The Sentinel=record., 1915-01-06
HEAVIEST LOSS OF THE WAR
Campaign Against the New Rebels in
Mexico Was Swift and Sure, City
Being Bombarded For Hours by
Ninety-two Cannon.

era OTuZ, Jan, J.--IueDld, cdpltdl
Of the state of Puebla, which was
evacuated a month ago by the troops
of General Nenustiano CarranZa, was
retaken today after a campaign which
began with the capture of Tepeaca, a
short distance to the southeast of
Puebla, six days ago.
The faI of Puebla came after six
hours of what is described as having
been the most furious bombardment
to which any Mexican force has yet
been subjected,
General Alvaro Obregon, command
ing the CarranZa troops, worked into
a position about the city last night
with virtually all his forces, which are
reported to have aggregated not less
than 30,000 men. He had determined
to make the battle as short as pos
sible and throw nearly all his men
into action beginning the fighting
early in the morning.
After pounding with 80 cannon the
positions of the troops of General
Villa and General Zapata, whose
strength is estimated to have been
some $1,000 men, the troops of Gen
eral Obregol advanced under the fire
OF their opponents artillery.
When General Obregon left Vera
Cruz he told friends at headquarters
that he would be in possession OF
Puebla in eight days. This time was
not up until tonight. TepeaCa, Amo-
zoe ald other towns and villages to
the east and southeast of Puebla have
been taken since his departure and
Obregon has made his headquarters
division at Apizaco. where the rail
road from Puebla joins the main line
of the Mexican railway. Last night
he moved this force southwark ald
another force toward the west cutting
both railroads over which the Villa
and Zapata forces might proceed to-
ward Mexico Cit
Generals Alvaredo and Mallen were
in charge of the forces moving from
the east and had under their direction
most of the cannon That numerous
cannon of high grade and an abund-
ance of ammunition were in Obre.
CONS possession, but he intended to
employ so many pieces in one action
came as surprise. Topography
about Puebla avails itself easily to
a force which can utilize the heights
above the city with artillery, and
Obregon's chief effort was to get in
possession of hills few guns were
mounted to the west of the city, but
most of the bombardment was left to
Alyaredo and Mallen, who gained the
hills to the east after driving Villa
and Zapata men from the ancient
forts on their crests.
How many of the Villa and Zapata
troops escaped is not known, but
early reports Of the fighting indicate
that the greater part of them either
we've killed or made prisoners. From
these reports it would seem that in
few of the battles that have occurred
in Mexico has the slaughter been so
swift and so great
The hardest part of the action was
found outside the city proper. The
dead and wounded are said to cover
the ground at some places, and to be
strewn plentifully across a field
whose diameter from west to east is
some II miles. The bombardment
from the 81 cannon was almost inces-
SAINT, according to the official report.
Communication with Puebla was not
established until tonight Just who
was in command of the capital forces
is not yet known, but their leaders
are reported to have been Andrew
Almazan and Eufemio Zapata,
brother Of Emiliano Zapata.
A brief message was received at
midday announcing the result OF the
fighting al d the garrison in Vera
Cruz, With heir bands, paraded the
streets in I JI-r OF the victory. The
ringing Of chu ch bells conveyed the
| news TO the poiul&ce.
General Obregon had not sufficient
data at nighttall to estimate the
losses OF his opponents, but the off,
cial report said they We're unusually
! heavy The report also indicated
that the artillery fire OF the Carranza
! forces did more damage within the
| city Of Puebla proper than was at
first indicated. Many streets and
( plazas are said TO be almost clogeed
o.ftf, a..d and u.nuu.la1 lutu. t,Du,