New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-03-18

yides an even better natural defense
than Torreon.
A decisive clash was expected by
The government as federal detach-
ment reported the destruction of an
important bridge on the railroad
from Torreon north to chihuahua.
cutting off the only avenue OF es-
cape by rail for the rebels should
they meet defeat.
Troop activity in northern Sonora
indicated that the rebels were tax
ing PRECAUTIONS against an anticl-
mated federal attack from Baja. Cal
itornia which is loyal to the govern
ment.
Torreon. Coahuila, Mexico. March
IS R-Nictorious in their first
skirmish with federal troops adNanc-
ing on the city. but fearing farther
air raids. which already have taken
their toll, revolutionary forces pre-
pared today to defend the city on all
sides
Troops which rebels claimed rout-
ed two federal columns yesterday at
San Pedro, less than fifty miles east
of here, we're being massed on two
railroad lines to stop the govern
ment forces. One line was from
Canitas on the south and other from
Durango on the southwest.
The San Pedro battle followed
weekend air raids on Torrcon by d
government squadron that resulted
in injury and death to several per-
sons, ono aviator vas brought down
by rebel guns.
The revoutionaries. anticipating
another aerial attack, kept sharp
lookut for the planes. Citizens, IN
a state Of excitement, by reason OF
the bombings slept little last night.
expecting momentarly the long
awaited battle.
General Ru3l Madcro led the
rebels in their victory at San Pedro.
The rebels said they attacked the
federal columns under Generals
Juan Andru Almazan and Eulogio
Ortiz as thew approached the city
on two separate railroad lines.
The main body Of rebels attacked
from the front while 1900 cavalry
men and 500 infantrymen. who had
been stationed in the woods several
miles away. swept down and cngag-
cd federal troops from the rear.
Federals said that more than 200
mon were killed.
Rev olutionaries reported that they
captured seven trains. 1900 prison.
ers and "se,eral'' airplanos. Last
night and carly today rebel soldiers
began arriving in Torrcon with
prisoners captured In the engage
mot. Genera. Jose Gonzalo Esco
bar, rebel commander in chief or
dered that they he disarncd. quar-
tered in temporary barracks and
shown every consideration posi-
BILE No executions we're reported.
The aerial attacks on Torrcon
we're the first in revolution in
Mexico.
Two federal planes appeared over
the city Saturday and Sunday. loav-
ing in their shell town wake. a
frightened civilian population, four
known dead and an unknown num-
Der OF wounded In Saturdays bomb
ing. Two persons. ono of them Wo-
man. we're injured fatally. In tn"
second raid nine year old boy vas
killed and an unidentified man in
Jurcd.
When the federal plane appeared
over the city Sunday to repeat the
raid Of the day before in an at
tempt to blow up and wreck the
train OF the rebel chicftain l.scobar.
/ the citizens scurried to cells and
every available place of safety. The
roaring Of the federal ships, the
Gathering bursting bombs, the rata
/ tat-tat OF revolutionary 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 vas sus
pended and soldiers could be seen.
/ Mexico City. March Is tP-Gencr-
al Plutarco Elias Callies. fcderll
generalissimo. notified Presiden,
Portes Gil today that he was NOV :
| ing to attack Torreon in force ana
expected to occupy the city by to-
morrow night.
/ Heavy fighting east Of Torreon has
J failed to dislodge rebel forces undo,
General Jose Gonzalo Escobar VIII
are holding that city.
Far from following the tactics
which have prevailed thus far in the
rebellion against the Portes Gil gov
eminent the rebels attacked AMI
provoked attack themselves.
They have not. government report,
indicated. retreated from Torreon TO-
ward Chihuahua. and in fact may y.
more strongly entrcnched in the city
and its suburbs than ever.
Should the situation change an,
the rebels seek to withdraw to Chi.
hauahua damage done in two places
to the rail line between the two cit,
les probably would delay them unit
repairs could be made.
This damage was done by Gener
/ a Carlos Terra pas with a band Of -
men and the aviator, Lieutenan
Colonel Roberto Fierro. who alight
ed adjacent to a bridge near Peronai
north OF Torreon and burned il
Terrazas reported minor encoun
ter at AsunzoIa with rebels, who -
treated north TO Escalon. betweer
Jimenez and Torreon. while ne burn
I'd bridges and pulled up some rail
over a distance OF about ten miles
Government reports Of flghtin,
were vague and in conflict with pre-
eious optimistic bulletins TO the "f
feet that the rebel retreat from Tor
reon had already begun. They wcr'
! IL, nanHinf fno I, rlnua diam liz.