Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-11-28
The WAR SITUATION
IN TROUBLED MEXICO
BRITISH AND FRENCH AMBAsSA-
DORIS CONCERNED OVER SAFE
TYOF NATIONALS IN CAPITAL.
HOLD VERA CRUZ FUNDS
Fear AIlayed at Mexico City by Pos.
sibIe Raids of Zapata Bands When
Carranza Troops Depart
ed From City.

their interests IN Mexico brought SiI
Cecil Spring Rice, the British ambas.
sador, and Jules Jusserand, the
French ambassador, to the state de-
partment Monday to learn what the
American government knew of the sit
uation in the Mexican capital Re-
ports to the state department showed
conditions as having improved.
Mr.. Jusserand also inquired what
disposition had been made of the ST.
000,000 in customs duties collected by
the American forces which evacuated
Vera Cruz Monday. He was informed
by Acting Secretary Lansing that the
money taken by General Funston's
forces was being held and no decision
had been reached as to its disposition.
French bondhOlders have a lien on
practically all the customs duties at
Vera Cruz. One loan gave them 81
per cent of the customs receipts. and
Huerta negotiated a loan giving them
the remaining SO per cent. The latter
transaction has been declared invalid
by the Carranza government, and
French bondholders feared that If the
customs fund were given to General
Candidio Aguilar, who took possession
Monday in the name of Carranza, the
obligations would be ignored.
1t is virtually certain that until a
government is recognized in Mexico
which has arranged for an adjustment
of all financial difficulties of the re-
public the funds from Vera Cruz will
be kept by the United States.
Acting Secretary Lansing gave the
two ambassadors the substance of
state department dispatches, which
said that, while the residents of the
capital were in a panic last Friday
and Saturday, fearing the city would
be sacked and looted by forces of
Zapata and Villa after the Carranza
forces withdrew, conditions since then
had changed for the better and the
capital was quiet. The ambassadors
had received word from their minis.
tiers in the City of Mexico, dated about
the same time that the state depart
ment dispatches were filed, giving a
very pessimistic view of the situation
Silliman's report. The British lega-
ton wired that a circular was being
distributed announcing that on the
evacuation by the Carranza forces the
Villa and Zapata troops would begin
a period of looting at certain hours.
Ell Paso, Textile occupation by
Villa troops of the City of Mexico has
been delayed. 1t probably will not
occur until after the evacuation of
Vera Cruz by the American forces
This was indicated Sunday when it
was learned that the retreating Car.
rama troops from Queretaro last week
tore up several miles of railroad track
leading into the City of Mexico.
Villa, who is at Irapuato with 10000
men, has telegraphed the headquar-
tiers at Aguascalientes that General
Felipe Angeles, commander in chief of
the Villista artillery, is in position
with 100 field and siege guns at Qua
dalajara, state of Jalisco, and is pre-
pared to lombard the ancient capital
Of the state unless the large Carran-
cista garrison, which was left there
by Obregon when he captured 1t from
the federals, capitulates. While An
geles is in command of 14,500 men be-
fore Guadalajara, Augustin Serbin,
Villas daring little artillery comman-
der of the north, is advancing on Tam.
pico from the direction Of San Luis
Potosi, according to semi-official ad-
vices received from San Juan by the
at headquarters in
Aguascalientes.
The constitutional convention, SUI
preme in power now that Carranza
has practically evacuated the City of
Mexico, is going south toward Quere-
faro from Aguascalientes. The Villa
army is pushing on south from Ira
Duato and is being preceded by a pio-
1eer train of 1000 men in command
Of General Carlos Dominguez Rubio,
who is repairing all of the railroad
ines and reporting the positions of
he enemy along the route. He has |
reached San Juan del Rio station and |
S being followed by the main COM
nand under General Villa, reports
rom the military telegraph say.
General Eulalio Gutierrez, provision |
Il president ad interim, is trying to |
bring his brother, General Luis Gutter.
'ez, into line, although he persists in
loyal to Carranza
The Mexican capital Sunday was
without a police force and without a
public functionary. The National
Palace is deserted, save for an occa-
;ional attendant guarding halls and
ioorways.
AS an evidence of good faith, Cen
,ral Blanco has ordered his men to
axe possession of the abandoned po
ice station and has appointed Colonel
Samuel Vasquez chief of police, the
ormer chief having abandoned the
,f<v onH uona 70