Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-04-04
Admiral Fletcher Reports Fed
erals May Surrender With
out Resistance.
VILLA NOW ROUNDING UP
VELASCO'S FLEEING MEN
Believed Nuevo Laredo, Monterey
and Saltillo May Be Evacuated
Before April Is.

| lmminence OF the surrender or siege OF
Tampico is shown in official dispatches
| to the Navy Department and to the
constitutionalist headquarters in Wash
| ington today.
Rebel outposts are within Ave miles OF
| Tampico and preparing to attack the
city, according to the report sent by
Rear Admiral Fletcher. He adds that he
has private advices that the federals are
preparing to surrender without resist
ance-
According to latest advices to constitu-
tonalist headquarters, the movement
against Tampico is very strong and par
ticipated in by a force heavily armed
with Savage carbines. This is the first
time these formidable weapons have been
called into service during the Mexico en-
broilment.
This attack Is in sympathy with Gen.
Villas attack on Torreon and Is tend
ing to greatly aSgravate the apprehen-
sion in government circles. Prospect Of
! surrender appears very plausible to OH
Gals here. who claim that the force in
Tampico numbers not more than 1000
and that these are mostly raw recruits.
Rounding Up Fleeing Federals.
Prospects OF further fighting in other
sections of strife-ridden Mexico are thus
forecasted at the constitutionalist head
quarters. Gen. Villa is now engaged in
rounding up the remnant Of Gen. Velas-
cos army, which is not thought to be
more than 1900 men. They are supposed
to be beating their way toward Saltillo,
by the International railroad. As these
are foot soldiers and as the rebels are
mounted some important captures are
expected.
Gen. Velasco is reported to have aban-
doned all of his artillery with the excep-
ton Of machine guns. Dispatches say
there have been no summary executions.
save of a few deserters.
1t is believed now that Nuevo Laredo,
Monterey and Saltillo will be evacuated
before April 10. At Saltillo Gen. Villa
plans to establish base OF operations
against Luis Potosi. Probably there will
be no further fighting until the rebels
reach that point.
Rebels Strong In Guerrero.
Word reached constitutionalist leaders
in Washington today that there has
been a big increase in the uprising in the
state OF Guerrero, south Of Mexico City.
where the constitutionalists have recently
received new consignments of arms and
ammunition. Reports are that nearly
1O,O 900 men are now supporting the up
rising in this state. 1t Is claimed that
they have taken most OF the important
cities and are preparing to support the
attack of Villa on the federal district
around Mexico City. within two weeks
These forces are under command OF
Cen Gertrudis Sanchez, formerly
colonel of rurales, and Gen. Fgueroa.
formerly colonel in the regular forces
Both refused to serve under the Huerta
regime and revolted following the exc
cution of MaderO.
one official message today to the State
Department from Consular Agent Caroth-
ers at Torreon reported the rebel loss IN
killed and wounded about that city as
100 No estimate was made OF federal
losses. The message, it was said at the
State Department, was the only ofhcial
word received from Torreon since
Carothers yesterday confirmed the cap
ture of the city by Villa.
Nothing New at Tampico.
Rear Admiral Fletcher reported there
we're no developments at Tampico.
Admiral Fletcher's report was receiv-
ed with keen interest For many
months the constitutionalists have been
besieging Tampico, with a purpose of
obtaining possession of deepwater
port on the Gulf Of Mexico. Their first
attempt was conducted by Gen. Aguilar.
but in that case and In many other
attacks that followed the rebels were
kept outside of the town limits by the
fire of the federal gunboats. which
proved to be an insuperable obstacle
to the advance.
In the beginning the capture Of Tam
pico was deemed essential In order to
obtain easy entry for the munitions
of war required for the constitu tional-
list army.
The proclamation OF President Wilson
permitting the expectation Of arms and
ammunition across the border into Mexico
diminished the Importance Of the port in
that respect, but recently the financial
needs of the rebels, with the knowledge
that the custom house receipts at Tam
pico were heavy, led to a renewal of the
siege and the Strengthening of the at
lacking force to a point that now seems
to make probable the capture of the
town.
Planning to Attack Town.
Admiral Fletcher reported that the con-
stitutionalists now have outposts within
five miles of Tampico. and said the COM
manding officer at Laguna Puerto plans
to attack the town as soon as LOCO troops
arrive under Gen. Castro, who is work
ing toward the coast on the San Luis rail-