The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
BIG REBEL Army
NEARS BORDER
Carranzistas Are Advancing
Toward Devastated Nuevo
Laredo.
MEXICANS SWIM RIVER
MEXICANS SWIM RIVER
Made Homeless Paupers by Vandals.
Hundred Appeal to Americans
for Shelter.
Special to The Washington Herald.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Laredo. Tex. April 25.-Claming that
he wGs acting under the authority Of the
constitutionalist government Of Mexico.
Melquiades Garcia. accompanied by five
Carranzista sympathizers. today went to
Nuevo Laredo. which was yesterday
afternoon evacuated and burned by the
Mexican federals and proclaimed him
self commander of the town.
simultaneously with this action Garcia
ordered the international bridge on the
Mexican side closed until quiet and order
could he restored. II was announced
that a big rebel army which Is encamped
some miles down the river from Nuevo
Laredo would arrive there tomorrow TO
establish headquarters. The Mexican
fcderals who evacuted Nuevo Laredo
Yesterday are reI orted stranded eight
miles southwest Of that place. two of
their locomotives having broken down.
messenger sent to Nuevo Laredo 10
secure a machinist TO repair the engines
was arrested and will be held a prisoner
by tho constltutlonGlists.
Five Mexican federal soldiers were
killed and 1T least a dozen wounded by
American soldiers when the United States
troops returned the volleys fired by
Huerta's men as they evacuated NueVo
Laredo yesterday afternoon. after firing
the town and blowing up the American
consulate. the municipal building. and
the custom-hoUse.
Swim Across River.
This news was brought here today Ly
fugitives from the Mexican town who
swan the Rio Grande and appealed TO
Americans fo- shelter.
Nuevo Laredo was only smoking heap
Of ruins when dawn came today. Most
OF the buildings there, with the eXcep
ton of adobe structures outside of the
business section of the town. were De-
stroyed by the flames Fully $50 are
homeless. and they are coming to tEr
American side in droves as fast as the
United States patrol on the border will
pass them over the bridge. which the
federals tried to blow up before they
departed.
The American military authorities and
municipal officials Of Laredo have united
in furnishing shelter to the hundreds of
Mexicans who came into the city. All
would have gone hungry but for the food
given them by the soldiers and citizens.
Trouble Believed Ended.
No further trouble is expected at this
point The federals are believed to be
on their way to SaltiIIO. Nevertheless.
a double guard will be kept on duty night
and day at the international bridge here
after Laredo is one of the points at
which American troops will enter Mexico
II it Is invaded from the north. and the
destruction OF the bridge would greatly
hamper the troops movements.
Mayor McComb closed the Office of the
Mexican newspaper FL DUrado Del Bravo
this afternoon because II. had printed IN
article intended to incite the MeXicans
against Americans.
Douglas. Ariz., April 25-Two hundred
and siXty-five Americans are bottled up
at Cananea, Sonora--with riotinG Mexi-
cans in control of the situation. Many
left there yesterday on 4 special train
ordered by Charles Montague the Amer
lean consular agent but today he was
informed that no more cars were avail
able.
An appeal was teieSraphed to Naco
asking that 100 rifles be sent to Cananea
at once. This was forwarded TO the
War Department at Washington
1t IL reported that the Mexicsns have
attacked the buildings of the American
Mining Company at Cananea.
In Ruma mia fherA Il hut ora trada nm