Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1914-05-14
Tampico Falls.

@eaAfASN e-eA@s
Washington, May 14.-Tampico hav.
ing fallen into tho Mexican rebels
hands late Wednesday afternoon, it
was said in official circles here today
that there was a possibility of speedy
recognition by the Washington admin
istration of their bclligerency.
The constitutional;st junta was urg.
ing General Carranza to demand it i'm.
mediately and it was expected ne
would act on the suggestion. The point
was that, unless il loes recognize their
bolligereney, the government cannot
jermit the rebels to import arms and
ammunition by way of the newly cap.
iured seaport This they must do in
order to push their campaign against
Mexico City. The administration is
anxious to have them take the Mexi.
can capital as speedily as possible
Recognition, therefore, was believed in
many quarters to be the natural next
step.
Is Important Development.
Tampico s fall was conceded to be
the most important development thus
lar in the struggle between tne Huerta
and constitutiOnalist forces. IL is the
first seaport the rebels have taken. 1t
was agreed on all hands that Tuxpam
will soon fall into their hands too.
xperts generally were Of the opinion
that this would be before the end OF
the week.
This, it was pointed out, will mean
more than mere defeat for President
IIuerta-it will mean prodigious fin
ancial loss to his government. Vera
Cruz, TampicO and Tuxpam, it was
stated, furnish more than two thirds Of
Mexico s national income. With these
resources cut off, it was believed by
Washington officialdom that the die.
tator's position would be rendered
quickly impossible even if the rebels
should take no fuEther military steps.
Navy Announces Capture.
The navy department 's announce.
ment Of Tampico s fall was in the fol.
owing form:
miral Badger transmits from
Admiral Mayo dispatch saying that
It 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon Tam
pico appeared to be in the hands of
the rebels and indications were that
the federals had evacuated it. An ap-
1parently authentic report was received
that the federal troops blew up taeir
barracks. at 1l:15, before leaving the
city. BY 4 O'Clock firing had prac.
\ ticaly ceased. Only a few shots were
heard occasionally.
"The captains Of the gunboats
Bravo and Zaragoza. which came dowr
the river at o clock, have asked Ad
'iral Mayo for an interview. Mayo
informed them that he will receiv,
them on board tae Connecticut"
Secretary Of the Navy Daniels Sale
his orders gave Admiral Mayo full dis
etional authority. Gle may already
be in the river" the secretary ad
ded
Struggle Is Short.
The struggle was soon over, however
yhen General Gonzales got cannon
The guns were among those capture,
Torreon, whence General Villa sen
them to aid in the attack.
The last fight began May 10 an,
ontinued almost dninterruptedly ex
cept when the cannon grew SO hot tha
hey could not be tsed. .
The last resumption was at 12 o'eloel
Tuesday night. From that time unit
late yesterday afternoon the rebel
teadily gained ground, finally fight
ng their way to the central plaza.
! In the meantime the gunboats ha
teamed to positions to the seawar
VI the foreign ships off the city tina
they might be protected from the r,
bel 5 artillery fire. The federal troop
( 90, were entraining, and as soon o
all were on board the retreat by ra
{ egan in the direetion Of San Lui