Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-31
Bandit Chieftain Loses 500
Prisoners and $50 Killed,
According to Carranza Re-
port,
ARTILLERY DEFEATS
DESPERATE ASSAILANTS
General MUrguia, With Defen-
Sive Force Twice as Large
as Enemy, Is Fearful of An
other Assault,
ts~ MOANING JousnAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE,


chihuahua City, March S0.-Fran-
cisco villa at the head of cavalry
force of $500 men, made n determined
attempt today to capture Chihuahua
City. but was driven back with the
loss of 500 prisoners and $50 killed
and wounded.
The attack, which had been eX-
pected by the garrison forces, was
launched at $3.50 o'clock this morning
in the direction of Quinta Carolina,
north of the city, and spread rapidly
to the Santo Nino railway station, the
storehouses of the Pierce Oil COM
pany and the abandoned city Ceme-
terry. 1t was then the battery on San
to Rosa hill, the key to the city which
Villa took by a rush in his successful
attack of last November, opened up
on the retels, aided by cleverly
placed battery at the central rail-
way station. Gen. f. Hernandez, by
executing a flank movement, broke
one end of the villa line and took 200
prisoners
Colonel Mora. entrenched in the
old cemetery, repulsed three charges
by the enemy troops. The Villa pris-
oners taken there raised the total to
500. Besides this, over 200 saddle
horses, three machine guns and a
quantity of arms were captured.
From an order of the day found on
a rebel prisoner, Villas expedition is
shown to- have numbered $500 men,
all cavalry, which was only half the
size of the defending Carranza forces,
whose losses in dead and wounded
amounted TO the comparatively small
number of I20 men,
The CarranZa officers here do not
assert that the victory was decisive,
although it caused the enemy to flee
in disorder.
Villa was reported to be in personal
command of the attack, but remained
at safe distance from the zone of
fire
Plenty of Ammunition.
The rebels were we'll provided with
ammunition but lacked food and
clothing and suffered on the battle
field from need of water, as all of the
the year.
Gen. Francisco Murguia kept up a
constant personal inspection of the
lines and outposts in his motor car
during the battle, and is now taking
attempt against the city.
All saloons and stores were closed
today and the sale of liquor forbidden
on the penalty of death. Good order
has been maintained throughout.
Among the Villa prisoners was the
former constitutionalist general Mi
guel Saavedra, a native OF these parts,
who was hanged to a tree at the en-
trance of the Santo Nino bridge i'm
mediately after capture. The Carran-
"a authorities regret the death in ac-
tion of Col Antonio Gaxiola and Capt.
Roman Gonzalez. Colonel Maltos
was wounded.
The garrison officers all testify as
to the fury of the rebel attack, which
was broken only by the strength of
the fire returned. Much credit is CIV
en- to the artillery, which was COM
manded by Gen. II. Barros, aided by
Maj j. Coronado and Captain Sando-
val
Knowing Villas determination, as
he captured the city the last time af-
ter an apparently heavy defeat. every
precaution is observed tonight by out
posts and patrols.
The passenger train which left for
Juarez this morning was called back.
Telegraphic communication with the
border was also out of commission for
some time, but was restored tonight.