Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-13
CONFERENCE HELD
NEAR BORDER LINE
Belief Becomes General That
Negotiations With the
Dictator Are Off

tiano Carranza and the entire
Mexican constitutional cabinet.
Washington, D. c., Nov 12.-Confer-
ences now being held between Will
liam Bayard Hale and General Ven
ustiano Carranza at Nogales are in
terpreted in official circles here as the
first open move by the United States
government to show its newest move
ment in Mexico.
No officials commented today on Mr.
Hale's exact status but on a previous
occasion, when he spent three months
in Mexico City gathering information
President Wilson let it be known that
Mr.. Hale was there as his personal
friend Hale transmitted reports, how
ever, and took part in conferences with
John Lind.
Little doubt exists in diplomatic
circles that while Mr., Hale still re-
tains the character of unofficial envoy
he is furnishing the Washington gov
eminent with information for official
purposes,
1t was pointed out by some obsery-,
ers that Mr.. Hale's conferences were
mot necessarilsssa fcrerunner Of recog-
nition but might be an important fac
tor in determining the further attitude
of the Washington government toward
the constitutionalists.
Mr.. Hale probably will report on the
personal characteristics of General
Carranza, whether he has the united
support Of all constitutionalists or
revolutionists and whether, If success
full by arms, he would establish pro-
visional government that would guar
antee a fair and free election. There
is possibility that the information
he gathers may be useful to the state
department in it's exchanges with for
eign diplomats here. The diplomatic
corps in Mexico City is said to be at
a disadvantage In making reports on
the constitutionalists asits only source
of information there is the, Huerta
government.
There were no announcements here
today as to further steps in the Amer
ican policy. News of the arrival at
Nogales of Mr. Hale gave rise to tho
suggestion that the Washington gov
ernment was waiting for more infor.
nation about the constitutionalists be-
fore proceeding.
Federals Want Aid.
Mexico City. Nov. 12-The federal
garrison at the post of Tuxpam in the
state of Vera Cruz has asked the war
department for reinforcements to de-
fend the city against the attack being
made by strong force of rebels COM
manded by Candido Aguilar. The gar
rison numbers only ESQ men. The war
department replied that the reinforce
ments were unavailable.
Last nights dispatches from Vera
Cruz quoted Arthur G. Payne, the
American consul at Tuxpam as esti-
mating the attacking force at 1000
men. There are twenty-six Ameri-
cans in the town, all of whom were re-
ported safe up to yesterday afternoon.
The United States battleship Louis
lana and the gunboat Wheeling are at
anchor in Tuxpam harbor which sis
145 miles northwest of Vera Cruz.
FederaIs' Massacred.
A band Of rebels on Saturday 1nAs.
sacred five federal Off 1cers andnine
soldiers at Muznuize in the sfate of
Coahuila. The fourteen men@ fought
until their last cartridge was fired.
Then they were overpowered and
killed.
The little detachment of federals
under the command Of Major Gum
jardo had been left to garrison the
town, which has 5000 inhabitants.
When the rebels attacked them the
federal soldiers, although they had no
hope of victory ignored the offer of
the rebel commander to spare their
lives and decided to fight to the end.
They kept up the struggle for "a
hours. Federal reinforcements ar
rived today from the city of Porfirio
Diaz and drove off the rebels. The
bodies of the gallant troops of de-
tenders were found riddled with bull
let's
Quiet at Tuxpam.
Rear Admiral Roush on the battle
ship Louisiana at Tuxpam reported to
the navy department today that there
was no immediate need of protection
to American property in that vicinity,
he has assured Consul Payne that the
Louisiana will afford asylum for Amer
leans and other foreigners. For the
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