Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-18
FIGHT At TORREON
HA[TS PEACE TALK
Decisive Battle, 1t Is Believed.
May Pave Way for Armis-
tice in Mexico.
GOV. JOHNSON REQUESTS
MORE TROOPS ON BORDER
No Action on Bartholdt Resolution
Proposing Meeting of Factions
in Washington.


Political discussion regarding Mexico
gave way today in official circles 10 IN
terest In the fighting between the fcdcraIs
ana consututionalists near Torreon II
was generally accepted that it is no use
talking peace or discussing plans for
ending the revolution until this battle
is decided. 1t was also agreed that ir
one side or the other is decisively de-
feated at Torreon there will then be
good opportunity for considering peac.
plans.
Much of the interest of officials re-
garding the Torreon fight was centered
on Gen. Felipe Angeles, minister of war
in Gen. CarranZa's cabinet, who is in
command of the artillery of the consti-
tutionalists attacking Torreon. In case
anything should happen to Carranza
it is said by constitutionalists. Angeles
probably would be the man to succeed
him as the head of the revolution. Edu-
Gated in Paris and former head of the
Mexican Military School. he is said to
be a much more experienced military
expert than Villa.
Californians Ask More Troops.
NoN JoIlSo1 Oh IalIlornia mas asked
that additional troops be sent to south
ern California to protect the border
from Mexicans. Secretary Garrison
forwarded the request to Maj Gen. Ar
thur Murray. commanding the west
ern department of the army, and will
leave action to Gen. Murray's discre-
tion. Gov. Johnson's message was
follows:
Il am in receipt of numerous tele-
grams from the southern par; of our
state asking that i unite in requesting
you to place such garrison of federal
troops as you may deem appropriate
near the border for the protection Of
the lives and property of our people
who reside there. The appeals to me
have been such that l join in the re-
quest so made, and would respectfully
ask that you take such action as may
be necessary in the premises"
Search for Murderers.
The State Department was Informed to.
day that the governor Of Lower Califor-
mia has directed thorough search for
the murderers of Postmaster Johnston at
Tecate, Cal: Werner Wiedenbeck. a CLERK
in the office, who was badly wounded in
the encounter. asserts that the assailants
were three Mexicans, and that one Of
them was a man of the name of Gui-
terrez.
An American named. Dingfelder l.
reported to have resisted a raid on his
ranch in the Nogales district last week
and to have killed two of the Yaqui raid
ers. The raiders escaped, however, with
eight horses and mules
Overnight dispatches to the State De-
partment were summarized in this state
ment:
May Be Taken to Capital.
The release of Andrew Hamilton, who
was arrested with Byrd and Goldschmidt.
has been reported to the State Depart
ment. The two other men will. it Is
thought. be transferred to Mexico City. in
accordance with orders to federal Mex.
lean officers to send all foreigners ar.
rested on charges of furnishing aid 10
the rebels to the capital"
Railroad communication between Mon.
terey and Laredo. also to Mexico City,
is open. Trains run via Saltilo TO Ciudsd
Porfirio Diaz and to Torreon. Geographic
connection with the United States from
Monterey is via Eagle Pass or Vera Cruz
Monterey is reported quiet
Further destruction of railroad prop.
erty by the revolutionists at Monclova IL
reported, the station having been burned
as well as nine engines and 800 freight
cars loaded with cotton. ederals are
in possession of the city. In The fighting
at Monclova it is reported that three
stitutionalists and that two We're
killed.
No Further Peace Move.
There were no indica tons today that
any immediate action will come. from the
resolution introduced in the House yes
terday by Representative Bartholdt of
Missouri proposing a peace meeting Of
representatives of the various Mexican
factions in the Pan-American building
here. The House foreign affairs commit
tee was to have met today, but the meet
ing was postponed.
No word of the resolution has been sent
directly to Huerta or CarranZa by their
representatives here.
Plan With Britain Arranged.
Following a conference between Secre-
tary Bryan and Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the
British ambassador. it was announced
late yesterday that hereafter when the
British government has occasion to
make representations to the Mexican
constitutionalist authorities in Chihuahua
it will do SO through its vice consul al
Chihuahua City, or. when the incident oc-
ours at JuareZ, through the British con-
sui stationed at Ell Paso.
In other parts Of Mexico where the
British government has no consular Of
fcers Secretary Bryan has undertaken
to continue the practice OF having Amer-
can consuls look after British interests
as well as those of other foreign nations.
While It is explained that this involves
no change in policy, it was admitted that
it agrees with the suggestions contained
in the latest note received by Secretary
BRYAN from Gen. Carranza The other
pont made by the constitutionaist leader
was that American consuls in places
where Great Britain has no representative
NAV act for British subjects If properly
Expect No Further Differences.
Gen. Carranza is now on his way to
Chihuahua, and therefore it was expected
that there will be no further grounds for
differences of opinion as to how repre-
sentations about Englishmen shall be
made. This new step is not regarded as
recognition of the constitu-
tionalists 1t was pointed out that all
American consuls in Mexico occupy
similar position toward Huerta.
Mr. Perceval. the British consul VINO
has been at El Paso investigating the
Benton tragedy, will leave today for Gal
weston When the report OF the commis-
sion named by Gen. Carranza to investi-
gate this affair has been made il Xiu b