Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-14
1000 ARE SEIZED
ON REBEL TRAINS
Aqua Prieta Authorities in
CIash-Return to Federal
Fold Uncertain.
Continued From First Pagc.l

Continued From First Pagel
lugation of Durango fought with small
rebel force about halfway between
Canitas and Durango City yesterday
and killed IA rebels and wounded about
! 40 others. Seven were taken prisoner
and executed.
Rebels Abandon Trains.
| Aviators scouting the advance from
! Saltillo to Torreon reported the fleeing
f! rebels had abandoned their trains for
/ lack of fuel, in one case turning over
| coaches and locomotive to block the
| track. Late Yesterday it. was said the
| retreat had become most disorderly and
| unorganlzed The rebels rear guard
was west of parras
Troops of Gen Andreu Almazan and
| Gen Eulogic Ortiz advanced toward
| Torreon from Saltillo and Monterey
along q northern route. capturing the
pueblo of Hipolito. The column of Gen.
| Saturino Cedillo followed the highway
| from SaltiIlo toward Torreon. thus max
ing better time than if 1t relied upon
the railroad, which was greatly DAM
aged in the rebel retreat.
From southeast of Zacatecas Gen.
Iazaro CardenaS led column toward
tho rebel stronghold Reports of his
detection To tho rebels were denied by
President rortes Gil. who said they were
rebel propa ganda designed 10 mialead
people and advance the interest of the
lost cause
One Direction for Retreat.
The strategy of the delay of Gen.
Gales in an immediate attack upon
Torreon is becoming evident as his CAM
paign advances. BY clearing up Du-
range and obtaining control Of the rail
head there and by obtaining control Of
the three rail lines between Saltillo,
Monterey and Torreon he has left the
rebels but one direction In which retreat
is possible-northward to Chihuahua.
Even should they choose to defend
Torreon, an encircling movement would
take this last avenue of retreat from
them. Their position has become that
of natural and artificial cul de sac,
from which extrication may be diff
cult.
Meanwhile there were other aspects
to the revolution. Gen. Gales ordered
the large force of federals which en-
gagged in the cleanup of Vera Cruz to
proceed to Irapuato, Guanajuato, to
join with militant agrarians there in
rebels who have menaced Western and
Central Mexico for the last two years.
This force also could prevent fanking
attack on the federals by the rebels.
who are now operating on the west
coast, should they decide to come in
land.
These west coast rebels. government
reports said. have been inactive for sew
eral days and are demoralized by the
recent string of federal victories. Their
retreat hes been in preparation. 1t is
said, for bolt In the direction of the
United States frontier when the revo-
luton finally collapses.
Portes Gil Confident.
In an interview President Emilio
portes Gil expressed the most complete
confidence that the revolution was prac-
tically over and that the last chance of
the rebels to win in the field had passed.
The President appeared almost care
free. seemed quite happy and smiled at
those about him.
Another government report said
that the families of Gen. Francisco
Man2o and former Gov. Alejo Bay of
Sonora had crossed over into the-
United States. and that other rebel
leaders were sending their families and
available. money to the United States
for safetys sake.
It was announced that direct railroad
service between Mexico City and Laredo
would be resumed today as an after
math Of the recapture of Saltillo. As
long as this city was held by the rebels
24-hour detour by way Of Tampico
was necessary.