Evening star., 1914-05-17
Troops Which Took Tuxpam
May March South to Oppose
FederaIs Outside Vera Cruz

That the Mexican consttutionalists
who took Tuxpam will proceed south and
oppose the federal troops outside Vera
Cruz was reported in official circles last
| night. Such a movement, it was pointed
| out. probably would prevent possi-
bility of trouble between the American
forces and Huerta's troops in the vicinity
of Vera Cruz.
Tuxpam is only about 125 miles north
Of Vera Cruz. and 1t was said the rebel
army would have little difficulty making
the march along the coast in sufficient
force to defeat the federals there The
rebel army near Tuxpam Is said to be
of considerable strength
On information received from constitu-
tionalists it was reported that this move
ment would be one of the next aimed to
bring about the speedy downfall of
Huerta and might be consumated be-
fore the expected capture Of saltillo and
San Luis Potosi by Gen. Villas armies.
Rebels Extending Occupation.
Official reports through the day show
ed the constitutionalsts rapidly extend
ing their field of occupation. Consul
Canada as Vera Cruz reported them in
possession Of Tuxpam, the important east
coast town with extensive oil indus
tries, only a few miles from Lobos Is
land. which has been bone of conten-
ton between the Huerta lighthouse
keepers and the American naval officers.
who sought to keep the light burning.
The State Department also received word
that constitutionalists had occupied the
town of Monclovo. after its evacuation
by federals. On the Pacific side, Ad-
nliral Howard reported the federals were
Food in the town was said to be
scarce.
Tampico. now in full control of the con-
stitutionalists, was reported by Admiral
Mayo to be resuming its normal condi-
ton. with foreign properties protected.
and the constitutionalist commander, Gen.
Gonzales. exchanging informal calls with
the American and British admirals.
Four British Cruisers There.
The British now have four cruisers at
Tampico. the Essex, Suffolk, Hermione
and Lancaster, with the Bristol en- route
from Portsmouth. the Germans have the
cruiser Dresden and the Dutch, the crui-
ser Kortenaer. The American ships in
clude the Des Moines and Dolphin, while
the Tacoma has followed the Mexican
gunboats, Zaragosa and Bravo. to Puerto
Mexico
Puerto Mexico has now become a center
of interest with the arrival Of the Mexi-
can gunboatS and the possibilities OF
some move they may make Three Amer
ican ships are watching them, the Chester
having Joined the other American ships.
With the federals out of Vera Cruz and
Tampico, Puerto Mexico Is about the
only important eastern port controlled by
Huerta-
Guarantee to Protect Foreigners.
Renewed pledges by the constitutional
lists at Tampico to give all practicable
guarantee and protection to foreigners
and their properties were made Last
evening by Gems. Gonzales and Caballero
at an informal conference with Admiral
Mayo and other American officers. Despite
the pledges Admiral Mayo, in dispatches
to the Navy Department, renewed his
recommendation that Americans should
not be encouraged as yet to return to
Tampico.
Admiral Mayo declared that it was yet
uncertain whether the federals or con-
stitutionalists are in control of the
Panuco district, and added that the
whereabouts Of the federal forces that
evacuated Tampico are unknown.
The cruisers Tacoma and Chester re-
porte dtheir arrival at Puerto Mexico
yesterday, and the gunboat Paducai
sailed today for Alvarado. fifty miles
south of Vera Cruz