Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-18
ViIIiStas Greatly Magnify In
pOrtanCe of Reverse SuS-
tanned by Carranza'S S North
ern Commander,
0BREG0N STILL LOYAL
TO FIRST CHIEFS CAUSE
1t Is Admitted That German
Influence Is Paramount in
War Department Head
quarters,


FL Paso, March 17.-Gen. Francisco
Murguia, the commander of the dc
facto forces of the north, suffered his
first important defeat in his cam
paign against Francisco Villa at Las
NieVes ranch in Durango, near the
Chihuahua-Dura line, late last
week. This fact was established to-
day after the receipt of many unCon-
firmed reports and rumors and after
Villa propaganda stories have been
circ rculated here, magnifying Villas
victory into slaughter of the Car
rama troops. it was admitted In
Juarez today that Villa had been sue
cessful against Murgma's troops south
of Parral and it was admitted that
Villa temporarily held Parral Magis-
tral and possibly Jimenez and Santa
RoSalia.
General Murgua lost approximate
ly 1900 men in killed, wounded and
missing at the battle of Rosario, ac-
Cording to foreign refugee who ar
rived here tonight from Chihuahua
City. Murguia also lost six cannon,
fifteen machine guns and large guam
titles Of stores and ammunition, ac-
Cording to this man.
llI CllSb lNPbl Ntt NAltl NiiNlt ma
entered Parral Tuesday, he ordered
two Germans and seven SYrians exc
cuted on charges of aiding the gov
ernment troops.
This foreigner also confirmed the
capture of Jimenez.
Villa Employs Trick.
The Carranza troops, according to
his account, were led by u subordinate
in the absence of the corps command
er, General Murguia, in Chihuahua,
City. They came into contact With
Villas main band at Stallforth, about
ten miles north of Rosario, last Sat.
urday Villa pretended to suffer de-
feat and retreated to Rosario. The
government troops followed and en-
camped that night a few miles above
the town. Led into a false sense OF
security by Villas feigned defeat, the
government soldiers were lying
around their camp Sunday morning
when they were caught completely off
their guard by a surprise attack by
Villa on all sides. The men on foot
were practically all killed, wounded or
captured by Villa. The cavalry, how
ever, managed to escape. But the en-
tire number of survivors did not nor
exceed 500 out of the 1000 engaged.
They worked their way north from
the Durango border on the railway to
Parral, followed the line on its east
ward turn to Jimenez. then northward
on the Mexico Central. Villa fol-
lowed at least as far as Jimenez.
Chihuahua Alarmed.
The same authority said that the
Carranza authorities in Chihuahua
City were evidently making ready for
emergencies, as coal and other sup
plies were being loaded on freight
trains to pull out if necessary.
Villa bands were also reported to
be menacing the railway between Chi
huahua and Juarez.
The people of Chihuahua City, the
foreigner concluded, are expecting
General Obregon to take over the
government before Carranza has well
begun his new term.
A statement by Carranza Consul
Eduardo Soriano Bravo, issued to-
night, denied the charge that Gem
eral Obregon was leading new po-
litical movement in Mexico and an
nounced that he would continue to
serve in the Carranza provisional cab
met until May /, when Carranza
would be inaugurated president and
would appoint his new cabinet. This,
the consul said, was proof positive
that Obregon's loyalty to the govern
ment was unquestionel by General
CarranZa. Villa partisans here today.
while giving credence to the rumor
of an Obregon- -Carranza break, deny
that Villa has any part in the new
movement, adding that Villa and OBJ
regon are such bitter enemies they
would never join the same movement.
The German question, which has been
limited at in connection with these
took definite form today when
it was said General Obregon was
known to be friendly with the Ger
mans in Mexico City, who have had
access to his office at all times while
he hnS hnnn mini St n1. Of uunr