The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-18

been stationed in the woods several
miles away, swept down and engaged
federal troops from the rear.
Federals said that more than 200
men were killed.
RcvolutionistS reported they cap
tured seven trains, 1900 prisoners and
several airplancs. Last night and
carly today rebel soldiers began ar
irving in Torreon with prisoners
taken in the engagement. General
Jose Gonzalo Escobar, rebel COM
mander- chief, ordered that they
be disarmcd. quartcrcd III temporary
barracks and shown every consider
alton possible" No executions were
reported.
The aerial attacks OH Torreon were
the first III revolution in Mexico.
During the bombing of Torreon Mex
leo saw its first aerial conquest in
revolution. In 1923 airplanes were
used for observation purposes during
Adolfo de IA Huerta's revolt
Planes Deal Dc:.th
Two federal planes appeared over
the city Saturday an! Sunday, lcav-
ing in their shell torn wake fright
ened civilian population. four known
dead and en- unknown number Of
wounded In Saturdays bombing, two
persons, one of them a woman. were
injured fatally. In the second raid
a nine year old boy was killed and All
unidentified man injured
When the federal plane appeared
over the city Sunday to repeat the
raid of the day before in an attempt
to blow up and wreck the train of the
rebel chieftain Escobar, the citizens
scurried to cellars and every avail
able place of safety The looming Of
the federal ships. the Gathering burst
ing bombs, the rat-a-tat-tat OF revolu-
tionary machine gunners as they
trained on the death dealing planes,
led citizens to believe that several
squadrons of air forces were over the
city Business on the main streets
Of the city was suspended and only
soldiers could Re seen
To Captain Antonio .Cardenas OF
the rebel forces goes half the credit
of the first aerial battle in Mexico's
voluminous revolutionary history, 1t Is
reported
Mexico City, March 18.-(P-Gen-
eral Plutarco Elias Gales. federal
generalissimo. notified Emilio Portes
Gil today that he was moving to at
tack Torreon in force and expected to
occupy the city by tomorrow night.
The generals message to the presi-
dent said the rebels must either fight
or surrender now, since a small force
operating north of Torrcon yesterday
succeeded in burning bridges. and
tearing up rails for a distance Of 10
miles near Escalon.
His army-cstimated here to con-
tain 10000 men-would be divided
into four columns for the attack
General Gales said.
Should the rebel forces seek to
withdraw to Chihuahua. damage done
In two places to the rail line between
tho two cities probably would delay
them until repairs could be made.
Aviator Destroys Rails
This damage to the rail line was
inflicted by General Carlos Terrazas
with band of 20 men. and Licuten-
ant Colonel Roberto Ficrro, aviator
who alightcd near q bridge near Pc.
ronal, north of Torreon, and burned
1t. General Tcrraza5 reported r,linol
encounter with rebels at Asunzola
who retrcatcd north to Escalon, be.
tween Jimenez and Torreon, while III
burned bridges and pulled up som'
rails over distance Of about 10 miles
Government reports Of fighting
were vague and In conflict with pre-
vious optimistic bulletins to the ef
feet that the rebel retreat from Tor
reon had already begun. They were il
conflict. too. With news dispatches re
ceived here relating rebel claims Q
= victory east Of their stronghold
The government announcement sal
that q column Of federal troops I'm
der General serrato attacked til
rebel forces at San Pedro de las Ca
lonias. east Of Torreon. the rebels, ap
parently surprised at their sudden ap
peararco. withdrawing from the cit.
Called Pitched Battles
The encounters were described 9
pitched battles" No mention we
made Of losses, either rebel or fed
eral. The announcement characterize
the attack on Benayides as "ridicu
lcus.
/. The aviator, Roberto Fierro, it VI
said. would make another flight mort
az T0rreon today and attempt to bur
other bridges. This policy bore prom
iae ~ afxlan0 IN hnkf1iy,U I'm ti.a ,,aIa