The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-10
FORCES BRITISH VICE CONSUL TO CARRY FLAG OF TRUCE
 TO VELASco IN ToRREoN.
COERCION SEEMS EVIDENT
Consul Carried Summons to Surren- der Under Protest and Was Fired Upon-VilIa's Army Probably De- feated at San Pedro.


 of oppressive treatment inflicted by General Villa on H. s. Cunard-Cum- mins, acting British vice consul at Torreon, of the defeat of a rebel col umn sent against San Pedro, and that the federal general Velasco had swelling the federal army there to 13,000 men, were brought here today by two newspaper correspondents from Torreon. Hidalgo, they said, was trying to reach Torreon with endorsements when Velasco evacu- ated that city.
 The correspondent said that while the sending of news from the front was not entirely prohibited, it was censored so severely as to be all but worthless.
 Villa, they said, compelled Mir. Cunard-Cummins to run the risk of carrying a demand for the surrender of Torreon to General Velasco, the trip being made under protest and during which Mir Cummins was fired on.
 George C. Carothers, special agent of the state department at the battle, in the report of the incident that he has made to Washington, however, does not indicate that Mir. Cunard- Cummins was coerced into becoming General Villas messenger, but states that he did so with some reluctance after first refusing.
 Mir Carothers' report follows: "At D. m. March 27, General Villa sent a messenger to see Cum mins, requesting him to go to head quarters. l and H. w. Potter &C., companied him. When we arrived, after introducing Cummins to Villa, Villa said to him that he knew that he, Cummins, was an enemy to the constitutonalist cause; that he had information that Cummins was ac- customed to banquetng with the federals: that he knew he was friend of General VelascO, and that in view of this friendship with Ve- lasco, he wanted Cummins to take communication to Velasco in which he demanded the surrender of the city to avoid further bloodshed.
 Villa said the message was couched in terms usual in warfare in such cases. Cummins refused to take the message, arguing that he was neutral and should not mix in political affairs of the country.
 At this Villa became angry and said we foreigners were demanding that he protect foreigners and be humanitarian in his acts, and at the very first opportunity given us to do something, we refused. He com menced to talk about probably hay ing to fight all of us, when l inter- posed and advised Cummins to go
 Villa said he first thought of sending the message by me, but on second thought had decided on Cum mins on account of his friendship with Velasco, he would be in no danger. Cummins agreed to go, so I wrote some instructions to MT. timer. Cummins left about o'clock and was to return about noon next day. The interview with Villa had most serious aspect for a few mo- ments. but as it turned out Villa and he shook hands, called each other amigos and parted in the best or spirits"
 The Mir. Ulmer mentioned in the report is I. M. Ulmer, United States consular agent at Torreon. MT. Carothers, questioned by re- norter here today, amplified his re- port to the state department as fol lows:
 Just before leaving Villas head ! ouarters, Villa called Cummlns amigos. Cummins turned to Villa and said, You call me friend|
 eyes. call you friend because l want you for my friend responded 1 Villa.
 "ViIla's last word to us was that he left all arrangements about get ting away to us.
 q then walked toward MT. OHea's house with Cummins but left him 1 before reaching there, in order to get a handcar. I saw Cummins en' ter O'Heas house. A half hour later I met Cummins coming from O'Hea's house with British flag and flag of truce had been unable to gel a handcar, so Cummins said he would go on foot, as it was getting late and he did not want to make