Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-03-19
impending TOrreon Battle
Believed Forcing a
Climax in Mexico.
SITUATION TO CHANGE
Compromise Candidate Accept
able to Washington May Be
Result of Rebel Defeat.

Little Rock. Ark. March 19.-Four
companies OF the Ninth infantry de-
parted for Laredo. Texas
Cincinnati. Ohio. March 1.-Two
battalious OF the Ninth infantry are
leaving here today for Laredo.
Atlanta. Ca, March 19.-The
Seventh infantry left for Eagle Pass,
Texas, TO join the border patrol.
Washington, d. C.. March 19.-While
no official word has come to the White
house OF the reported purpose of
Huerta 10 reopen parleys by sending
his minister Of foreign affairs TO Vera
Cruz TO confer with John Lind, ad-
miuistration officials indicated a will
fngness 10 listen to any new proposals
FOR a peaceful settlement. They SEEM
I'd TO attach much Importance to the
impending battle at Torreon, which is
expected 10 mark a critical turn in the
strength and prestige OF the contend
ing forces.
Washington has been firmly opposed
not only TO recognition of Huerta, but
OF any successor OF his choosing. and
the rebels have announced an unwil-
Ingness 10 compromise with Huerta.
Should the constitutionalists be de-
fsated at ToTreon, it is possible the
whole situation would be changed, and
a compromise OF Candidates accept
able to Washington be agreed upon.
Expect Simultaneous Attacks.
Juarez, Mexico. March 19.-Simul- |
tsneous attacks on TorreOr and Mazat- |
Ian were predicted today in advices |
received here. II was said that while |
Villas rebel army was moving against
TorreOn forces under General Obregon !
numbering 1900 would assault the 4
Pacific coast port This is said to be |
part Of a general plan for an aggres- |
sive movement against all federal I
forces in northern Mexico. The fall |
Of Mazatlan would mean virtual con-
troll OF the west coast district, while /.
ToTeon Is the railroad center Of cen
trsl Mexico and its capture would 4
threaten the capital of the country.
Censorship OF news from the in
terror below this point remained firm
today. Indirect information indicated
no fighting Of consequence the last
few DAYS.
F1IcTla EXECUTES muLlneCf5.
Mexico City. March 19.-In squads of
q dozen men each. 149 mutineers were
taken from the federal barracks at
Jolutla yesterday, lined up against a
stone wall, and shot.
It required less than half an hour
for the slaughter Of the men who re-
belIed a. service in the army Of Cen
sral Hucrta- The members Of the fir
ing squad worked rapidly and pumped
bullets into their former comrades as
last as they were lined up.
Bodies were piled high along the
wall when the last mutineers were
brought out, and those going TO their
death stumbled over the forms Of those
who had faced the rifles of the execu-
toners only q few minutes before.
With the last nutineer shot the bodies
we're thrown into one trench. g
Huerta has ordered the strictest dis !
aplne enforced in all garrisOns. A i
tone wall and a firing squad await s
ne leaders Of any rebelliOus outbreak I
Approve Wholesale Execution e
The newspapers of the capital this
iternocn printed prominently a state
nent from the war department, an
.ouncing in terms of high approval the
'xscution OF the 149 mutineers.
II was perfectly evident from the
one Of the statement that the action
i Huerta's officers in carrying out the
.noiesale execution was pleasing to
ne administration and was looked
pon as serving notice that Huerta has
etermined 10 rule his conscr1pted "
my with an mon hand.
The newspapers announce that more
len we're executed at Jojutla than at
ny single time since General Scott
anged 7s deserters IN the suburbs o.
ae capital in Is47."
To Honor BPYau II