The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-05-06
THINK HUERTA
IS NEARING END
Washington Officials Inclined to
Believe RuTOTS
DICTATOR LOSING STRENGTH
Mexico City People Learn That They
Have Been Kept From Truth in Re-
gard to Successes of the Rebels.

Have Been Kept From Truth in Re-
gard to Successes of the Rebels.
Officials in Washington are confident
that the utter collapse of the reign of.
Victoriano Huerta as dictator of Mex.
leo is at hand. They would not be
surprised to hear of this resignation
at any moment. The Washington ad-
ministration, it is said, has every
reason to put faith in the information
which is from Mexico City.
The reason for this is that the popu-
lace at last has gotten an inkling Of
the real truth regarding the success
of the Constitutionalists in the north.
Every effort has been made by the
dictator to n.uzzle the press, replacing
the true accounts of the campaigns
OF Torreon and Chihuahua with mat
ter furnished by his own war Office,
describing in glowing terms fictitious
sfederal victories.
Washington was active with rumors
of an impending change in Mexico
City and although no official informa-
ton was given out on the subject it
was apparent the administration had
reason to credit them.
One of the yreports that reached
Washington from Mexico City through
unofficial sources was that Huerta was
about to signify his intention of re
signing provided he would be assured
of safe conduct from the country.
The Washington government is
hourly expecting news of the fall of
Tampico into the hands of the Con-
stitutionalists and Villa already is in
the field and moving for the capture of
Saltillo.
The probable fall of these two cities
within the next few days will, ac
cording to the information that has
reached Washington, mark the end of
Huertas government in Mexico City.
There are rumors that General
Banquet, who was notorious for the
part that he played in turning upon
Madero and assisting Huerta to power,
is now showing signs of weakening in
his support of the dictator.
No attempt has been made by the
United States officials as yet to select
representative to attend the peace
conference with the mediators. Opin-
ion in Washington still leans toward
Richard Olney, former secretary of
state, as the representative of the
United States.
All reports received by this govern
ment from Vera Cruz and other Mexi-
can sources were of a favorable
character. General Funston reported
from Vera Cruz further details in re-
gard to the resumption of hostilities
when the Mexican federal troops made
demand for the surrender within
ten minutes of the pumping plant of
the Vera Cruz water works.
General Funston said that the Of
ficer in command of the Mexican
troops was Major Zeapota of the en-.
gineer corps of the Mexican army. He
added that General Mas has about
1000 men at Soledad and that an un-
known number not large were watch
ing the American lines.
General Funston said also that he
understood the Mexicans had 5000
troops at Jalala and about $500 at
Palma. The general reported that
there were many wild rumors afloat
in Vera Cruz unworthy of credence
but if he disclosed the character OF
these rumors the war department did
not make them public. 1t is assumed
that they related to reports of threat.
ened attacks by the Mexicans.
General Funston reported that a
Mexican officer was found in Vera
Cruz in civilian clothes and was inn
mediately directed to leave.
Regardless of the fact that Fun
ston's army confronts the Mexican
| federal force in sufficient strength to
combat and probably to defeat any
frontal attack there are some mis-
givings as to what might happen if in
station and the pipe lines were seri
ously injured.
Much depends upon the preserva
tion of the water works being intact
The population of Vera Cruz is more
than 10000 and added to this is the
army of more than 5000 American
soldiers dependent upon this single
connection for their fresh water.
| II is known that General Funston Is
uneasy about this particular point. He
is also convinced that the Mexican
force within reach of Vera Cruz mum
bers in the neighborhood of 10000
men. He is by no means satisfied tc
rest idle in view of this menace.
General Carranza of the Constitu
tionalists of Mexico has notified chC
state department that he is not willing
to make an agreement in regard to the
naturalization of the oil we'll zone al
Tampico, but so far as his forces are
concerned the operators may return
to the oil wells without being mo
Tested.
Official Washington was depressed
when this news arrived, for it knocks
in the head every plan drafted by the
diplomats of the South American re
publics for the suspension of hostili
ties between Carranza and Huerta.
Until CarrGnza can be persuaded tC
modify his fttitude the real work o.
the mediators is likely to be restricted