Evening star., 1914-12-28
WLLAARMY BEGINS
BATTLE TUXPAM
Concentrates Attack on Sea-
port Near Tampico, on
East Coast.
CARRANZISTAS DECLARE
GUTIERREZ HAS RESIGNED
Also Assert That Villa Forces Are
Evacuating City of Mexico.
Lorente's Statement.


is in progress today. according to ad-
vices to the State Department.
Resignation of Provisional President
Gutierrez and evacuation of Mexico
City by the Villa forces is reported in
a statement given out by the Carranza
agency here today. based on dispatches
to the Carranza agents in Galveston.
The statement given out here follows:
Semi official reports here, although
not confirmed, say that, due to lack OF
communications. the Villa forces are
evacuating Mexico City.
1t is believed they are doing this on
account of the crying need of forces
in the north to save lines of conmuni-
cation and to prevent Torreon, Chi
huahua and Juarez from being cap
in battle outside of the capital with
Carranza's army of 100000 men lying
between here and Mexico City.
Says Gutierrez F1opped to Carranza.
"Eulalio Gutierrez. through a COM
mission, has authorized Antonio l..
Villareal, as president of the now ex-
tinct Aguascalientes convention. to ac-
cept his resignation as provisional
president and to notify Carranza that
his services will be the orders Of the
first chief.
THE whereabouts of Gutierrez are
now not definitely known. ,',n but it Is be- d
San Luis Potosi. This action on the
part of Gutierrez. which is being fol-
lowed by many of his. subordinates, Is
thought to account in part also for
Villas hurried concentration in the
north.
TT was officially reported to the War
Department that half of the Torreon
garrison, which is enveloped by loyal
forces, has revolted against Villa and
is fighting the other half in the name
of Carranza."
Villa-Zapata Friction.
Reports issued earlier today by the
Carranza agency here saying that Gen.
Guoierrez had resigned and left Mex
leo City were contradicted by dis
patcbcs to the State Department. from
the Brazilian inististee>at Mexico City,
who yesterday had d conference there
with Gutierrez.
The general situation as reelected in
o..,cial dispatches was viewed as not
encouraging. Friction is
regarded as apparent between the Ia
pata. element and the Ciutierre2-Villa
faction. which thus far. however. has
not resulted in any serious break.
The chief trouble seems to have
and punishment Of former federals.
Gutierrez and Villa have been in favor
OF suspending the executions and Civ
ing some federals au opportunity to
join their cause. Zapata. now at Cuer-
navaca. is represented as opposed to
that, as is Gen. Palafox. minister of the
interior i'll the Gutierrez cabinet and
chief spokesman for Iapata:
Compromise Suggested.
\ compromise is being suggested
whereby former federals will be given
fair trials. They also woulG be pro-
hibited from joining the Gutierrez
Villa army. The American government
has found that both Gutierrez and Villa
look with favor Oh its suggestion for
q general amnesty for political offend
ers, but that the Zapata element seems
opposed to it.
The situation is expected to develop
further at the national convention call
ed for January / in Mexico City. wheu
d new provisional president will be
chosen.
Only meager advices are in the pos
session of the state Department as to
the military activity of the Carranza
forces, but latest dispatches say the
Ia pata forces have advanced to Sole
dad, near Vera Cruz. and in co-opera-
ton with Villa forces operating in the
vicinity of Tuxpam are driving the
CarranZa troops to the southeastern
portion of Mexico.
Adyices from Consul Canada today
said Tomas Rraniff, who went from
Washington with credentials from Fa-
"a e1 Iubafan Cdpinany to discuss meas
ures of peace with CarranZa. has been
at Vera Cruz. lie had hecu
taken into custody on his arrival, but
was once released on preSsntations
from Consul Canada.
Denounces Mexico Dispatches. :.
Enrique c. Llorepte, confidential
a gent of the provisional government of
Mexico, today stated that he Was much
surprised to read in the ilewspa pera
of this morning dispatches from Mexi-
CO City attributing to Gen. Villa GER
tain statements crlticising Leon Ca
nova. special agent of the State De-
pa rtInent in connection with the Itur-
bide affair.
..Such dispatches" said Mr. Llcrente.
are absolutely false, as Gen. Villa is
oyally supporting President Gutierrez
in every way, especially in compelling
Obedience to the law and decrces of
the government.
ITO say that Gen. Villa has shown
my disrespect for safe conduc. given
% ex-Gov. Iturbide. if one Was issued,
Dy President Gutierrez, is ridiculous, as
he former would he the first to employ
very force at Ills command TO see tllat
is terms were complied with. Some ir-
and uniformed subordi-
IA tes may have been overzealous, as
s often the case, but Gen. Villa is con-
;istently sustaining the provisional
yovernme mt. as official reports from the
Of the United States at
Mexico City will prove when they reach
lere."
Reported Acceptance of Scott's Plan.
Secretary Bryan received word un-
last night that the plan pro-
posed by Brig. Gen. Hugh L. Scott,
chief of staff Of the United States
Army, for the prevention of firing into
American territory along the Mexican
,order had been agreed upon by all fac |
ions. !
Enrique c. Llorente, Washington |
Lgent of the Gutierrez government. of
which Gen. Maytorena at Naco is a |
was advised that the latter |
lad accepted the plan suggested by |
len. Scott. 1t provides that Gen. Hill !
# the Carranza forces should abandon |
Saco and be permitted to go unmolest- |
ID to Aqua Prieta, already held by a |
,ortion of his troops. Gen. Maytorena,
Who has withdrawn his forces south
ward from Naco. will agree not to oc-
upy Naco, Sonora, which would thence
orth become absolutely neutral.
AS Maytorena already holds Nogales, |
CONTINUED on Second Page.)