Evening journal., 1914-06-16
Fresh Fighting
IN MEXICO HALTS
PEACE PROGRESS
Deadlock Over Huerta'S Sue
ceSSor Also Complicates
the Mediation Plan
HEAR OF COMPLETE
Defeat OF THE REBELS
By JOHN EDWIN NEv1N.


WASHINGTON, june l6-With the
Niagara Falls mediators and commits
sioners apparently deadloclSed over the
choice Of Huertas successor and Car
rama curtly informed that if he is TO
participate ia tho conferences he must
grant an amistce, interest today cen
tered in the fighting near Zacatecas Re
ports OF a complete rebel defeat are not
yet confirmed but it Is certain that
Cananzas forces have been forced to
fall back. Conditions Immediately fol-
lowing the battle of Torreon have been
duplicated and Villa is now rushing to
the scene with his fresh veterans OF
the north If he can retrieve the situa-
tion, it viii have a telling effect in
Carranza's favor on the Niagara Falls
conferences while if the Federals win
and rout the rebels the exact opposite
will be true
Carranzista headquarters here very
frankly say that Carranza will accept
the word of the medators as final; Will
neither grant an armistice nor agree to
mediate internal affairs, and will de-
pend on the United States standing out
for acceptance OF a peace plan in which
he can participate. While admitting
that he is disappointed that an agree
ment has not been reached, Secretary
Bryan was still optimistic today. Before
going to the cabinet meeting, he said;
Il consider that satisfactory prograss is
being made at Niagara. In a matter OF
this kind, speed is out Of the question"
Bryan positively refused to discuss
the reports from various quarters
that the disagreement at Niagara IS
So broad that a successful termina-
ton is out Of the question.
II have consistently refused to
dignity sensational newspaper stories
Of this character by discussing them.
We are still participating in media
ton and continue hopeful Of ultimate
complete success"
Bryan refused point-hlank to COM
ment on the note of the mediators to
Carrapza. He was to have confer
ence later in the day with Judge
Douglas, legal representative Of the
Carranzista junta. and it was expect
ed that arrangements would be made
for keeping in close touch with Car
ranza on all developments at Nj
agara.
There is no question that the re-
ported repulse of the Constitutional |
lists at Zacatecas has complicated The /
situation. The administration had
been led to believe that the Heurta /
mower was crushed and that the city I
would be taken in a hurry. The /
prestige Of such a victory was de- 7
pended on to influence the Huerta /
commissioners in making concessions /
on the personnel of new provisional /
government Instead, Huerta has ap-
parently won the initial fight and It |
Is understood here that much of his /
success was due to the furnishing to /
General Medina Barron, the, Federal |
commander there, of a part of the
Krupp rapid-fre guns and new rife
ammunition that was landed by the /
Ypiranga at Peurto Mexico in the face
Of the protests of Rear Admiral
Badger.
1t will now be up to villa II he
can turn the tables, the United States
can maintain its position that /
strong man Of Constitutionalist lean 1
fngs be selected for provisional presi-
dent But if villa also is defeated
a change in this governments policy
may be necessary.
1t is not believed any material
progress will be made at Niagara
Falls for a day or two although in
formal parleys, with discussion Of
names OF proposed officials, will con-
tinue.