The Detroit times., 1914-05-20

Ehke ohesJ
erick w Lehman at any time The
Justice and Lehman arrived at mid
night
Credentials will be presented at an
informal meeting today, and the way
cleared for the opening OF the con-
ference on which Will rest the fate
OF Gen Huerta
joint conference may be held this
afternoon at 3 o'clock, when gen
eral plan of procedure will be dis
cussed but thereafter the Abe medi-
ators are expected to meet with the
Mexicans and Americans separately
except when one side or the other
has a formal agreement TO submit
which the mediators believe may be
accepted
~ The A-B-C mediators are optimistic
especially Ambassador Naon. of the
Argentine republic. All the mediators
and representatives believe success
in the conferences would have far
reaching effect.
DR. GonZale L. Cordoba. minister
from Ecuador, who Is stopping on the
American side unofficially 10 watch
: proceedings and report to his govern
ment, voiced the belief today when
,he declared that the restoration OF
peace in Mexico by the United States
and the three South American coun-
tries would mean henceforth the ma
tons of North and South America
would be bound by unbreakable ties
OF peace. With Dr. Cordoba Will prob
ably shortly be other unofficial OBJ
servers" Of the mediation conferences.
The minister from Honduras was eX-
pected today
WASHINGTON. May 20.-With a
desperate fight in progress at Salt
lilo and the city entirely surrounded
: by Villas troops. interest in the Mex
lean situation today centered in the
fate OF Consul Silliman. The state
department believes Villa will take
the city within As hours
Consular Representative George
Corothers who Is with Villa, has al
ready been ordered, in this event, to
determine Immediately what happen.
ed TO the yice-consul there. High Of
ficiais here who are friendly TO Sill.
man fear the worst. Promises that
he would be produced have been dis.
he may have been slain. If this
proves true it may have grave eff
feet In the Niagara Falls mediation
conferences
So far as the administration is con.
cerned everything has been halted 70
await the outcome OF mediation The
president and Secretary Bryan be.
lieve that speedy results are certain
There was a chance today that the
action OF the state department in de-
claring Tampico ali open port may be
brGnght TO the attention OF the med-
ato-s. Some officials here told that
such action, In view OF the fact that
Mexico City has been partly isolated
through the occupancy Of Vera Cruz,
is direct violation of the non-ag-
gressive policy virtually promised by
Bryan,
Meanwhile, the constitutionalists
are preparing TO rush arms and am
munition through Tampico 10 the
rebels i'm the field To cargoes OF
ammunition for siege and rapid fire
guns, as we'll as high explosives for
the manufacture OF hand grenades,
are reported 10 have been contracted
for at New York This Is to go for.
ward at once. so that II the revoju.
,ionists take Saltillo and San Luis
Potosi, where fighting Is now In pro-
gresa. the rush on Mexico City can
be started at once.
BY ". G. PARKE.
tStdf Correspondent United Prsss)
sJUAREZ. Mex. May 2O.-The be
lief that General Francisco Villa Is
engaged in desperate struggle az
Saltillo, grew today. while military
mon sought some news OF the battle
near the last federal stronghold in
northern Mexico.
For more than as hours wires from
Poredon TO Saltlllo have been silent.
Tie last message 10 escape the cen
sor was sent from Rio six miles
north OF Saltillo early Monday. and
Indicated that villa was then about
10 begin the bombardment
Constitutionalist officials today de
clare3 they we're satisfied that stories
circulated here regarding severe
fkhiing near Paredon are mere rep
etitiCns snd Celebrations of the story
OF en- engagement last Saturday be
tween federals fleeing from Mon.
-clpva and constitutionalists- This