IN MEXICO BATTLE AT TORREON

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 71, 25 March 1914, Page 7

IN MEXICO BATTLE AT TORREON

FURIOUS CANNONADING GENERAL VILLA ACTIVE. (By Telegraph.— Press Association.— Copyright.) (TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES.) MEXICO CITY, 24th March. It is reported that General Villa is driving the Federals back upon Torreon. [It was reported that Villa had invested Torreon, a Federal stronghold, with 12,000 troops, and that the Federals there, with 9000 men, were preparing to give battle.] MEXICO CITY. 24th MarcTf? The Tori-eon battle has begun. Villa has captured an outside position. Furious cannonading is proceeding. The whole of the surrounding country i* protected with wire entanglements. Villa reports the capture of 300 prisoners. ' BENTON'S DEATH. WASHINGTON, 24th March. Mr. C. A. S. Perceval (British Consul at Galveston, Texas) further reports that_ Mi\ Benton disregarded the advice of his wife and friends and visited Villa unarmed. A scuffle, occurred in Villa's office and perfect quiet followed. The body was later removed. The Consul infers that Mr. Benton was stabbed, not stating who was the stabber, but it is thought likely that it was one of Villa's officers. ATTEMPT TO CHECK VILLA. HEAVY~LOSSES. HOSPITALS FULL OF WOUNDED. (Received March 25, 1.15 p.m.) TORREON, 24th March. General Villa, with twelve thousand troops, fought .a. bloody battle in the neighbourhood of Gomez Palacio, a village near here. "Velasco, the Federal commander, in an attempt to check Villa's march, left Torreon and gave battle". After a fierce engagement, in which there were "heavy losses, Velasco retreated, leaving villages afire, alter a -heavy artillery duel. The hospitals are full of wounded. Torreon is still holding out.