Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-23
COMMUNICATION
ABOUT RESTORED
Northwestern Mexico Now
Has Advantage of Wire
and Rail Service
CHIHUAHUA is IN
DIRECT LINE AGAIN
Federal Forces Are Victors
in Scrimmages at Topic
and Mazatlan

Hermisillo, Sonora. Mex, Dec. o.
Communication by rail and wire have
been practically restored throughout
northwest Mexico, according to an an
nouncement made today by Ignacio
Bonillas, secretary of communications,
in General Carranza's provisional cab
met. This Is assisting materially the
constitutionalist campaign by putting
the various insurgent leaders in close
touch with the general headquarters
here
Telegraph lines have been restored
in the states Of Sinaloa, Sonora Chi
huahua and Durango, which comprise
q section In northwestern Mexico
about 500 miles long and about 500
miles wide. In this territory the fed
erals hold only the coast towns of
Guaymas, on the gulf of California and
Matazlan on the Pacific coast.-Gon-
stitutionalist officials assert that only
the presence Of two federal gunboats
on the coast has prevented the capture
CT these ports. Secretary BOnillas an
nounced that within a few days tele-
graphic communication will be restor-
ed between Nogales of the Arizona
Sonora border and Juarez, on the
Texas-Chihuahua border, by way OF
Torreon, 700 miles south Of the inter.
national line
Already the border telegraph lires
between Hermosillo and Chihua;,un
City have been put In working order
General Carranza&rcceiyed from his
home at Saltillo. Cohuilla. news chat
This three sisters Ursuetel Hermilda
and Mariana De Carranza had been
forced to ride upon federal troop
train. This followed previous reports
that federals had compelled the wives
of constitutionalist officers to ride o.
patrol trains to prevent attacks by
surgents in that vicinity. Friends OF
the constitutic"" list commander con-
firmed the report that his Saltillo resi-
dence had been sacked by the federals,
who carried away furniture and car
pets and either DESTROYED or appro.
priated library of 5000 volumes VI
Federais Successful
Mexico City, Dec. 22.--F,deral sue.
cess at Tepic and Mazatlan, on the
Pacific coast Of Mexico. are reported in
official advices received here today.
The rebels are said to have been
severely punished in a fight with the
federal troops eight miles from Tepic,
the capital Of the territory Of the same
name, while the federal forces which
had been besieged at Mazatlan for
many weeks are said to have assumed
the aggressive and to be forcing the
rebels back toward Culiacan. capital Of
the state Of Sinaloa.
Watch For Mercado.
Presidio, Texas, DEC. 22.-United
States troops patrollirg the border
were watching today for General Sal.
vadcre Mercado, depored commander
Of the Mexican federal troops who was
reported to have crossed over to the
American side from Ojanaga. possibly
with a view of making his way to
Mexico City. It was not believed Mer-
cado would be arrested should he be
found in this country as he was said to
he travelling as a civilian.
General Francisco Castro who sue
ceeds Mercado, did not cross the river
from here, until he had paved the way
through a series Of conferences with
General Pascual OroZco, through inter-
mediaries. His having been here was
unknown until he had crossed