The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-03-24
Rebels Gain Advantage in Bloody Struggle on
 Streets of City
STREAMS OF WOUNDED
 ARE CARRIED TO REAR
Villa in Reports Says Torre0n Oppo- sition Will Crumble Before Him. Federals Fight Stubbornly.
 Losing Many Killed

Juarez, March 23.--It was reported late tonight that General VelascO came out of Torre0n in force and that Gomez Palacio was being made the point of main contention. Villa was said to have captured 300 prisoners. His wounded, it also was reported, were being brought back from the front to Fl Nerjel in large numbers.
 El Versii, Conhuiia. Mex, March 20. The real attack on Torreon began to- day when General Villa occupied Lerdo practically without resistance and at I o'clock this afternoon began attack on Gomez PaIncia.
 The three towns a,e practically one in a commercial and social sense and connected by four miles of street railway. hut Torreon proper represents inc military stronghold where the main federal force is gathered under General Refugio NcIasco.
 The preliminary sllirmishing which enabled the rebels to bring their bat teries into action late today began al daybreak today and the federals fought stubborn1y. They retired from trench to
 
 on the main force on the slopes of the mountain The rebels numbered 5000, with Gen. Toribio Ortega at their head and General Villa in the immediate , back ground.
 ' Lerdo where the largest shoe fac tories in Mexico are located, lies around Il shoulder of Cerrb De La Pillar from Gomez Ptlaoio. It was taken last night without material defense, as the main mountain batteries were planted to command the approaches 10 Gomez Palacio It was occupied by the con- bined foices of Generals Tomas Urbna lIernardnz- and Redri riRuez.
 In High Spirits l General Villa was in high spirits and predicted that Torreon proper would crnmble befcre hinL
 Gomaz Palacio and Lerdo arc with out important natural defenses and in previous ipvolutions never have been seriously defended. The real test of strength is expected to come soon when Villa hurls his force against the defenses of Torreon. On this battle. it is connected, hinges the fate of the revolution.
 The molatain. cerro De La Pillar, lies to the right of the street car line and railroad tracks which connect Gomez ralaco with Tofreon and forms an advance portion cf the Torreon de- lenses.
 General Villa telegraphed confident ly that he would take Gomez Palacio tonight. His confidence is based on the fact that the mountain is usually de- tended marsay for the purpose of in flicting what damage is possible. Otn- erwise the position k such that the de- lending force could be cut off by q sn- perior enemy
 The aoyaice on Gomez Palaeio be- gan from this poin,. which is only two or three miles fropi Gomez Palacio.
 The action was preceded by furious , cannonadii 2 directed at the federal batteries wi.h their infantry supports on the m.Natain slopes. When rebel of- ficers witt field t-i&sses observed that the federais were shifting their posi- tions. their own Infantry was set in motion across the plains in the direc- tion of tLe mourtain.
 It is reported that other troops are approaching in other directions, for last week Villa drove in the federal outposts from all joints of the com pass ana llade tie way clear for his own attack by taking Mapimi, Brit ingham Junction and number of oth- CT towns.
 once Gomez Paiacio and the moun- tain La Elia is texen the rebel troops may move through valley following the street car line to Iorreon until the very gates of the city are reached. lt Is probable however that they Will have to fi@at to cross the Nasas river. which runs between the two cities.
 Sanguinary Fighting
 The whr.. valley is reported to be in a state of defense with barbed wire entanglements ami trenches. irrigation ditches in come instances have been flooded. while others left dry. will shelter the Huerta soldiers. Federal batteries everywhere occupy the hills which close in Torreon from all sides
 Fighting of the most sanguinafy character took place in the streets or = --->--~>--~
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