New Britain herald., 1914-05-07
CARRANzA REPORTS
 GREAT VICTORIES Minister zubaan Claims Rebels Viii
 Soon Invest Mexico City. HAVE 40,O0o TROOPS IN FIELD

With Their Arrangements For
 Opening of Conference at Niagara,
 May IS.
 Washington, May 7.-Carranza's attitude toward mediation, which, temporarily, at least, has eliminated the constitutionalist chief from gen. eral negotia tions aimed at settlement of Mexico's ills, was declared to have been revealed by his official report of vigorous rebel military campaign marked by significant victories. His declination to submit his country's internal troubles to preliminaries of mediation was based in part, at least. on rebel successes in sweep ing southward movement, constitu- tionalist representatives said here to- day.
 While Carranza parleyed with the South American envoys over details of their proposals, three powerful forces were hurled against federal strongholds. Reports of the results of the movement Carranza transmitted to Rafael Zubaran, interior minister in the constitutionalist cabinet now in Washington. Summarized today they were:
 Several Towns Captured.
 Defeat of 3,600 federals at Pen azios, near San Luis Potosi. with the capture of 1900 prisoners and quan- titles of arms and ammunition.
 Capture of Acaponeta, Topic. 1,70O men surrendering. One million rounds of ammunition and quantities Of arms taken.
 Capture of field guns, artillery and ammunition from fleeing column that evacuated Monterey.
 The Carranza report did not outline to what extent his forces were op- were mentioned.
 After receipt of his chiefs report, Minister Zubaran was emphatic in q forecast that within the next month the rebel armies would be investing Huerta's capital. Villa with his vic- torious Torreon veterans 1t was be- lieved would strike next at Saltillo, and iYT@ the event Of a victory there. that he would hurl his forces at Tam- pico. Capture of that city would give
 
 unaffected by any limited embargo on importation of arms now enforced along the Rio Grande.
 10000 Troops in Field.
 Minister Zubaran today estimated that more than 10000 rebel troops were now in the field. Villa, he said, had 14,000 soldiers in north central Mexico: Gonzales 15,0O0 men threat ening Tampico. and Chregon 15,0OO troops operating on the west coast The rebel minister's outline of the dis position of Carranza's forces was aimed at dissipation of the general ideas in the United States that the rebel army consisted of mainly, Villa s forces in Chihuahua. He asserted that Zapata's rebels were co-operat- ing with the constitutionalists south of Mexico City.
 General belief was expressed that Carranza hoped to continue the cam. paign until the three powerful forces converged to hammer simultaneous ly at the gates of Mexico City. To what extent Huerta would be able to combat the proposed advance, and what possible effect 1t might have on mediation proceedings between the United States and the Mexican fed erals, was widely discussed here tG- day.
 Mexicans Favor Peace.
 An interesting sidelight on eventa at Tampico was shown today in the report of the American consul there transmitted to the navy department by Rear Admiral Mayo. "On May 1 the Mexican government announced through Gen. Zaragoza that an armis. tice had been agreed to by the fed. eral government and the United States and also by the constitutionalists." the report stated "The reason for the armistce was given out here aa on account of mediation. This news was received joyfully and even hope> fully by the general public, which appears to be in favor of peace ie secured with honor and dignity to tho Mexican government. The Ameri- cans and their money are sadly missed, and responsible persons would greatly favor peace arrangement which would permit the wheels of business to run again."
 From that report was supposed to have originated rumors that the fed erals and rebels had arranged sus- pension of hostilities about Tampico. Navy department advices today stated that heavy firing heard near Tampico Tuesday forenoon now had quieted Proceed With Arrangements. While the reports of Carranza's suc- cesses were discussed here today, the South American envoys went ahead with their arrangements for the be- ginning of the preliminaries of media- tion near the Canadian border May IS. With a retinue of secretaries they will leave Washington May IA. Huertas three representatives are eX- pected to reach Puerto Mexico from the federal capital on their way to