Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-11-24


Hill were firing at intervals and the
rifle fire on both sides was said to have
been brisk.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dickerson, Mr.. and
Mrs. Dennis and another American,
named Harris boarded the train at
Chihuahua, but left it and remained
behind when Carranza officers told
them that the train was certain to be
attacked and they had no chance to
reach the border. The train crew OBJ
jected to leaving and were only. in
duced to make the trip upon receiving
$40 gold collected by the passengers.
Attack Expected
Other passengers were of the
opinion that the town would surrender
to Villa after a brief resistance, as
practically the entire civilian popula-
tion and many of the soldiers are be-
lieved to be Villa sympathizers.
Villas attack on Chihuahua City
was not unexpected by the Carranza
garrison, Mexican officials here said to-
day as Villa had publicly announced
both at Parral and Santa Rosalia that
his next action would be to take
Chihuahua and then to drive the Am
erican expedition out of Mexico. 1t
was because of military movements
tending to give substance to these
threats, according to officials, that
General Trevino remained on the de-
fenstve in Chihuahua City after an
nouncing a week ago his departure
for the field.
Villas boldness in assaulting an al
most equal force protected by we'll
made entrenchments is ascribed in
Juarez to a common belief that
Trevino was short of small ammuni-
ton. 1t is thought here that Trevino
allowed this impression to spread so
as to insure it's reaching Villa, while
in fact he had sufficient for all
emergencies.
Withdraws Forces i'm Defeat
A large number of Mexicans resid-
last night because of disquieting
rumors there. One was that Villa had
captured Chihuahua and the Juarez
garrison in consequence intended to
revolt and join him.
Villa withdrew his surviving forces
in defeat from Chihuahua City at 6:15
p. m. after a battle of seven hours
during which he made fruitless at
tempts to carry General Trevino's pro-
tecting works by assault, according to
reports from Juarez. General Trevino
repulsed a fourth mass attack and
drove the bandits from their tempor-
airy intrenchments, with heavy losses
The de facto troops are now pursuing
the bandits toward the south.
Fought All Day
Villa began his attack at IL o'clock
from the south. General Trevino an
swered the attack of the Villa bandits
with an artillery bombardment from
Santa Rosalia Hills and other forti-
fed positions south and southwest OF
Chihuahua City.
Leading 1000 men Villa approached
the city from the south. Three hours
after the attack began the wires tC
Juarez had not been cut.
At last reports General Trevinc
commanded 5000 men and twenty
heavy guns, both seventy-five and
eighty millimeters. The hills to the
north and east of the city were forti.
| fed and had gun emplacements. Other
earthworks and trenches extended
around the city and barbed wire en-.
tanglements had been placed in posi-
| ton.
At 1880 p. m. (mountain time) the
noise of bursting shells and discharg.
ing field pieces was said to be deafen-
| ing.
After two hours fighting the Willis
tas had penetrated Into the heart o.
| Chihuahua City in hand-to-hand fight
| ing. Artillery positions southwest o.
the city were stopped and taken ant
the pieces put out of commission b,
the bandits.
| Officials at Chihuahua City kept il
constant telephone communication
with General Gonzales, Carranzists
commander at Juarez.
At o'clock Consul General Andre,
Garcia declared that three attacks hac
been made by Villa. The field wa
covered with dead and dying men, on
message stated.
A sortie by Carranza cavalry, sup
ported by artillery, resulted in the cap
ture of many Villa prisoners, VIII,
were without ammunition and hat
| gone since morning without food o.
water, another message declared