The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-04-24
CEAYAELAID Low
Villa SheIIed Town and Most
Buildings Were Wrecked
by Terrific Fire.
LOSSES HIGH ON BOTH SIDES
Gen. Oregon Reports to Carranza
That His Army Has Defeated
Enemy, Killing 5000.

Z L
Mexico, is a wrecked city. Its
churches and larger buildings are in
ruins Shells have been bursting in
the town for the last forty-eight hours.
Gen. Francisco Villa has apparently
cut OF all possibility for retreat by
the besieged forces. The Villista
forces completely surround the town.
Street fighting has been going on at
times throughout the day.
The Carranzista forces, composed
mostly of Yaqui Indians, are believed
to be in large numbers, but repeated
charges by the Villistas routed the In
dians from the intTenchments and
drove them to the outer circle OF
adobe houses, from which they are
fighting at this time In several local
tiles the infantry rushed in and oecu-
pied the houses; street fighting fol-
lowing in each instance. Villas sixty
cannon have been busy Smelling the
isolated places OF shelter.
It is believed the loss OF life in the
city is high. There is no way of esti-
mating the number of dead among the
Villistas. All day wounded have been
brought back to the hospital trains
At the Hacienda Crespo two trains Of
wounded were taken to Salamanca.
In one charge General Villas horse
was wounded, but did not fall His es-
cort put to rout a Yaqui regiment
known as The Messengers of Death
and captured two black banners, each
bearing the sole symbol of skull and
crossbones in silver.
Vera Cruz, April 16.-"Five thou
sand of the enemy dead were counted
during the movement noTthward from
Celaya. Six thousand prisoners and
forty field pieces were captured"
This is General Obregon's summary
Of the fighting about Celaya, where he
is reported to be. He had gained
decisive victory over the forces of Gen
eral Villa.
Villa is Winning.
Washington, April IS. - General
Villa appears to have gained the upper
hand in the battle with the forces OF
General Obregon near Celaya and vi
cinity, according to consular advices
to the state department from San Luis
Potosi. From other points as well it
which officials estimate A, 900 men are
engaged, the fruits of victory are with
the army of General Villa
General Obregon is declared to have
been surrounded and his retreat cut
of from all directions. AS the firing
line is extensive detailed advices have
not reached here from General Villas
headquarters and the final outcome Of
the fighting is still doubtful.
Victory for Villa would mean the re-
sumption of communication by rail
and wire between Mexico City and the
American border, while success by
General Obregon would divide the
Villa-Zapata forces and destroy their
communication between the northern
| and southern sections Of the country.
In many quarters here it is believed
the result Of the struggle viii have an
! important bearing on the general po-
IiticaI situation in Mexico, indicating
which of the two major factions is to
| dominate
A message from Monterey, Mex,
says that from authentic sources it is
given out there that Huerta's return
| to the United States is the outcome Of
San Antonio a few weeks ago. It
means another revolution, or, strictly
| speaking, a new party in the field
sanctioned by General Felix Diaz and
many men identified with the peace
| conference recently organized in San
Antonio, according to the report,
which says that Huerta has been Sc
Iected as the leader.
Negotiations, it is said, have been
/ opened between Villa and Huerta
| through a representative of the move
| ment who has had two interviews with
Villa, but apparently with small sue
cess. Huerta is held, the message
says, to be the representative Of the
| big land owners Of Mexico, and on the
land issues is said to have ideas not
| in line with those Of Villa
| Kill 200 captives.
Laredo, Tex, April 14.-Mexican
soldiers in Nueva Laredo today said
! General MacIoyio Herrera had shot
| two hundred Villa prisoners yesterday
/ after the Villa defeat near Huisachito,
twenty miles south OF here
The Carranza commanders only re-
ply to Americans who questioned
| him regarding the report, was: The
prisoners have been disposed Of"