New-York tribune., 1913-09-15
Women and Children Among
the Refugees Captured
in Flight from
Mexico.
NO TROOPS SENT TO AID
Huerta Forces Claim That to
Act Would Only Imperil
the Prisoners Lives
De La Fuente
Resigns.
rBy Cablo 10 The TrIhune.1

Mexico CITY, sept. If.-lne American
Embassy has just received a telegram
from the consul at Saltillo to the effect
that il is rumored there that one hun
dred American refugees. including
women and children. who left Torreon
the other day. en- route to Saltillo, have
been captured by the rebels.
The federal military authorities hesi
tate TO send out troops to look for
them, as the rebels. if they have really
captured the Americans, might, if at
tackled by the government forces, do
violence 10 their prisoners, or the lat
ter might be wounded or killed in the
encounter.
Gsmboa says he has no official ad
vices on the subject, but IF the re-
port is true ii emphasizes the different
attitudes Of the government and the
rebels. for. whereas the former is try
Ing 10 suppress lawlessness and TO af-
ford every protection and guarantee of
safety 10 foreigners, including Ameri-
cans. the rebels do not hesitate to in
fict injury on them. This shows how
unworthy the rebels are of American
support.
Gamboa added that what had hap
pened 5as no more than might be eX-
pected as the result Of the neutrality
policy" Of the United States, which had
hsmpered IT, administration in pro-
ceeding with a strong hand against
rebels and bandits.
Troops Near the Rebels.
General Trucy Aubert. a federal COM
mander, with one thousand men, who
is proceeding from the rth TO the re-
lief Of TCrreon. passed Saltillo yester-
day. He is travelli over approXi-
mately the same route as the Ameri-
cans. and il is regarded as possible
that the rebels will disappear before
his advance. He is, however, making
slow progress.
The Americans are headed by Deputy
Consul General ]. c. Allen, of Mon
terey, who went 10 Torreon to notify
American residents there Of President
Wilson's warning 10 leave. They left
Torreon on September l, travelling by
the most available conveyances TO he
had across the plains in the direction
Of Saltillo, there having been no rail-
road communication for many weeks.
David de la Fuente, the Minister OF
Communications, has resigned. This
resignation has long been foreseen and
has no particular significance. De la
Fuente was supposed TO represent Vas
quez Gomez and his brothers. but was
unable TO bring them into the govern
ment fold.
An unconhrmed rumor is current
here that the Catholic party, whose
convention is 10 be held next week, will
declare Itself in favor Of the candida
ture Of Huerta. Unless the constitu
ton should be amended. this nomna
tion could only be regarded as an in
dorsement of Huerta in a general way.
since the constitution in the present
form prohibits Huerta from being a
candidate. as stated by Gamboa in his
second note.
On the other hand, Liberal members
of the Chamber OF Deputies expressed
themselves very strongly against any
alliance between the government and
the Catholic party.
Catholic Party Powerful.
The Catholics have the best politi-
cal organization Of all Mexico's mill
tant parties, and, in a fair. free
election. could carry every state in the
republic, except some northern states.
and perhaps the State of Vera Cruz
Vera Cruz, since the days of Juarez.
has been noted for its liberalism, and