The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1914-05-07
PREFER FIGHTING
TO MEDIATION
REBELS SOON TO CONCENTRATE
ON MEXICAN CAPlTAl-THRtE
DIVISIONS CLOSE.

DIVISIONS CLOSE.
Washington, May 6.-While the
Mexican situation was outwardiy calm
Wednesday pending the formal open
ing of the conference OF the South
American 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 reports
reached the constitutionalist head
quarters of sweeping victories OF their
forces near San Luis Potosi and other
points far south of Saltillo, where il
was thought their next big battle
would occur.
The news Of constitutionaIist sue
cesses reached here in dispatches
from General CarranZa to Raphael Iu'
baran. minister of the interior in the
constitutionalist cabinet, who said he
would have direct wire set up to
the Headquarters of General Carran-
"a in chihuahua, Wednesday. General
Carranga's message showed that three
converging campaigns We're in active
operation each within 300 miles OF
Mexico City. General Obregon with
$4,000 men operating from the Pacif-
ic coast side had captured all the in
teryening territory, was besieging Ma
2atlan and was threatening Mexico
City from the west.
Attack Coming Soon.
Another division, General Carranza
reported, had fought battle at Pen
1acos. near San Luis Potosi, which
is 800 miles north of Mexico city
This is the southernmost point which
the constitutionalists have rdached
in central Mexico and with the army
uow attacking Tampico, they declare
that the general advance on the Mex
lean capital is to be made within a
. lew Nftho lIOll llll't
The significance of these constitu-
/ tionalist successes lay in the fact
that San Luis Potoisi is far south of
Satillo and only 300 miles from Tam
pico on the west and Mexico City on
the south General Carran2a's report
Of the desperate condition of the fed
erals at Mazatlan was coincident with
rcports from Rear Admiral Howard
who stated that land and sea en-
tagement was carried on there at
yesterday the constitutionalists firing
rifles aud field guns from Piedra Is
land, while the federal gunboat More
los was supported by the federal shorl
batteries.
Aside from the notable constitu.
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 ag
sressiye operations. A report also
came from General Funston that he
could secure no definite information
as to the active movements by the
fedcrals under General Mas, but he
construed what they were doing as
hoing merely defensive.
No further reinforcements have
been ordered to Vera Cruz. nor has
there been any sign of General Wood
moving to the front to ASSUME com
mand
Sharp Fighting on East Coast.
The naval situation was shown in
reports from Rear Admiral Badger
as to the Atlantic coast points and
from Rear Admiral Howard as to the
conditions on the Pacific coast side.
Admiral Badger stated that sharp
| lighting had occurred between Mex
lean federals and constitufioualists
midway between Vera Cruz and Tam
pico ana ne 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
suutionalist elements about Tampico.
Congress again came into the Mex
lean situation Wednesday when a
caustic debate occurred in the senate
over the resolution OF Mr. Lippitt of
Rhode Island, asking President vii
son for information as to his reported
support of Pancho Villa for next ruler
of Mexico. The resolution finally was
. tabled by a viva voce vote, but not
until senator Lippitt had discussed re-
ports OF the administration support
of the "Villainous Villa" the landing
at Vera Cruz. and other incidents.