Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-14
FEDERAL SOLDIERS
At VERA CRUZ ON
MEXICAN GUNB0ATS
Three Vessels Crowded With
Troops Who Escaped at
Fall of Tampico.
UNDER PROTECTING GUNS
OF AMERICAN WARSHIPS
Huerta Now Hemmed In on All
Sides-Downfall Merely a
Question of Time.

Question of Time.
| VERA CRUZ, May 14.-Three Next
can gunboats crowded with federal SOL
! diers who escaped from Tampico yes
| terday when the last stronghold of Pro-
visional President Huerta on the east
erf seaboard of Mexico was taken
by the constitutionalist army, rode at
anchor today under the protecting guns
of Rear Admiral Mayo's squadron of
American warships off I'ampico. 1t is
| probable that among the federal officers
| on the Mexican warships is the COM
| mander whose refusal to comply with
Rear Admiral Mayo's demand for a
salute to the Stars and Stripes in repa-
| ration for an Insult to the American fla =
precipitated the American occupation of
| the port of Vera Cruz
| No further details We're obtainable here
tnis morning OF the taking of Tampico
by the constitutionalist forces.
| With the fall of Tampco the line of ad-
vance OF the constitutional forces toward
| the south has been drawn from coast to
| coast. and now embraces more than
| half the republic of Mexico observers
| here express the opinion that the taking
1 OF Tampico by the conStitu iona lists
| forms one Of the closing scenes of the
| dictatorship Of Gen. Nictoriano Huerta.
They believe that his downfall is a
question only of weeks and perhaps only
of days. while some are inclined to give
the dictator only a few hours before his
control in the federal capital ends in
possible riot and bloodshed. Even if he
maintains order in Mexico City they
think that Francisco Villas guns soon
will be laundering in the suburbs of the
capital, and Huerta fleeing with the rem
q Puehl3 m m e
last stand.
The loss of Tampico adds a chapter to
the tale of disaster to Gen. Huerta's
forces since Villa captured Juarez
Gen. Huerta is now hemmed in by the
constItutionalsts in the north while
his most important seaport is in the
hands of American troops and American
WarshlpS are watching both coasts to
see that no arms or ammunition may
reach his harried forces.
San Luis Potosi Besieged
According to the best information OBJ
tainable here Gen. Villa is besieging San
Luis Potosi. If that city mas not already
fallen into the hands of the constitu-
tionalists.
The last American refugees who ar
rived here from San Luis Potosi left
there with the sound of distant firing.
marking the end of a twenty-da truce
which accompanied the constitutional
lists demand for the evacuation of the
city.
The federal commando. Gen Joaquin
Mas evidently had refused the offer
that he might march out with his troops
and had begun hopeless battle against
heavy odds.
SaItillo. Monterey. Victoria ana Tampico
are now in the possession of the consti
tutionalsts and the whole of the sur
rounding territory has been swept clear
of federal troops.
The way is thus opened for the con-
| centration of the constitutionalists
from the eastern to the western coast
for their final march from San Luis
| Potosi on to the capital. ESQ miles to
the south. Gen. Huerta. therefore, is
fighting with his back TO wall that
offers little defense. for rumors every
where are current that Zapata and
possibly the FiGueroas. with their fol-
lowers viii combine with the VIC
torious constitutionaliSts and carry out
an assault on Mexico CITY from th.
south Gen. villa drives home his
attack from the north
Federal Forces Losing Steadily
The federal forces are being driven
! steadily to the south on to the capital
and there the foreign diplomats already
| have demanded that the battle for the
| possession of the city he fought in the
/ oaen and the capital not subjected to d
/ bombardment. Gen. Huerta is reported
| To have agreed to this request but with
| the stipulation that he might withdraw
| with his troops within the citys defenses
when defeat-W hich even he admits is
certain -overwhelms him in the field.
| In Mexico city itself revolt against
! Huerta's rule is seethins Constitution
! alist agents work openly with hand bills
| while their orators intame the citizens
against the dictator. 1t is common Cos
| sip there that the members of Gen
! Huerta's official family jealousy
! watching him for the first sign of weak
ness which would mean their ruin as
we'll his.
! The provisional president is believed
to be in constant danger Of assaSsina-
! ton. while the city is said to he liable
at any moment to an outbreak of an
tarchy. This is confirmed by the stories
| of many refugees arriving here.
| The anger displayed against Gen.
| Huerta by the citizens has recently
been increased by his action in send
| ing to the north To fight against Cen
! Villa those Of th" better element of
the citizens who enlisted in the army
1 to fight against the american troops
! after Vera Cruz had been occupied
/ Flasrantly false statements of what
happened at Vera cruz We're employed to
! induce these men To join the federal
army.
Planning Retreat to Puebla.
| These some Of the considerations
i which make officials and refugees be
lieve that the next act of the compli-
| Gated drama will he played i'll Mexico
| CITY within a few days. Because of the
! conditions in the capital they fully credit
the report that Gen. Huerta is stocking
/ puebla With food and preparing to re-
treat there.
1t is pointed out that If he should leave
the capital he also will give up all COM
| munication with the western coast eN-
cept by way of Santa Lucrecia and the
| Isthrnian railroad to Salina Cruz and
that he will be penned up in a few small
! states with Puerto Mexico as his only
| eastern outlet To the southwark Yucca
tan and other states have been practical
ly undisturbed during the past three
years of revolution and 1t is believed
| they will offer little support to the die
tators cause.
Against the tales Of the probable loot
ing OF the capital by the followers OF
Gen. Villa and Emiliano Zapata after
| its fall. many Americans here who are
deeply interested in the fate OF the
| capital base their hopes for civilized
procedure on the part of the constitu-
| tionalists on the reported influence
which has been won over Gen. Villa by
Gen. Felipe Angeles. the famous artil-
leryman since he Joined the cause OF
the constitutionalistS.