The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-14
Fall of Tampic0 Hastens End
of His Dictatorship.
He Is Beset by Enemies on All
Sides.
THE REBELS ARE IN CONTROL
OF More Than Half of the Mex1-
can Republic.
Line of Advance Extends From
Coast to Coast.

Vera Cruz, May 14.-Three Mexican
gunboats, crowded with federal SOL
diers which escaped from Tamplco
when the last stronghold Of Provision
al President Huerta, on the eastern
seaboard of Mexico, was taken by the
constitutiOnalists army. rode at anchor
today under the protecting guns OF
Rear Admiral MayO's squadron OF
American warships, off Tampico. II
is proabble that among the federal
officers on the Mexican warships, IS
the commander whose refusal to COM
ply with Rear Admiral Mayo's demand
for a salute to the stars and stripes,
in reparation for an insult to the
American flag, precipitated the Amer
Cruz. With the fall Of Tampico. the
line of advance of the constitutiOnalist
forces toward the south has been
drawn from coast to coast and now
embraces more than half the republic
of Mexico.
Observers here express the opinion
that the taking of Tampico by the con-
stitutionalists forms one OF the closing
scenes Of the dictatorship of General
Huerta. They believe that his down.
perhaps only Of days, while some are
inclined to give the dictator only few
hours before his control in the federal
capital. ends in possible riot and
bloodshed.
Even il he maintains order in Mex
leo City, they think that Francisco
Villas guns will soon be laundering
in the suburbs of the capital and
General Huerta fleeing with the ROM
nant of his army to Puebla, there to
make last stand.
The loss of Tampico adds q chapter
to the tale of disaster to General
Huerta's forces since Villa captured
Juarez.
Hemmed in on Ali Sides.
General Huerta is now hemmed in
by the constitutionalists in the north
while his most important seaport is in
the hands of American troops and
American warships are watching both
coasts to see that no arms or ammu-
milton may reach his forces
OF all the important railroads in
Mexico only those running from the
capital to Puerto Mexico, Salina Cruz
and Manzanillo remain completely un-
der federal control.
In Mexico City itself revolt against
General Huerta's rule is seething. Con-
st1tutfOnalist agents work openly with
hand bills while their orators inf1ame
the citizens against the dictator. 1t il
common gossip there that the members
of General Huerta's official family are
zealously watching him for the first
sign of weakness which would mean
their ruin as well as his. The pro-
VlSlOndl president Is DelleVe0 to be in
constant danger Of assassinati ton, while
the city is said to be liable at any mo-
ment to an outbreak Of anarchy. This
is confirmed by the stories of many
refugees arriving here.
General Huerta is fighting with his
back to a wall that offers little de-
fense, for rumors are everywhere cur
rent that Zapata and possibly the
Figueroas with their followers will
combine with the victorious constitu-
tionalists and carry out an assault on
Mexico City from the south as General
Villa drives home his attack from the
north. The federal forces are being
driven steadily to the south onto the
capital and there the foreign diplomats
already have demanded that the battle
for the possession of the city be fought
in the open and the capital not sub
jected to a bombardment.
General Huerta is reported to have
agreed to this request but with the
stipulation that he might withdraw
with his troops within the city's de-
fenses when defeat-which even he ad-
mits Is certain-overwhelms him in
the field.