The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-25
BATTLE RACES IN
TORREON'S STREETS

JUAREI, Mex, March 2i-That the
rebels under General Villa, sweeping re-
sistlessly onward after their victory at
Gomez Palacio, were fighting today in
the very streets Of Torreon, the great
objective Of the campaign, was indi-
Gated in telegram received here this
afternoon, The message came from
Colonel Trevino, who is au officer on
the staff of General Eugeuio Aguirre
Scuavides, to his brother in this city,
and stated that Benavidcs had taken
two cuartels or barracks in the city of
Torreon, The telegram added;
General Villa and General Beua-
vides have concluded to take break
fast in the plaza Of Torreon.
As the telegram did not name the
cuartels taken, 1T was a matter Of
conjecture whether they were on the
outskirts of the city or we'll within it,
The reference to taking breakfast is
thought by some to imply that Bcna
yides still had serious fighting ahead
of him to take the town.
Many Dead in Streets.
FL Corrco, a Spanish newspaper this
afternoon prints statement that
IN the streets Of Gomez Palacio. No
official estimate of losses on either side
in yesterdays fighting could be oh.
tanned today, although it was said de-
tails of the battle were expected.
If Trevino's private message does
not prove misleading, it is said to
show that General Villa. after his long
and careful preparations, has conduct"
ed a whirlwind campaign. Beginning
PrjJny ho sp.oTit ,lpJrn frnnn rho Onrth
and took BermeJillo, about thirty miles
north of Torreon. Without halting. his
forces pressed southwark and drew in
from other directions until General We
lasco and his Federal troops were cut
off from the outside world,
Railroad Towns Taken.
Mapimi, Matamoros, Birmingham
Junction and numerous other small
railroad towns fell in the course of the
next two days, and last night the big
railroad city of Gomez Palacio, only
three miles from Torreon, fell after
what is reported to have been very
sanguinary hghting in the streets, the
men of both sides utilizing the, protec-
ton of adobe houses, Thus in five
days, if Trevino s report proves true,
all but accomplished the object of his
first campaign. He has been quoted
repeatedly as intending to start from
TorreoD on the 707mile trip to the
City of Mexico.
The railroad running east TO Saltillo
and Monterey was cut by General Ben
avides as he moved on Torreon.
The fall of Gomez Palacio became
practically certain when, after can"
nonading. the infantry advanced up
the slopes Of Cerro dc Ia Pillar and
captured the water tank which crowns
it. The Federals upon retreatipg aban
doned some of their field pieces, and
it is reported that certain of General
Eelasco's personal camp equipment
was taken.
ReinfOrcements Arrive.
The surprise of the day TO the rebels
was the arrival OF the Federal rein
forcements and the battle put up by
the Huertistas in the streets of the
city.
Gomez Palaco lies TO the northeast
of Torreon, and Cerro de In Pilnr
commands portions Of both cities, II
lies to the right Of the street car
tracks connecting the. two cities, and
" is assumed that General Villa plant
ed his own artillery there to support
the infantry and cavalry advance on
Torreon.
Benavides, south of Villa IS line of
march, was expected TO be the first to
enter Torreon, and apparently the cal
culatiou WAS correct. II was Villas
plan TO engage the main force of the
enemy himself. thus weakening the OPP
position to Benavidcs,
The telegraph wires were hot with