The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-02-20
Huerta and Villa Agree to
Plan to Protect Non
cOmbatants
MAXIMO CASTILLO
NOW AT FORT BLISS
Bandit Denies Responsibility for the
Cnmbre Tunnel Tragedy-Attri-
butes Disaster to Fifty
Deserving Followers

| Washington. February 19.-Esta blish-
ment of neutral zone IN which non
combatants of Torreon and vicinity may
find safety when Mexican federals ard
constitutionalists clash in the next great
battle of the Mexican revolution was as
sured today when General Villa agreed
| to the plan.
General Huerta already had assented
with the stipulation that binding assur-
ances that the zone would be respected
| be obtained from the constitutionalists.
| This idea originated with the state de-
partment as the result of expressions OF
apprehension from foreign embassies and
| legations here for the safety of thcir
| citizens.
! General Hugh l.. Scott. at Fort Bliss.
was charged to lay the matter before
| General Villa, and he broached the sub
| 1eet yesterday in personal talk on the
| international border, which was followed
| up by a formal agreement today.
| incidentally it is understood that Gen.
eral Scott has been instrumental in ir-
f1uencing General Villa to adopt civilized
methods of warfare, and in advising hun
as to the proper method of treating
! prisoners of war and noncombatants.
The rebel leader is said to have shown
himself amenable to suggestions.
Location Found
| Considering the location of Torreon in
rough and hilly country, ii has. been
found that to obtain location of safe
ty for noncomba tants, it would be neces-
sary to remove them some distance from
the town. \ location has been found
at Tlahualilo, about four or five miles
from Torreon, and the site has been APP
proved by military experts. 1t is esti-
mated that at least "a hours time will be
| required to transfer inhabitants to this
place, but from the leisureiy manner in
which the campaign is developing it is
thought there will be ample notice of a
general engagement.
At the instance of the British embassy
the state department has interested it.
self in William Benton, the English
ranch owner and miner said to haN g
been imprisoned by General Villa fos
| making disrespectful remarks about him.
Instructions have been telegraphed to
American Consul Edwards at Juarez to
investigate the case and make proper
| representations to General Villa to OBJ
tain the release of Benton.
Castillo Interned
El Paso, Tex, February 19-AIaxi.no
Castillo, the alleged bandit, was brought
| day. He was placed in a cell next to that
| of his former friend, General Jose Ynez
| Salazar. Talking to reporters, Castillo
said he was guiltless of the Cumbre tun-
mel tragedy. Castillo said that 80 of his
adherents deserted him sometime ago
and that they might have been respon-
sible for the disaster The three men
and two women captured with Castillo
were taken TO the fort. where they were
placed in the prison camp.
Probably 200 persons were at the sta
tion waiting for the arrival of the prison :
ers. There was little wait before Cas-
tillo was taken from the car. United
States soldiers massed I'm front and be-
hind him and made their way through
the throng. There was no demonstra-
ton