The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-01-26
GUATEalALAs ANSWER.
Its Tone is Evasfve and Negative
and BeIligerent.

AN Is 1LVaSlNS negative
and BeIlfgerent.
Mexico City, Mex, Jan. 25.-The Of
1cial communication of Guatemala. to
the demands of Mexico over the threat
eIGng international boundary dispute
was delivered to the national palace
this morning. 1t came in on the Vera
Cruz railway mail train last night, hav-
ing been forwarded from Coatzacoalcos
10 Vera Cruz by a boat in waiting.
Foreign Secretary Mariscal was en-
gagged today in making a careful read
ing of the reply, which is very volum-
dnous and covers many pages of closely
written matter. Its contents nave not
as yet been made known even to the
president and members Of the cabinet,
The document will be placed at the
meeting OF thu cabinet today. 1t is gen
orally understood that the purport of
Guatemala'S reply is the same as indi-
Gated in the dispatch received from
Mexican Minister Godoy at the time it
was delivered to him by the Guate-
nalan government. its tone is eyasive
and negative, and the foreign depart
ment said that the declaration OF Mex
aco's position may be expected inside Of
T3ur or five days, by which time the
reply Of Guatemala will have been. con-
sidered in all its bearings. While not
showing any heat over the reply of
Guatemala the Mexican authorities
hold as hrru as ever 10 their position
ana II Is very generally understood that
early next week an ultimatum will be
sent to Guatemala. by the corvette Ear
agOSa, which will at once declare war
on that republic unless it accents the
demands OF Mexico in every particular
In any event the Zaragosa, it is eX-
pected, will bear a note to Minister Co
doy, fnstructing him to request his
passports from Guatemala, Should its
answer be negative he will be protected
ana landed on Mexican soil by the cor
vette, which win then be detailed for
the transportation of troops and NUM-
tons OF war.
All Activity.
The war department in this capital is
all activity. The entire forces are
working over hours and an unusual
spirit Of life and animation, is seen on
every fand. The number of troops al
ready on the frontier is $4,000 and sew
eral br1gadeS are in readiness To he
rushed to the front at a DAYS notice
Throughout the republic the same ac-
t1VTues are noted and there is no douh4
that Mexico could put 80. 900 men on the
Guatemalan frontier within a. weak or
ten days, should occasion require. The
general health and equipment of thA
IheAIGdH troops ROW in the south ara
very good, and reports from the prob
able seat of war are that the soldiers
and officers are in high spirits and
anxious to push forward at command
Considerable feeling is manifested in
the city on account Of the visit to the
national arm factory by a. member of
the Guatemalan legation in companv
with the Italian minister. The parties
appeared at the factory without IRE
Y1ouSly announcing their intention. Be
ing without instructions, the comman-
der of the factory telephoned to head
quarters for information. The repjv
was that under existing circumstances
IL would be fnconvenient that the dip1o-
mats be given admission, and while the
commander was profuse in his apolo-
gies the visitors had to go away as ig-
nCrant as ever.
TRIAL practice has been given the
range cannon as reformed by Seniors
Mondragon and Perez, two officers from
the Mexican army. The Improvements
are noticeable and materially affect the
rapidity of fire, accuracy and general
effectiveness Of the cannon now in use
in the army