Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-24
CHIHUAHUA CITY
TRENCHES HOLD
ARMY OF VILLA
Bandit Leads Force in Person
Four Times Against Dug
In" Defenders of Capital
Without Success.
TERRIFIC BATTLE FOUGHT
De Facto Authorities at Juarez
Fear Trevino's Ammuni-
tion May Give Out.
FIELD COVERED WITH DEAD
TERRIFIC BATTLE FOUGHT
FIELD COVERED WITH DEAD
Bulletin.

Ell Paso, Tex, Nov. 23.-Francisco
Villa Withdrew his surviving forces
in defeat from Chihuahua City at 6:2S
o'clock tonight, after a battle Of seven
hours, during which he made fruit
less attempts to carry General Ire
who's protecting works by assault.
Ell Paso, Tex, Nov. 23.-General
Trevino repulsed fourth mass at
tack by Villa forces late today, the
bandits being driven from their tenn
porary entrenched positions with
heavy losses, it was announced in
.Juarez tonight. The de facto troops
are now pursuing the bandits toward
the south, the same report from Chr
huahua City states.
Juarez, Mexico, Nov. 23.-Three
times today Francisco Villa attacked
the first line trenches which defend
Chihuahua City, and three times he
was repulsed, leaving his dead and
wounded on the plains outside of the
city to the south, according to mill
tary dispatches received by General
Francisco Gonzales at military head
quarters here from the besieged city.
At II o'clock a. m. today (moun-
tain time) the high-crowned hats OF
the bandits were seen to the south,
along the Mexican Central main line,
according to these messages. The bat
tie was opened few minutes later
with a salvo from cannon on Santa
Rosa hill, the key to the state cap
ital. The first and second line
trenches, protected by barbed wire
entahglements, took up the fighting
and by noon a general engagement
was in progress along the entire
southern railroad, which continued to
early afternoon. ...... -.
Cannon Roar Deafening.
At that time the booming OF the
large caliber guns on Santa Rosa and
other artillery stationed at intervals
along the first line trenches was so
deafening that twas almost impossll-
bic to hear the click of the telegraph
instruments, the military operator in
Chihuahua City told the operator in
Juarez. =
AT 3 o'clock the battle was still
raging, the apparent advantage being
with the government forces. Villa is
reported by General Gonzales to have
at least $500 men,, practically all OF
whom are armed and mounted. He
is also believed to have machine guns,
but no heavy artillery. For this reason
the twenty or more heavy field guns
of General Trevino's command were
able to rake the advancing lines OF
Villa bandits, the messages from the
state capital stated. The field was
covered with dead and dying men, one
message stated.
A sortie by Carranza cavalry, sup.
ported by artillery, resulted III the
capture Of many Villa prisoners, who
were without ammunition and had
gone since morning without food or
water, another message declared.
Ammunition Limited.
Carranza officers here are optimistic
regarding the outcome of the battle
at Chihuahua City. The only cause of
worry to them is the fact that Cen
eral Trevino's ammunition supply for
small arms and machine guns is lim-
tied and it is feared the attack will be
prolonged by Villa in an effort to
exhaust this ammunition supply.
However, the supply Of artillery
shells is ample, it is said, to keep the
bandits away from the city.
1t was hoped by the Mexican mill
tary that General Francisco Murguia
and his division from Torreon would
reach Chihuahua City soon, but late
today a message was received IN
Juarez saying General Murguia had
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