El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-06-03

M Consular agent George c. Ca
rothers, at chihuahua city,
Mex, reported today that Villa troops
in a flank movement captured Silao
and put Carranza cavalry forces to
rout- Gen. Obregon. the Carranza. COM
nander, hessaid, is surrounded at Trim
idsd by villa infantry and has lost
trains and large quantities Of supplies.
S in the case Of the reported cap
y ture Of Snao two weeks ago. the
4 \ present report, received in Jua-
rez Wednesday night, has resulted in
fatty contradicting statements from
representatives Of the two factions
here. The Villa report comes from
Diaz Lombardo, minister of foreign re-
Iations at Chihuahua, and states that
Gen Villa, at the head Of a strong cav
airy detachment, has encircled the Car
rama lines, cutting the railroad south
Of SilaO and capturing that city. Should
this be the case, the Oregon troops
will be cut off at Trinidad
Though no official reports have been
received by the Carranza consulate, 1t
is stated that Obregon is in daily COM
munication with VeraSruz and that for
more than a week he has reported
only long range skirmishing.
FIanking Was Planned.
That a flank movement against the
Carranza lines was planned for Tues
day afternoon by Gen. Villa IS attested
TO by an American who has been at the
front since the Celaya battle. At the
SilRo battle two weeks ago, Gen. Rod
rigUez. at the head OF d large cavalry
detachment was successful in circling
the Carranza lines and cutting the line
south Of Silao, but he was forced to
retreat and the line was soon repaired.
The American states that this plan ap-
pealed to Villa as practice bic and that
he announced that he personally would
lead such movement OF Tuesday at
ternoon.
Desertions in Ranks.
DesertiOns in Villa ranks are fire.
quent, according to the American, and
conscription is the order Of the day.
This American also states that a week
ago 500 Carrancistas and a colonel de-
serted in a body to Villa. These troops
were put on the firing line, but the
colonel retired to the rear. Villa had
been watching the detachment fearing
treachery, and, when the colonel desert
ed, had the man sent to him Previ-
ously Gen villa had promised Gen. An
Eeles that there would be no more ex-
ecutions, so, after cursing the eX-Car-
rancista, he sentenced him to ten years
Imprisonment in Chihuahua The Amer
lean states that all leaves Of absence
for Villa officers have been calcelled
and that those asking for such leaves
are frequently executed.
Carrancistas Have Ammunition.
The Carrancistas have apparently an
unlimited supply Of big gun and small
arms ammunition The Oregon bat
teries, which are perched on Iona
Colorado" a small hill north Of Trim.
idad, are in charge Of q German gun
ner and the fire has been very accu-
rate. It was the fire Of these guns
that broke up the Rodriguez flanking
movement in the battle two weeks ago,
the gunners, though unable TO see the
column. locating it by the dust that
was rising above it.
Practically all OF the officers who
have seen active fighting in the ad-
vance trenches are former federals.
Gen. Morales Zaragosa- who defended
Tampfco; Gen Carranza. who WAS Sc
verely wounded in the defence Of Tor
reon. and Gen BIilla, who was prom
ineut in the defence Of Zacatecas IN
der Gen. Medina Barron, are all with
Villa
saloons All Closed.
At Leon, Villa has had all the saloons
emptied and the casks and bottles bro
ken in the streets His men Nave suf-
ficient food and ammunition. but. &C
cordins to the American, the great
majority are tired Of the fighting and
the continual heavy losses. apparently
without any advantage, in the fighting
around Leon. When the Americans left
on Monday. the trenches of the two
armies were but a kilometer apart.
For days there had been minor Skin
mishes, accompanied by some artillery
fire.
Torreon Situation.
At Torreon. varying reports Of the
westward advance Of the Carrancistas
Frn-, Non Tara-~ had haar7 ran1fuaT One