The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-03
IT WILL BEGIN
The Firm Rule Promised by
Huerta Government.
This Week to Witness It's
Formal Inauguration.
CONFERENCES WITH REBELS
Last Effort to Bring Them to
Terms.
Z. S. Soldiers Exchange Shots
With MeXicans.

MEXICO city, Mdrcn Sine nrIn dnO
energetic military rule promised by
the new Mexican government under
Provisional President Huerta probably
will be inaugurated this week. Huerta
has had eight days of conference with
the various rebel chiefs or with COM
missions sent by them.
The government is now disposed to
consider as irreconcilable all those
rebels who continue to delay definite
recognition of the new order of things.
The program of pacification will, it is
expected, be put to some severe tests.
A band of adherents of Zapata fired
on a federal train carrying troops
from the capital to Cuernavaca yester-
day and so soldiers were killed or
wounded Similar bands of Zapatistas
continue committing raids in the fed
eral district itself and in the state OF
More1os indicating that some noun
taineer rebels to the south of the cap
itaI are determined to keep up their
guerilla warfare despite the negotla-
tions between the government and the
brothers Zapata.
While the federal government ex-
presses itself as sanguine of success in
the northern states, a lack of harmony
between the various bands of rebels
in that region was developed on the
arrival here of representatives OF Oroz-
co and other chiefs.
Today and tomorrow are to be de-
voted to conferences between these
rebel representatives and the minis
ers of war and the interior.
Railroad service between the cap1-
tai and the north is still interrupted.
from the United States for L 5 days ex-
cept that brought by steamer to Vera
Cruz.
First Week Showed Improvement.
Mexico City, March 3.-The first
week of the Huerta administration has
seen notable improvement in the gen.
eral situation, but it is apparent that
many weeks must pass before complete
order is restored.
There is little doubt that the old
Orozco army will be mustered out or
incorporated in the regular establish
ment. But the rebels in the south,
the .Zapatistas, seem likely to
furnish this administration the same
problem they did the Madero admins
tration. A number of Zapatistas have
surrendered, but Emilfano Zapata
himself is still in the field and thou
sands of his men are continuing the
warfare, burning haciendas and raid
ing villages. They show little -1ncl1na-
ton to end the campaign merely be-
cause Madero is gone. Peace for them
means a return to work at half a peso
a day; fighting they consider more
profitable.
There is a more serious development
in the north, especially IN Coahulla'
where Venustiano CarranZa, the gov
ernor far from recognizing the Huerta
government, has grown stronger in his
opposition each day. Carranza is SAID
now to have about 1000 men. He
holds Saltillo, the state capital, as a
base.
Some miles to the west Alberto
Fuentes. governor of Aguas Calientes,
is in the hills at the head of a compar-
atiyeIys small number of men, cooper
ating with Carranza. The men these
two leaders have placed in the field
have taken the place of the OroZco
army. but their forces are not nearly
so formidable. Their position is not
strong.
In the north and in the south the
government troops are conceded to be
in control and it would appear that lit
tie time will elapse before the rebels
are forced to fight and of the outcome
the government is entirely optimistic
In the capital. intrigue is playing its
part There are rumorS OF plots ana
coups but there is little apprehension
on this account. as-the military and
nolice are being informed and are
watchful.
Firing Across the Border.
Ell Paso, March 3.-Four American
army officers walking on the American
line three miles from Douglas, are re-
ported to have been fired upon by forty
regular Mexican soldiers patrolling the
border out of Aqua Prieta, opposite
Douglas Sixteen of the negro troopers
of the Ninth rushed to the place of
the firing and spirited skirmish en-
sued.
The American soldiers were holding
their position at the international line
when reinforced by two troops of the
Ninth. The Mexicans were routed
leaving four killed and others strag-
Cling through the brush nursing their
wounds.
It is said that the American troops
became so excited that they over
stepped the boz dairy and pursued the
Mexicans some distance.
The fight caused great excitement at
Douglas, to which the telegraph lines
are not open today. The townspeople
armed them mselves and rushed to the
boundary. believing that the Mexican
United States. Within a few minutes
hundreds of citizens were at the place,
ready and armed. Cowboys came in
from nearby ranches.
General Wood Calls for Explanation.
Washington, March 3:-Although
Major General Wood, chief of staff
of the army, called upon the COM
manding officer at Douglas, Arizona,
for a full report on the alleged killing
of four Mexicans in a border fight
with Ninth cavalry troops, nothing had
been heard of the affair early today
Army officers reiterated their convic-
ton that if the American troopers
fired on Mexican forces it was in de-
Tense after an attack had been made
upon them.
Ovation for Diaz at the Bull Ring.
Mexico City, March 3.-GeneraI Felix
Diaz was accorded a great ovation Sun
day afternoon at the bull ring, the