Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-12-11
GUTIERREZ HEEDS
PROTEST OF j. S.
Orders Goo. Maytorena to Con-
fine Fire at NacO Within
Mexican Borders.
GEN. PALAFAX EXPLAINS
LOOTING OF HILL RANCH
Zapatista Seeking Reparation-Dr.
Julio Villareal Arrested on
Reaching Vera Cruz.

his forces at Naco, to aVO1u operations
! altogether if he cannot conf1ne MS Hre
| within Mexican borders. Consul SILL
| man at Mexico City reported the pro-
| yisional presidents action today, when
undoubtedIy was in response to yes
terdav's urgent representations from
Washington.
1t is understood that practically All
of the bullets and shells that nave
come across the American line nave
been fired by Maytorenas 1aqu III
dams at the Carranza garrison OF zen.
| Benjamin Hill in Naco.
The manager of the Tehuantepec
railroad. an English corp"ratloh, mas
Carranza whereby the constitutionallsts
take charge of the railroad, according
to today's official advices.
DR. Julio Nillareal general secretary
of the Mexican Red Cross, Ras peet ar
rested upon his arrival at Vera Cruz
from Europe.
Looting of Hill Ranch Explained.
The zapatista Gen. Palafax has I'M
dertaken to obtain PREPARATION for the
lootinc of the ranch of Hill, the Amer
lean, near Mexico City.
Consul Cen Hanna, at Monterey, mas
notified the State Department tnat ne
will be glad to undertake To distribute
to the best advantage any supplies
which may be sent by Americans in
San Antonio and elsewhere for the re-
lief of the large number OF distressed
persons in the neighborhood OF MOL
terey The consul general also mas uh-
dertaken to approach the Mexican au-
thorities in the effort to obtain exemp-
ton FROM duty and free railroad trans
portation for the supplies.
Cen Bliss reported to the war De-
partment by wire his ARRIVAL al Naco'
Ariz He is still acting under the gen
eraI instructions which were sent 10
him some time ago for the government
of the American forces on the border
Both Sides Warned.
In the most emphatic and threaten
ing expression from the Washington
government since the diplomatic cor
respondence with Gen. Huerta whnch
preceded the occupation of vera Cru~'
identical warning was sent 10 the
chiefs of the two factions opposing
each other at Naco, across from the
ARIZONA town of that name. that firing
across the international line must
cease. r.
Although the messages which were
10 he conveyed by American Consul
Silliman to Gen Gutierrez at Mexico
CITY. left here late Wednesday nlgnt,
they did not reach their DESTINATIONS
until yesterday.
The peremptory tone OF the co ninlunmi
cations did not become generailY
known until last night. although the
sending of three batteries of heid ar
tillery to Naco was explained pre-! ~, .
| ly by high officials as meaning tnat inc
Mexican forces would be shelled out OF
| their positions and driven several miles
from the border line if the firing into
the United States continued.
Text of Warning.
The messages to Gems. Carranza ana
Gutierrez pointed out that several
Americans had died of wounds received
from bullets which were fired from
Mexican territory and that the United
States had appealed in vain to Gems.
Maytorena and Hill. commanding the
rival forces at Naco, to SO regulate
their fire as to prevent repetition ol
such occurrences.
Having failed to impress Hill ana
Maytorena the Washington govern
ment stated that ii must naturally turn
10 the respective chiefs to whom the
contending generals are supposed to
owe allegiance. asking that they be
warned Immediately against 1urther
violations of the rights of American
citizens to enjoy safety from attack
while on their own territory.
If the chiefs in de facto control can
not put an end to the reckless hrlng
by their subordinates the United States
government pointed out unequlNocaiiy
that its manifest duty, much to It's re-
pret will he to take such steps as
may he necessary to protect American
lives through the employment of
force.
Intends to Use Force.
The American government made it
clear incidentally that it intended to
use force, not for aggression but only
for defense and had no idea of invad-
ing Mexican territory or interfering
with the right of Mexican people to
settle their own disputes or violating
Mexican sovereignty in any way.
No time limit was set within which
the Mexican factions must comply with
the demands, but sufficient time Will
be allowed for both Carranza and Gu
tierrez to communicate fully to Gen.
Hill and Gen. Maytorena, respectively,
the seriousness Of the situation. In
the meantime, Brig. Gen. TaSker II.
Bliss lately named assistant chief of
staff of the United States Army, is in
personal charge of the situation at
Naco with three batteries of field ar
tiIiery having range of five six
miles. and eleven troops of cavalry.
The general expectation here is that
il will not be necessary to use force
to compel the MeXicans to cease their
fire as il is understood proposals al
ready are being exchanged between
| Maytorena and Hill, through American
army officers at Naco, whereby the two
contending columns are to retire to a
fixed distance from the border. thus
creating virtually neutral zone.
! AS difficulties have arisen at other
points along the border through the
conflict of the Mexican factions. the
Naco AFFAIR will constitute a precedent
by which the Washington government
| intends to act in the future.
Conditions in Mexico.
! Official dispatches telling Of general
conditions in Mexico We're summarized
by the State Department last night in
| the following statement:
| a telegram dated December 9. from
the departments representative at
| Mexico City states that the city is
quiet; Zapata and Villa are still there.
New Conventionalist officials have
been announced for the national rail-
ways, but apparently no steps have
yet been taken to deliver the lines to
| the company.
"A telegram from Vera Cruz. dated
| December 10, am. states that COM
| munication with Mexico City is inter-
| rupted.
| The department is informed that
Special Agent Carothers, who has been
| unable to attend to his official duties
| for several days on account of illness,
| is rapidly regaining his health.