The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-21
ROJAS LIKELY TO
SUCCEED HUERTA;;
BRYAN IS SILENT
Good Authority for Statement
Foreign AffairsMinister Will
Become Provisional Mexican
Head
State Department Declines to
Confirm Retort That Wilson
Has Heard Proposal-Villa
Said to Be Ready to Begin
Battle Of Torreon

VERA CRUZ, March 2o.--It is de-
ciared on excellent authority that the
conference between Iohn Lind and
Senior Rojas. the Mexican minister OF
foreign affairs, resulted In the Ameri-
can diplomatic representative taking
up with President Wilson the advisa-
bility of Senior Portillo Rojas assum-
ing the provisional presidency, and
President Huerta working his cam
paign for the next election. senior
Rojas left for Mexico City tonight. II
is not supposed that there is any doubt
about Huerta becoming the success
ful candidate FOR the presidency. rs all
the governors now FAVOR his selection.
O'Shaughnessy Ill.
WASHINGTON. March ao.--An-
nouncement today that Nelson
o'Shaughnessy, charge d'affaires OF
the American embassy in Mexico City.
has gone to Vera Cruz. close on the
heels of Lopez Portillo. President
Huerta's minister for foreign affairs.
gave rise To reports thar the American
official was going to take part In con-
ferences between Minister Portillo and
John Lind. the special agent of Presi-
dent Wilson. In Mexico.
No substantiation OF these reports
ment. Secretary Bryan stated that MIR.
Oshaughnessy had informed the de-
partment that he was Ill. and that no
planned to go to Vera Cruz for the
week lend II Washington had no OBJ
1ections. Mr.. O'Shaughnessy reported
that he was suffering from a severe
attack Of sciatica.
Mr.. Bryan said today the department
had no Information whatever indicat-
ing that Minister Portiilo had con-
ferred. or WAS seeking to confer, with
John Lind. The department has heard
nothing officially. IL was said, indicat-
ing that President Huerta has any pro-
posal TO lay before President Wilson
In regard TO possible successor In
the provisional presidency.
The state department has no infor-
nation regarding conditions about
Torreon. and reports from the border
about fighting In that city are not
confirmed by the oAcial dispatches
from northern Mexico.
villa Trains Cannon.
En- PASO, TEXAS, March 90
Pancho Villas rebel cannon to tho
number OF forty field pieces are train
cd tonight upon the federal fortitica-
tons at Torreon, Gomez. Palacio and
Lerdo. the two suburbs OF Torreon.
and the battle may open nomentarfly.
villa will not say when he expects to
give the word for the attack. This
news came to the rebel officials In
Juarex tonight. and also from news
paper correspondents whom villa per-
mitted to send their first messages In
q week. Villas strength is given u
$4,000 men. which la something more
than the federal command. according
I othe last reports given out by Huer-
tistas-
Ell PAsO. TEXAS, March ec.--Exiied
from his ranch home In Goionia Juarex,
chihuahua. after paying $500 to Man
uel Gutierrez, bandit leader. and los
ing $500 worth of stock and sup
plies through eeHaseattea by -Cait-
ter9.s followers. r. l. Taylor. Amer
Jean Mormon colonist arrived here to-
day with a thrilling story of his es-
cape. which. however. is but repe-
tition OF the suffering which many
Americans have experienced In the
same region from Mexicans belonging
10 one faction or another.
Thursday morning. week ago. ff-
teen outlaws, under Guitterez, exfoi-
the Taylor home at Colonia Juarez.
and after brief battle Guitteras an
nounced that he would formally exc
cute him In twenty minutes. Tayor
Wa led out. Guitterez put the case
before his men and told them they
mfght decide the prisoners fate. The
bandits parleyed among themselves for
4 time and then appointed q committee
OF three Mexican citizens from the
colony to try the case. BY Saturday
the committee of three had reached
. decision, that the man must pay
Guitterex $780,