File No. 812.00/20157
Vice Consul Blocker to the Secretary of State
[Telegram]
Eagle Pass,
December 27, 1916, 6 p.m.
A report considered reliable received this evening states Torreon garrison falling back along Coahuila and Pacific Railway towards Saltillo and are now at Parral [Parras], while reinforcements sent to their relief are at Hipolito on Central Railroad which runs parallel to Coahuila and Pacific. Both commands are destroying track as they retreat. General Salazar seems to be in command of Villa troops and apparently has demoralized Government troops to extent they are destroying track from fear being followed.
Blocker