Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 19??-1918, 1916-12-24
IN
HANDS Of
VILLA
Most IInpsrtant Railway c.
ter h Nerthern Mezice Is
Captured By he Rebels
Under Bandit Clief

n Paso. Dec. 2s.-villa toda- Il
in po.'s.ssion Of Torreor the mos:
imrortsn. railway center in northern
Mexico. At 4. O'Clock yes.e .ds- tno
bandit forces marched into the city.
In an early morning assault yes
terday the villistas met with . brief
resistance from the Carranzista gar
rison. which then abandoned the city.
Authentic reports Of the fall of
Torreon were obtained BY United
States during the night and trans
mitted to Washington. Despite the
silence Of the Mexican consulate.
United States authorities here appear
sure Of their ground.
This stroke places villa Il the
height Of his power since General
Psrshing's expedition chased his
broken bands into Durango.
Through underground" sources,
mining men here learned additional
details Of the Carranxista disaster.
With six troop trains. the bandit chief
passed through Bermejilio after the
de facto forces had hastily With
drawn into T0rreon. Led by Colonel
Fernandez. the viilistas started their
attack on the Coahuila metropolis
through Gomez Palacio and Lerdo
before daybreak yesterday. They met
with desultory resistance from the
Carransistas forces. meantime the
government garrison, estimated at
from 1000 to 5000 men, evacuating
the city.
Several Americans in charge OF
three foreign enterprises fed 70
Aguas Calientes before the attack
began. Perceiving preparations for
evacuation. the villistas waited until
the garrison Of Torreon had made
good their escape. Shortly after noon
Villas followers occupied the city.
All lines Of communication north are
now held by the bandit chief.
Advices today place General Sala-
sar, next in command to villa, south
OF Chihuahua City. in a strategic
position. holding General Murgia in
the northern capital. and preventing
movement Of de facto troops toward
Torreon. Salazar IS supposed to be
making preparations for another at
tack on Chihuahua City.
Continuous fighting has been 90
Ing on the past three days south Of
the city by a column sent out by
Murgia to halt the approach Of the
villistas.
In military circles here the fastest
movements of villa are being watch
ed with keenest interest. Ofiicials
discern in the reported capture Of
Torreon. Villas boldest strokes
smashing blow at the army Of Gen.
eral Murgia in northern chihuahua.
With this army eliminated. the
bandit chief would hold undisputed
sway in the north. By the occppa-
tion OF Torreon. villa paralyxes the
railroads Of the northern states Of
Mexico. The city is at the convers-
ence OF net work Of lines from the
lower United States border and north
and west. and sewers communication
with Mexico City. 1t is in the center
OF populous and rich district.
United States agents here declare
that villa. In person. Is in command
OF the troops and Torreon. while
others say he remained at Jimines a.
recting operations, holding the ran
way line with a reserve force.
Between Ortiz. south OF Chihuahua
City, and Torreon. villa Is in oontrca
Of nearly 200 miles Of the natlonai
railway lines and Occupying the
towns Of Santa Rosalia. Mspimi, Par
rnl and rynAius