received here today
signed by General Villa. The telegram
was dated at Gomez Palacfo. Lerdo is
q manufacturing town in the suburbs
OF Torreon.
The belief was expressed here today
that General Villa actually has taken
Gomez Palacio as was reported yester-
day despite the fact that correspond
ents at the front have not been allowed
to send the kilograms to that effect.
Venustiano Carranza, first chief of
the revolution. is expected here to-
morrow. Several triumphal arches
and residences generally are decorat-
ing with nags and bunting.
Confirmed by Press Dispatch.
Juarez, March 27.-The receipt Of a
newspaper message from the front,
confirming the capture of Gomez Pal
acio, caused the greatest rejoicing
here. A telegram from General Villa
tory at Gomez Palacio and the re-
pulse of the federal attack ON Lerdo
also was received.
Villa renewed his acknowledgment Of
Carranxa an supreme chief OF the rev.
kolutio1 The telegram added that the
brigade8 ~ General Benavideas Her
rera Ortega and Urbine. were being
concentrated for an assault. On Torreon
proper.
General Angeles, secretary Of war. in
Carranza's cabinet and in charge OF
the artillery at Gomez Palacio also tel
egraphed to the "Jefe Suprema'' con-
graduating him on possession of so
efncient a military commander as
Francisco villa.
The text Of Villas message, with the
address to Carranza as "chief of the
revolution reads:
After three days and nights Of
bloody fighting. the enemy has been
disiOdged from Gomez Palacio and
Lerdo. We have not been able to de-
termine our own losses in killed and
wounded. AL OF our chiefs conducted
themselves well, and co-operated splend-
idly.
The artillery was particularly ef-
fective and to It I must ascribe the
panic in the ranks of the enemy. Cen
eral Angeles commanded the big guns.
with his usual ability. The brunt Of
Morelos brigades, the latter command
ed by General Urbina. All Of the gen.
erals combine with me in sending best
wishes"
II information given out at military
headquarters today Is correct the reb-
today. 1t was stated that General Her
rera had occupied the Torreon bull
ring which is located in the northern
edge Of the city. General Angeles was
said to be directing heavy artillery
fire on the federal garrison from the
north.
The Other Side.
Washington, March 27.-Complete
defeat Of Villa and the constitution
alist forces before Torreon was re-
ported to the Mexican embassy here
today in a dispatch from Senior Por-
tillo y Rojas. minister Of foreign at
fairs.
Minister Portillo's dispatch confirm
ing an earlier one from the Mexican
consul at Ell Paso, says the constftu-
tionalfsts were decisfvely repulsed and
driven back several miles from their
position Of vantage.
Night Of Uncertainty.
Juarez, Mex. March z7.-As tho
wind blows q straw 80 did every mes
sage concerning the probable events at
Gomez Palacio where General Villa is
fighting his decisive battle with the
Huerta government. sway rebel sym
pathizers in this town today. And
q. ~A III
Of information was cleaned from the
mass Of unconfirmed reports which
hourly were received.
From federal sources came the
news that Villa had been beaten; from
rebel sources came declarations Of
eral and from whence none knows
came hundreds Of other unconfirmed
reports.
One brief message came from villa
himself 1t was curt and contained
nothing concerning the fortunes OF his
battle. 1t was q command for speedy
shipment OF the military aeroplane
from Juarez and an order that all
enuipmert for rebuilding railroad track
be hurried eluth. The fact that tho
gave rise to the belief that the rebel
leader had captured that suburb Of Tor
reGn and hope ran higher among con-
stituttonalists here than It hal for e.
hours Of complete silence from tine SOL
sli..rs at the front.
That villa had ordered the mono
plane was construed by some to mean
that he was to begin his attack on
Torreon proper within the immediate
future and that he had yet unex-
pected conditions to surmount. The
machine has been undergoing repairs
here and early today It was not known
how soon It could be put in running
order. but Manuel Chno. military Gov-