New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-14
TAMPICO FALLS
into REBEL HANDS
Final Assault Follows Day
of Heavy Losses on
Both Sides.
From The Tribune Bursau.l

from The Tribune Bureau-1
Washington, May 18.-The Constitu<
tionalists of Mexico have apparently
achieved the most important victory %
the revolution--the capture of the port
of Tampico. Advices of a thoroughly
authoritative nature reached Washing
ton tonight that the fighting there was
nearly over and that the Federals were
evacuating the town.
This was further substantiated by tho
appearance Of the Federal sunboafs
Bravo and Zaragoza. which for weeks
have covered with their heavy guns
narrow strip Of land which kept the
rebels from victory in the roadstead OF
Tampico. The gunboats had with
drawn from the fray, and those Ia
mliar with the strategical points of
Tampico and the River Panuco know
that this anchoring Of the Federal gun
boats with the warships Of other ma
tions OFF Tampico means Federal dis
aster.
There is no way OF minimizing tho
Importance OF the rebel capture of
Tampico. The Constitutionalists chem
selves, as represented by the junta
here, are jubilant They feel that 1t
means everything TO them. including
the speedy downfall Of Huerta.
Big Import Revenues.
They say that II means 100000 q
week in revenues. from import and
export taxes. II means. further, a
port through which to import arms
and ammunition, a matter that has be-
come difficult since the American gov
ernment prohibited the movement o.
munitions Of war across the border OF
Texas. New Mexico. Arizona and Call
fornia.
It may mean a way of exporting a
tremendous quantity Of cotton which
Villa took from foreigners, worth az
least S5,O00.OOO. Further. It means
that the Constitutionalists are now Just
as important, territorially speaking, IN
the Gulf OF Mexico as Huerta himself.
for Huerta now only has the entrepot
Of Puerto Mexico, Vera Cruz being In
the hands OF Americans
II also gives TO their cause tho con-
troll not only Of a great port, second
in importance in all Mexico only To-
Vera Cruz. but additional territory in
the hinterland, swelling their area OF
control 10 far beyond anything which
Huerta has.
Constitutionalistic Tampico means
another point Of attack on Mexico CitvI
over the railway from there to SaG
Luis Potosi and thence to the capitJ,
Control Of the oil fields Of Mexi6o
which are all in the vicinity OF Tam
pico. means that sooner or later Huerta
will be unable to operate his railway
trains, all OF which are drawn by OIL
burning engines.
Now Want Recognition.
Inc OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES are Juhllart
because they believe that control of this
port will mean recognition OF their
belligerency. at least. from foreign gov
ernments. Even American international
lawyers believe that with Tampico In
their hands the rebels are entitled to
this recognition. The Constitutionalists
will doubtless shortly ask for such
recognition from the United States.
According to official advices received
here there was heavy firing around
Tampico all yesterday. although IN.
earlier reports stated that only ono
field gun was used. and IT was frcl
only AT long intervals An assault ca
the Federal lines was apparently mad,
b. the Constitutionalists- They occa.