The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-04-24
VILLA SAYS HE
WILL NOT FIGHT
-
lead of Rebel Army Declares
Y That He Intends to
Mind His Own
Business.
|ALONG THE BORDER
El Paso Rumor Which Excited the
City Yesterday, Was Found
to be Entirely
Groundless.
ALONG THE BORDER

limited Press Leased Wire Service.]
Ell PASO, Texas. April 24.-Excite-
ment yesterday, born Of baseless ru-
mors that General Francis Villas
rebel troops had attacked or would
attack FL Paso, was surrounded by
calmness today. The presence in
Juarez of villa himself is responsible
for the changed feeling and the secret
of the hold he has on his followers
has been partially explained to Amer
leans. He has the faculty of impress
ing men with the belief he will do
whatever he promises. The moment
late Thursday, Villa told newspaper
men there would be no war between
the United States and the constitu-
tionalists. People on this side of the
Rio Grande Immediately dismissed the
sensational war rumors as ground
less and resumed their business.
Nevertheless the United States gov
ernment is evidently taking no
chances It is reported here .hat
sBrigadier General Pershing and his
brigade from Sar Francisco have been
ordered here and will arrive Sunday.
Villa says he will remain in Juarez
until the excitement abates. probably
in week or ten days, when he will
return to Torreon and resume his
campaign for possession Of towns in
that district still held by Huerta
troops.
Villa brought with him General
Felipe Angeles. commanding the reb-
ell artillery division and secretary OF
war in General Venustiano Carranza's
cabinet. General Lorribio Ortega,
one Of Villas principal commanders.
also arrived. He says he came for
treatment of wound received at the
battle Of Torreon. The generals
were escorted by fifteen instead of
10000 men as reported by sensation
alists yesterday.
A special train carrying $50 Amer
lean refugees from Chihuahua. Parral
and Torreon, reached Juarez early
today. The refugees crossed immed-
lately TO the American side. Arrange
ments have been made by customs
authorities to clear baggage as soon
as DOSSlDl6. ailHouSH oSNCl al ICi-
ugees left voluntarily, others asserted
that Marion +. Letcher. L. S. consul.
at Chihuahua, had instructed them to
leave. Some declared they intended
to return in a few days. Conditions
In Chihuahua, Parral and Torreon are
quiet and nothing IN the way Of an
anti-American outbreak has been
threatened. Before Carranza's letter
to President Wilson was published in
the Mexican press, or circulated in
the various cities of northern Mexico.
H. was modified in language. in an eff
fort to prevent the infiaming of Mex
ican minds.
Some refugees said they had 1t on
reliable authority that General Car
rama and General Villa were on the
verge of a break on account Of Car
ranzas attitude toward the United
States government. Villa, they said,
had refused to recognize Carranza's
request that American marines be
withdrawn from Mexican soil.
Appeals from the Border.
AUSTIN, Texas, April 24.-Gover-
nor Colquitt and A6jutant General
Hutchings are ."onferring this morn
ing on the advisability Of ordering
ont more militia in addition to the
two Houston companies ordered to
Brownsville last night. The governor
Is still receiving mum 9rous appeals
from border points for adequate pro-
taction from the Mexican clement.
500 Mexican Federals.
LAREDO. Texas, April 2+-F1ve
hundred Mexican federal soldiers who
eptrained and eva cuated Laredo
last night PROCEEDED to the outskirts
Of that place and returned during the
night. giving as reason. lack OF sufi-
cient motive power for the special
ayi.