The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-14
PEOPLE IN PANIC.
Residents of Douglas Hourly
Expecting a Battle.
Fear Results if Federals Attack
Aqua Prieta.
SITUATION AT JUAREZ
Mexicans Sending Families to
American Side.
ONLY One Railroad into Mexico
Now Open.
SITUATION AT JUAREz


another battle across the line at I3tsn nsu''
I1rieta which may result more ulsae us-
trousIy to. American non h-coIhO sTI1rs[,
than the one of yesterday. -Iie',
hundred rebels are in full poSseeslol i!
of Apua Prieta today and the port -
closed The Mexican federal tfoOPS
are believed TO be approacmnS St,
T11.ieta from the south bringing WIN
them machine guns for an d9s"ui'
upon the city.
Washington. April 14-With the Gus
toms house at Aqua Prleta III lii0
hands of the revolutionists ana Juare|
seriously threatened, a new SITUATION %
,resen+ed to the state department III
volving the delicate question reIatlIls
to recognition of the revolutlonlsts. NO
word in regard to the battle OF Aqua
Prieta had vet reached the state de-
partment. Officials, however, were deep
lv interested in the press reports show
ing the rebels in control but in ap-
sence of official confirmation declined
to comment upon the course the United
states will take in dealing with the new
phase of the situation. -
Three thousand revolutionists, out
numbering the federal defenders OF thc
town by four to one, are WITHIN -FOUR
hours TndrCl Oh y ue14 H. e1NNDt
telegram received by the state depart
ment today from American Consul Eu-
wards at Juarez.
The rebels are in control of railroads,
rolling stock and telegraph lines. The
authorities of Juarez are preparing for
an attack and many Mexicans are
sending their families to the American
side.
Expect More Trouble.
Further serious trouble at Aqua
Prieta, Mexico, endangering the liVes or
Americans in the mining camps IN that
vicinity is threatened, according TO an
unofficial telegram received by the WaT
department today. This dispatch, which
came from a citizen of Douglas, whose
name is withheld by the department,
has been laid before the president. No
official report had reached the war de-
partment early today.
According to the unothcial telegram,
$50 revolutionists were pitted against
go federals in yesterdays battle at
Aqua Prieta, the engagement lasting
two hours. Twelve rebels We're killed
and Is wounded. The federalS' loss
was seven killed and seven wounded.
General Wood. chief of staff of the
army has called on the commander OF
the department of Colorado who is now
at Fort Huachuda, Ariz., for detail
ed report on the situation at Aqua
Prieta and Douglas. General Wood to-
day stated that the American soldiers
patrolling the Mexican border have
specific instruction not to cross into
Mexican territory. The action of the
American officers, however, in taking
messages from Mexican federals on the
American side to their comrades, across
the line asking that they surrender
would not be regarded as a violation
of the instructions. The situation at
Aqua Prieta and Douglas, which are
practically one town, has been set
for several weeks according to reports
received by the war department. The
federals have been fortifying Aqua
Prieta, and some of the defenses are
not ten feet from the dividing line.
The situation has not been without
its ludicrous side. Frequently while the
federal soldiers were engaged in con-
structing trenches south of the bound
arv a gang of rebel sympathiZers on
the American side would hoot and jeer
the defenders of Diaz. Between these
opposing elements the American SOL
diers and police patrolled the border
line. always with a watchful eye as
to the possibility Of clash on Ameri-
Madero Will See Son.
San Antonio. April 14.-Francisco
Madero, father of the insurrectO lead
err accom- panied by his son Alfonzo
Madero and Rafael Hernandez, left
cific for Eagle Pass, where they will
cross the border and board a special
car awaiting them on the Mexican In
ternational to take them to Chihuahua
City. At that place they will meet the
insurrecto leader and discuss peace
terms.
They go to chihuahua City in an
unofficial capacity to ascertain wheth-
er Francisco Madero will not treat
with the Mexican government on more
reasonable terms than he had hereto
fore indicated. Hernandez, who ac-
companies the party, will in a semi
official way represent the Mexican gov
ernent
Only One Road left.
Eagle Pass. Tex, April 14.-The
Laredo gateway is now the only rail
road open from the United States to
the interior of Mexico rebels having
cut off communication south of Ciudad
Profirio Diaz by burning six railroad
bridges. This is the first serious dis
turbance in the state of Coahuila.
This news reached here with the
report that the trains on the Mexican
international out of Ciudad Porfirio
f1iaz are not operating farther than
Monclova. The bridge at Castano. the
first station beyond Monclova. was de-
stroyed, also t1Ye other bridges beyond
The coal supply of inter- Mexico NAV
be affected by this Gripping of the
line, as large coal fields lie north Of
Monclova, including the Esperanzas
mine. The water supply of Monclova
was cut off by the destruction of the
Castano waterworks plant.
National Troops Approaching.
Douglas. April 1.-THE number oi
national troops reported to be nearing
Aqua Prieta is said to be about 900
The force, however. may be much
larger. as more than 1900 federaIs nm
der Colonel Ojeda are stationed al
Cananea and the vicinity immediateiv
70 the southwark 1t is certain tbr
Mexican government will rush all avail.
able troops to this section of Sonora :,
the relief of Aqua Prieta.
The feeling among Americans on tbis