Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1914-09-24
THROWS HIS
S0MBRER0
NTHERINC
DisavowsAuthority Carranza
as First Chief Of the Army
and Head Of Government.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23.-General
Villa has teIegraphed General carran-
"a, disavowing tho latter as first chief
Of the constitutionalist army In charge
Of the executive power In Mexico. This
was announced In a telegram from
General Carranza tonight to the con-
stitutionalist agency at this place.
General Villa at the same time an
nounccd that neither he nor his dele
gates would participate in the national
convention, called for October 4, at
Mexico City, to designate a provision
al president. The exchange Of tele-
grams resulted from General Carran-
za's order to suspend railroad commu-
nication between Aguas caiientc to
Torreon until he could learn whether
or not General Obregon, commander
Of the division Of the northeast, was
held under arrest by Villa.
After receiving a long message from
General Carranza, Rafael Zubaran
Capmany. head Of the constitutional
ist agency at the Mexican embassy,
authorized the following statement:
Contrary to Villas denial that he had
arrested General Obregon, who had
gone to Chihuahua on a special invi-
tation from Villa himself, the latest Of
ficial reports received from Mexico
City this afternoon, by the constitu-
tionaIist agency, make clear that he
is still being held in the territory con-
troIIed by Villas forces.
''In view Of the unjustifiable act on
Villas part, Carranza took precau-
tionary measures to protect the rail-
roads, giving orders to discontinue,
temporarily. service over them to the
north of Aguas CaIlentes. Thereupon
Villa asked the first chief for an i'm
mediate explanation Of this act. Car
rama answered Villa that before he
would vouchsafe him an explanation
he demanded on Villas part an ex-
PLANTATION of Villas conduct in unwar-
rantabIy holding General Obregon.
"lnstead Of giving to carranza
satisfactory explanation, Villa in
formed the first chief that he had
given orders to halt Obregon at Tor
reon and that the forces under Villas
command would not be represented at
the national convention to be held in
Mexico City on October I. In concIu-
sion, Villa said he no longer recog.
nized Carranza as the first chief Of
the constitutionaists."
This sudden break between the tw.
foremost factors In Mexican politics
caused a profound sensation here.
Secretary Bryan would make no COM
ment and White House officials like
wise were silent.
II was generally understood, how
ever, that President Wilson, who has
GET ~ data fnr bo ~
ican forces from Vera Cruz, probably
would delay the evacuation until the
controversy was adjusted.
Official reports from various points
in Mexico throughout the day had pic
tured the situation as ominous.
From Mexico City come reports that
Carranza was considering the advis.
ability Of postponing the convention
10 days.
From this fact, a ray Of hope was
obtained by some officials who
thought the breach might be healed
If new method of representation
at the convention was agreed upon.
That the railroad had been inter.
rupted north Of Aguas caIientes came
in official reports, together with the
information that Villas delegates had
delayed their departure.
During the day Paul Fuller, who
hac had personal conferences with
both Villa and Carranza for the Wash
ington government, reported at length
to President Wilson and Secretary
Bryan. He gave them detailed infor-
nation Of the attitude of both. Mr..
Fuller is understood to ha se explained
(Continued On papa 10Y