New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-24
Town Surrounded on Three
Sides by Flower OF
Mexican Army.
10000 MORE u. S.
SOLDIERS NEEDED
One-Third of Enemy Is
Cavalry Armed with
Latest Weapons.
VILLA AND ZAPATA
MEN LEND THEIR AID
Evidence Accumulates, According
to Reports, All Are Uniting
Against Americans.
IBy Telegraph to The Tribune.


IBy Telegraph to The Tribune
Galveston, Tex, May 23.-Surrounded
on three sides by more than liVn
Mexican troops. at least one-third on
which is cavalry, the situation OF
Brigadier General Frederick Funston
and the American army at Vera CRUZ
imperatively demands reinforcements
Of at least 10000 men to be able to
cope with the enemy as it is now in
trenchet, in the environs Of the Mexican
port.
This statement is made as the result
OF an investigation by man who has
lust returned here from Vera Cruz and
who had unusual opportunities to
gather information in that Mexican
port. He describes the conditions and
situation there in the following way:
At Jalapa is the flower Of the Mexi-
can Federal army. 5000 men under
General Rubio Navarette. next to
produced since Porfirio Diaz. With
Navarrette is an artillery force consist
ing Of sixteen batteries of three-pound-
ers five batteries Of five-pounders and
four or five heavier guns. which, with
fine disregard for history, are being
mounted at Cerro Gordo, the hill
whereon SO many hundreds OF Mexicans
met death when they opposed General
Scott in 1S48
In addition to this artillery. Navar-
cite has sixty three machine guns, OF
the latest French type, and Bret rifles.
Permanent intrenchments have been
thrown up at Jalapa, at Cerr0 Gordo
and at other points along the Inter-
oceanic railroad which, according to
common report, is to be used as base
by the American troops in case they
advance into Mexico City.
In Command Of Indians.
A little north of Jalapa, at Paso del
Macho. a narrow, tortuous. easily held
rift in the mountain wall, is General
Garcia Pena, in supreme command or
all the Huerta forces in the State OF
Vera Cruz Pena recently succeeded
General Gustavo Mas, who evacuated
Vera cruz before the landing of Amer
lean marines.
With him are two thousand Federals.
made up of tried and trusted men, most
Of them Oaxacan Indians, Of the state
whence came Porilrio Diaz. soldiers
whose LOYALTY to the government has
been above question in oil the revolts
which have swept Mexico in the past
four years.
Following the line around 10 the
north and east toward the coast one
comes upon the little station OF Tem-
bladeras, on the Mexican railway.
There Is located Candelario FugaSte.
formerly a lieutenant Of the dreaded
Emillano Zapata, southern rebel
leader. Just back Of Tembladeras, SD
as TO be we'll out of sight and hearing
of the American posts there, are en-
camped 1000 rebel cavalry, the best of
the horde OF 10000 fighters which IA
pata's four years in the field have pro-
duced.
Huertas Best Fighters.
These men have no artillery. They
form probably the best fighting force
Of all Huertas Vera Cruz army, aud
they are greater in number than all
tho mounted men the United States
could put into that section Of Mexico
in several weeks.
Turning abruptly to the east, toward
the Gulf coast, about seven miles north
Of Vera Cruz, is the celebrated bandiS
rebel leader, Rafael Ruiz, with nearly
2,OOo men. mostly infantry drawn from
Villas army in the State OF Tamauli-
pas. Thus, while Zapata and Villa
have been protesting TO the United
States that they would give no aid ID
the dictator, some Of their armed
forces have Joined Huerta's commands
in Vera Cruz, until they have cont
pIeted the chain OF troops surrounding
American held territory.
There remains still another post. AL
most due south of Vera Cruz. at TEAR.
the waterworks which supply the port
city. is Lieutenant Borrega with 800
men. mostly composed OF the celebrated
rurales, a cavalry force which for
bravery, activity and loyalty compares
favorably with the Northwest Mounted
Police.
Linking these heavier posts all the
way round Vera Cruz are the nominal
outposts OF the Mexicans placed face
to face with the American outposts.
often only few yards from them. In
these Mexican outposts appear only
few ragged pson soldiers. always fewer