The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-01-26
GUITEAIL4'S EEPLf 10 MkAiCO.
1t Has Been Received. But Its Nature -
acknowledgement for War.


CITY OF MEXICO, Jan. 25.-The ar
rival of Guatemalas reply TO MeXicos
final demand has caused considerable
war fever throughout this district. AS
yet. however, nobody outside the Foreign
Office has seen the reply. RumOrs OF
every sort are afioat, most OF them 10
the effect that the Guatemalan Govern
ment covets once more the old ground,
seeking at once to evade the issue and
secure delay Ignac.o Mariscal, Minister
OF Foreign Affairs. would say nothing or
tire document to-day. except that II was
enormously long and would be laid before
the Cabinet meeting tomorrow. y state
ment is expected from the Government
soon after this meeting, although Senior
Mariscal declined to say that II would
be made. The war scare has taken pos
session of almost everybody, foreign and
native Most of the foreign ministers mere
are said to have informed their govern
ments that war is almost inevitable. The
Government is buying horses, and Is work
| ing its small arms night and day with
| double the usual number of men. Inc
manufacture of ammunition is pressed
| forward with equal haste.
| The Governor of this Federal district
has offered President DiaZ two battal-
ions to go TO the front the moment war
shall be declared. 1t is understood, how
ever that the Government does not intend
TO begin the war on land. The first hos
tile step. If Guatemala still refuses to
WELD Will be to blockade her ports. For
eigners here express some doubt as TO the
effectiveness of such a blockade, since the
Mexican navy is but half a dozen small
| craft, manned by hardly 800 seamen and
Officers
No information as to the Mexican
Guatemalan difficulty could be obtained
from any trustworthy source this even.
ing The ministers and ministerial news.
papers are entirely non-committal The
situation may not BE altered by decisive
action in the Cabinet tomorrow. 1t is
expected, however. that on Monday. at
the latest. the Government will declare
itself.
MEXICO PREPARING FOR WAR.
ST. LOUIS, Jan. 25.-A City of Mexico
special to the Globe-Democrat says: The
war Department in this capital is all ac
tivity. The entire Offices force are work
ing over hours, and an unusual spirit of
life and general animation is seen on
every side.
The number of troops already on the
frontier is 1900; and several brig
AIDES are in readiness to be pushed &c
the front a a days notice. Throughout
the Republic the same activity is noted
put 5000 men on the Guatemalan from
tier within at week or ten days, should
occasion demand. The general health
and equipment of the Mexican troops now
in the South are very good, and reports
from the probable seat of war are that
the soldiers and oincers are in high spirits
and al Xious TO push forward at the COM
mand from headquarters.
FOR GUATAMALAN INVASION.
1t was reported yesterday at Salina
Cruz, in the State of Oaxica, that arrange
ments are being quickly made by the
Mexican war authorities for the Guatema-
Ian invasion. as soon hostilities are
declared. The theory is that the armed
corvette Zaragosa. the gunooat Oaxaca.
and all the Mexican boats on the Pacific
coast VIII be employed in landing troops
at san Jose, Guatemala. or at some other
convenient point. Immediately on land
ing, the troops will be pushed with all
possible speed across the country towards
the capital. which lies only about fifty
miles from the coast, and where IN *
naturally expected the hard fighting will
occur At the same time the .Iexican
rural forces will be ready TO start for
various points on the border now occu-
pied by Mexican troops and cavalry
sweeping through the country like a whirl
wind. The rurals will aim to clear up
things as they so, and be on hand and
ready 10 cooperate with the sea forces by
the time they have arrived before the
city Of Guatemala. rhe artillery and 9TH
er heavy guns will be shipped by sea, and
as the Guatemalans will probably do all
in their power 10 prevent a landing of the
Mexican forces. IL is evident that the ar
tillery mounted on the Mexican ships and
that designed for besieg!ng service will
be Immediately brought into play. In
this event. as there are several good land
ing places along the Guatemalan coast,
there will be no difficulty in eluding OPP
position, should IL be shown at the regular
harbor. The Guatemalan forces are al
together too small 10 put up a good
fight at more than one or two points. and
so Mexico viii have probably little trou-
BILE In gaining land.
MB. CLEVELAND srGGHSTs ARBtTnaTIoN
CITY OF MEXICO, Jan. ga tele-
gram has been received at the Uniiel
States legation here. from Secretary
Gresham. expressing President C.eye-
lands hope that Mexico and Guatemala
OF settling the boundary dispute between
agree upon reference OF the ccltro-
versy 10 friendly arbitration. This mes
sage has been transmitted TO PIeJ.dent
Diaz.
Brilliant limiting Ball.
BALTIMORE. Ian. H-There was q