The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-03-31
FUTURE Of MEXICO
HINGES ON FIGHT.
Victory For Federals Might
Bring Recognition of
Cause
RoJAs IS HOPEFUL
The FederaIs Now Have Be-
tween $4,000 and 1900 of
The Flower of Their Fighting
Men Defending Toreon-
Outcome Will Give New
Status To Contending Sides

u, the Associated Press
Mexico City, March 29.-With the
exception Of the somewhat contra
dictory information contained In press
dispatches and a laconic assurance BY
General Velasco, Federal commander
at Torreon. TO the war department,
both official and unofficial Mexico
were in ignorance today Of the result
of Villas efforts to capture that city,
the occupation of which at this stays
is regarded by military men as es-
sential to the early success of eithe,
side. All but one paper today con-
sfrued reports received Saturday night
As indicating ~conclusively the defeat
Of the Rebels, but such unmodified
confidence was not displayed at the
National Palace, where Genera Blan-
Quet, the war minister, has been stay
Ing since Villa inaugurated his attack.
Huerta Shows Concern.
President Huerta is showing on
Germ, but lack of Geographic commu-
nication has prevented Genera Vel
AsCo from rendering any but the mos,
meager reports and the President ana
the war minister have found an outlet
for their energies by sending forward
every available detachment of troops
as reinforcement.
The attitude of the Mexican public
in the capital is wholly apathetic, 50
far as outwardly expressed.
Federal Army is Strong.
n government asserts that Gen.
Nelasco has from IL, 900 to $1,000 me,.
and. with the reinforcements ana
minor forces reported en- route. there
should be facing Villa before he can
claim Torreon from $4,000 to Is, 600
Eederals.
Battle of Great Moment.
The fact that the number mot,iliz-
&c is 50 great. and hat it includes
tIn InGt roe n;untinn w thn o~-~
make the struggle for the possesslCr
Of Torreon peculiarly important. Mil
taVy men here think the mos; serious
thing likely to happen would he the
evacuation Of Torreon. But ever
should the Fedcrals escape captur,
they admit that the morale Of tn'
army would be greatly affected ty tht
blow, and hat it inevitably woult
create difficulty for the director q
president Huerta's finances.
Its Diplomatic Effect.
The diplomatic representatives ar
inclined to regard the retention o
rorreon as more essential from tn,
point of view Of Mexico's relation
abroad, especially with the Unite,
States han from the military view
point.
Certain foreign representative
whose opinion is shared by some O
the members of the government be
leve the loss of TorreOn would be fol
lowed by recognition of the belliger
enCy Of the rebels.
RojaS Confident of Solution.
IN spite of the declarations {. tn
Mexican foreign minister Senior POr
tillo v Rojas, and John LIND tina
their conference at Vera Cruz had re
suited in nothing tangible in the wa
of re%-opening negotiations that migt
lead TO a peaceable solution, SenC
Portillo appears to be optimistic re
garding his Country's international re
lations and his intimate. friends az
Sert that he is confident that he an
President Wilson'S representative wi
yet be able to work out the problem
Huerta May Take Field.
President Huerta has given no il
timation of his intentions, but thel
are many in the capital who still DR.
fess to believe that he will take II
field and leave the Presidency ten
porariiy to Senior Portillo and lat,
become a candidate for election. l
a few it is suggested hat the fall
Torrcon would hasten that moveme
as President Huerta's confidence in h
own ability as a military man wOu
force him to measur his training
q soldier. covering his whole lii
against the recently developed pow
Of Villa, who until four years ago w
confessedly a bandit.
No Idea Of Giving Up.
That General Huerta has any id
Of abandoning the fight has not be
indicated. Plans for the opening
Congres on Wednesday are underw
and there is no apparent reason to /
lieve that the President intends
lose the 80, 900. 900 pesos for Viii
he arranged last week with banke
tBy the Associated Press
Mexico City .MeX.. March Pot
nnlN Information received at the w