Omaha daily bee., 1916-11-27
TIDE Tl!n.,,G TO
W., ATTACKS
From the NORTH
Cutting of Telegraph Wires to
Border Indicates Bandit Is
to Strike From This
Side.
SAFE FROM HEAVY GUNS
Carranza Officials at Juarez
Say Rumor Capital Has
Fallen Untrue.
SIEGE IS STILL CONTINUING

SIEGE IS STILL CONTINUING
Ell Paso, Tex, Nov. 26.-High army
officers here tonight declared their
belief that indications were that the
tide of battle at Chihuahua City was
turning in favor of Villa and his
forces after he had been defeated and
driven off repeatedly during the past
two days.
The fact that the telegraph line is
cut is considered significant by these
army officers, who are closely watch
ing developments in Mexico. This,
they say, indicates Villas force is
north of the capital and far removed
from the artillery on Santa Rosa
hill, and other eminences. The side
having the greatest supply of ammu-
milton will win, one officer declared
tonight.
Still Holds City.
Juarez, Mex, Nov. 26.-Rumbling
of cannon reported to the telegraph
operator at Sauz station by refugees
and relayed to General Gonzales at
military headquarters here convinced
the civil and military authorities that
General Trevino, Carranza command
er, still held Chihuahua City last night
at the close of the three days siege
by Villa and his bandits.
Aside from this information the
commanding officers in Juarez was as
much in the dark as to the days de-
velopments in the state capital as the
Americans on the border. The fed
eral telegraph line which runs into
the military headquarters at Juarez
has been silent since 10 this morn
ing when communication with Chi
huahua City was interrupted soon af-
ter Trevino sent a personal message
to Mrs. Trevino assuring her of his
safety.
The telegraph line is in operation
from Juarez to Sauz, the first station
north of the capital, but Carranza Of
ficials said it had been cut between
that station and Chihuahua City.
Villa North of City.
The station agent at Sauz was or
dered by General Gonzales to send a
runner into the city tonight and as
certain the Developments of the day
and to report tlem over the military
line upon return of the courier. The
suspension of wire communication
with Chihuahua City is considered by
Carranza military authorities to in
dicate that Villa has moved around
to the north and northeast of the
city and is attacking from that side
in the hope of avoiding the curtain
of fire which the Carranza artillery
has been pouring into the ranks Of
the bandits.
Americans familiar with the topog-
raphy of the city, say Villa will be
able to make his way into the city
proper from the north without en-
countering artillery fire. This part of
the city is said to be less strongly
fortified than the south, east and
west.
Becomes General Attack.
Before the telegraph line was cut
brief reports of the third days bat
tie for possession of chihuahua City
received here, told of the preliminary
skirmishing just before dawn, which
developed into general attack at
4:30 o'clock
The battle opened with the rife
flashes of the artillery men in the
first line trenches. The machine guns,
mounted on elevations protecting the
main roads to the city took up the
refrain soon after daybreak and the
heavy artillery on Santa Rosa hill
added its rumblings to the symphony
at sunrise. The assault became a gen.
eral one at 7 o'clock with the bandits
attacking from all sides, according to
the dispatches received here. A re-
pulse of Villa was reported soon after
9 o'clock after which nothing of the
battle was received until the tele-
graph line was cut.
Deny Rumor Is True.
When informed of a rumor in El
Pasom that Chihuahua City had fallen
before Villas attacks, Andres Garcia,
inspector general of consulates, said:
There has been absolutely nothing
received here to indicate such an
event. and we control the only avail
able source of information. From our
knowledge of the defenses of Chihua-
hua City and of General Trevino's re-
sources in men and arms, we do not
feel any uneasiness."