Omaha daily bee., 1912-10-22
Conditions in the Southern Republic
Said to Be Growing Serious.
REBEL LEADER CLOSE TO CAPITOL
Diaz with a Large Force in Very
Outskirts Of Vera Cruz.
PROTECTION FOR FOREIGNERS
United states May Get into the Con-
trOversy when the Mail Steamer
Siguranca Attempts to Dis
charge Its Cargo.

WASHINGTON, Oct. H.--official In
terest here today centered upon the sit
uation In Mexica, where the rebellion
which has been in progress for months
has taken on a new and formidable
phase as the result Of General Felix
Diaz
The return to Washington of Secretary
Knox from his Japanese trip, the pres.
ence here of Henry Lane Wilson, am
bassador to Mexico. and interesting and
important developments In the military
situation at Vera Cruz within the last
two days. were elements that served TO
concentrate attention on the Mexican
| trouble. '
Secretary Knox was accompanied from
Chicago to Washington by Mr.. Wilson
and he found himself upon his arriva'
here this morning we'll informed Of al
save the very latest developments. Prob.
ably in consequence, the conference
which was expected to take place be-
tween Secretary Knox and Ambassador
Wilson was deferred for time. How
ever, the ambassador probably will have
an opportunity to discuss the situation
and receive any suggestion that may be
thought necessary for his guidance In
the confidential talk with Secretary
Knox before the latter leaves Washing
ton tomorrow night to join President
Taft at Beverly.
| The one fact that appears clearly to-
day Is that, although the Ambassador
has conferred at length with Acting Sec
retary Adee and the officials of the State
department who are charged particularly
with the conduct of Mexican relations,
nothing he has communicated has In
fluenced the officials to change in any
respect the clearly defined policy of non
Intervention In Mexico. This Is quite
true, even In the face Of semi-officiaI
admissions that the revolutionary
movement In Mexico has assumed
much more serious aspect than ever be-
fore and that a coalition between the
rebel leader zapata, who for the last
year has maintained formidable re-
bellion almost within sight of the MeXl-
can capital and General Felix Diaz, re-
puted TO be supported by the powerful
scientifico party that might jeopardize
the very existence Of the Madero gov
ernment. So far, however. 1t cannot De
established that these leaders have
agreed TO make common cause.
The military situation at Vera Cruz ae'
cording to the last reports to the depart
ment. was extremely interesting. Though
there was promise Of an important, ano
perhaps decisive battle between the repei
| Diaz forces and the considerable army
that General Beltran has assembled under
the government standard on the outskirts
of the city, 1t was confidently expected
that the important foreign interests IN
Vera Cruz would escape jeopardy ana
loss OF the lives of the noncombatants
be averted by an agreement between the
two commanders to do their fighting out
side of the city limits.
General Beltran has said that he would
personally do all he could In conformity
with orders from his government to cap
ture the town to protect It from destruc-
ton. Furthermore, he told the foreign
consuls that he would transmit to his
government their request to refrain from
bombarding the town or fighting in Its
streets.
For his part General Diaz, who is IN
complete possession Of the city proper,
offered to the consuls all possible guar
antees to life and property so long as he
maintained control With the leaders on
both sides In this frame of mind, the
consuls felt reassured.
According to today's reports everything
in Vera Cruz is unusually quiet and
orderly and is likely to remain so un-
less the federal gunboats start to bonn
bard the city. General Beltrans forces
were about ten miles from town.
A possible element Of trouble is the
issue Of a decree by the government Of
ficer in charge of the gunboats, declaring
the port Of Vera Cruz closed Indirectly
this may drag the United States navy
into the affair, as the American mail
ship Siguranca has appeared III the har-
Dor and is there to discharge the cargo
II the federal naval commander persists
in regarding the port as closed and re-
fuses to permit the ship to unload, the
situation would exactly parallel that in
Rio harbor nearly twenty years ago, when
the American navy broke a rebel block
ado