Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-12-01
Ragged Survivors of the de-
FaCto Force Engaged in
Clash With Villa Make ES-
cape to the Border Town,
REFUGEES SAY SCENES
IN CAPITAL ARE AWFUL
Dead Piled High in Streets,
Bodies Saturated With Oil
and Torch Is Applied Many
Civilians Killed,
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lay noeNiHo JOURNAL SPECIAL LSAsso wiREl
Juare2, Mexico. Nov 30.-Ancient
Juorez was in the baclSwash OF battle
today Tonight the campfires of an
other remnant army burn on the
plains to the south. Grim, gray can-
non are parked in the customs house
yard. with garlands of "jerked beef
hanging from the muzzles Of the guns
which hurled death from their muz-
zles so recently.
In box cars, women camp followers
of the Carranza soldiers cooKed their
meager meal tonight over charcoal
hrazieres, while barefooted children
many born in hattle-shvered from
the cold as they hoverod in the lee OF
the big naval guns.
Since early morning this old border
town has been the scene of military
activities. Soon after o'clock today
the first troop train brought the rag
ged survivors of the de facto force
which had fought at chihuahua City
against villa and had escaped TO the
north. Accompanying this train was
sanitary section consisting OF three
second class coaches and one white
Cross hospital car In these cars
came more than 100 wounded soldiers
OF the Carranza command who were
rescued from the heaps OF dying and
brought TO the border by their COM
rades. The hospitals are filled with
wounded and volunteer nurses are
working to care for the officers and
men who fell before the rain of BAN
ait bullets.
The troop train which brought this
surviving force to the border left Chi
huahua city at 1890 Monday morn
ing proceeding to a point near Ter
raaas station, where a burned bridge
forced them to transfer to another
train Wednesday
Fight -Four Days and Nights.
The officers Of the Carranza COM
mGaA, ---A.eh for some geason was sent
here and foreign refugees who came
on an earlier train. gave accounts OF
the four days and nights of fighting
which preceded the evacuation of the
capital city which are practically the
same and which, pieced together. give
a fairly connected account of the
siege Of Chihuahua City,
According to these officers and ref
ugees the scenes In chihuahua City
when they left were awful The dead
had been piled in the streets and oil
poured over them and the early dawn
was Illuminated by these human
orches, they said.
Between the cemetery and Santa
Rosa hill the dead covered the streets.
many having died days before and the
stencil, tho refugees said, was so
strong It was impossible to approach
rear. Along the streets near the
'ailroad station and surrounding the
station, one refugee said, he saw many
'avalry horses with carbines and
abers attached to the saddles, the
7arranza cavalrymen having abandon
ID them in order to leave the city on
he troop train. Along zarco avenue,
ccording TO the refugees, the fighting
lad been fiercest and many civilians
lad been killed there and in other
,arts Of the city by shell fire and rifle
,alls The houses lining this street
we're pitted with the bullet marks OF
he battle, a Syrian refugee said, and
many shell holes were to be seen in
he houses in the heart of the city.
Carranza Troops Flee.
All Of the refugees agreed that the
'arran2a troops were winning during
he first four days of the fighting but,
ither because of a shortage of am
or lack of morale. they
bandoned the city early on the fifth
lorning Of the battle, seeking safety
4 flight In all directions. The taking
f Santa Rosa hill, which has always
cen known as the key to Chihua-
ua," was said by one foreign refugee
. have started the retirement of the
forces which. they say, re-
ambled a rout before the last train
IT. The cavalry artillery and in
lntry poured down the streets lead
* to the station, which is north OF
ne city proper. they said, and climbed
board the train In a wild scramble to
ct away one civilian refugee claim
4 Cen Gonzales Cuellar was respon-
ble for the taking of Santa Rosa
i'll. where he was In command, as he
llowed the infantry lines to be weak
ned when the artillery was turned
n the city the refugee added the
loral effect was almost Immediately
otieeahle, and the Carranza soldiers.
.ho had been eager for battle Sunday
light dropped their rifles and fled.
me refugee claimed to have seen Of
GERS leave their men fighting TO flee
,r safety. This, however could not
e verified.
II is believed by the refugees and
arranza officers that General Tre-
mo left first for Tabaloapa, south OF
le city and from there moved to
ldama. about twenty miles from Chi-