The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-07
GENERAL ASPECT OF PEACE SEEMS TO SETTLE OVER
 MEXICAN SITUATION.
REBELS ARE GAINING GROUND
Gives Rise to Hope That Herta's Fall at Their Hands is Not Far Distant -Mediators Ready to Leave for Niagara Falls, Or.

Washington, May 6.-While the Mexican situation was Outwardly calm today pending the formal open ing of the conference of South Amer ican mediators at Niagara Falls, Canada, May IS, there continued an active undercurrent of discussion and preparation for the peace plans and at the same time definite re- ports reached the constitutionalist headquarters here of sweeping vic tories of their forces near San Luis Potosi and other points far south of Saltilo, where it was thought their next big battle would occur.
 The news of constitutionalist sue cesses reached here in dispatches from General Carranza to Raphael Zubarau, minister of the interior of the constitutionalist cabinet, who had a direct wire set up to the head quarters of General Carranza in Chihuahua today. General Carranza's messages showed that three con verging campaigns were in active operation, each within 300 miles of Mexico City. General Obregon with 15,000 men operating from the Pa cific coast side had captured all the territory, was besieging Mazatlan and was threatening Mex ico City from the west.
 Another division, General Car ranza reported, had fought battle at Penzacos, near San Luis Potosi, which is 300 miles north of Mexico City. This is the southernmOst point which the constitutionalists have reached in Central Mexico and with the army now attacking Tampico they declare that the general ad- vance on the Mexican capital is to be made within a few weeks from three sides.
 The significance of these cOnstitu tionalist successes lay in the fact that San Luis Potosi is far south of Saltillo and only 300 miles from Tampico on the west and Mexico City on the south. General Car ranza's report of the desperate con- dition of the federals at Mazatlan was coincident with reports from Rear Admiral Howard who stated that a land and sea engagement was carried on there all yesterday the constitutionalists firing rifles and field guns from Piedra Island, while the federal gunboat Morelos was sup ported by the federal shore batteries
 Aside from the notable consttu tionalist successes, the chief military development Of the day was the au- thorization to General Funston to eX- tend his lines at Vera Cruz as might be required for defensive purposes without, however, undertaking any aggressive operations. 4 report also came from General Funston that he could secure no definite information as to the active movements by the federals under General Maas, but he construed what they were doing as being merely defensive. No further endorsements have been ordered to Vera Cruz, nor has there been any sign of General Wood moving to the front to assume commanf
 The naval situation was shown in reports from Rear Armiral Badger as to the Atlantic Coast points and from Rear Admiral Howard as to conditions on the Pacific Coast side. Admiral Badger stated that sharp fighting had occurred between MeXi- can federals and constitutionalists midway between Vera Cruz and Tam pico and he added that rumors reach ed him through Admiral Mayo, that some of Villas forces intended to take and burn the city of Tampico. Admiral Mayo put no faith in reports of truce between federals and con. stitutionalist elements about Tam pico.
 Congress again came into the Mex ican situation today when a caustic debate occurred in the senate over the resolution of Mir. Lippitt, of Rhode Island, asking president Wilson for information as to his reported sup port of Poncho Villa for next ruler of Mexico. The resolution finally was tabled by a viva voce vote but not until Senator Lippitt had discussed reports of the administration sup port of the "villanous Villa the