Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-31
Constitutional Troops in
Control of Old Huerta
Capital.
Is FIGHTING AT XALC0
Fresh Complications at Vera
Cruz Cause Holding of Amer
ican Vessels There.

Washington, d. c.. Aug. 31.-General
Carranza has dismissed the police
force of Mexico City and substituted
constitutionalist troops. Reports were
received today of fighting between
General Banderas, former federal Off
Ger. and some of the constitutionalist
troops at Xalco.
Shortly after Carranza entered Mex
leo City. Secretary OF the Navy Dan
iels began ordering back vessels of
the American fleet which have been
stationed on the east coast of Mexico
At We "a Cruz and Tampico. This
movement has ceased, and il is now an
nOunced at the navy department that
no more vessels will be ordered home
for the present"
Officers of the general stan are frank
in admitting that they believe crisis
is at hand and that the Mexican situ-
atioSl is more grave today than at any
time during the Huerta regime except,
rossibt.T-the few days preceding and
Immediately after the occupation OF
Vera Cruz by American armed forces.
Carranza Has Been Arrogant.
Since the first day he assumed pow
er, according 10 official dispatches re-
ceived by the war department, Car
rama has been acting in an arrogant
and high-handed manner.
one of his first acts was to cut on
the line of communication between
Vera Cruz and Mexico City. He refus-
ed To- allow any trains TO pass over the
railroad between the two cities and
ordered the telegraph wires cut, ac-
cording to the information received.
The protest sent 10 him by messen-
ger by Brigadier General Funston was
unheeded. II was not until Brigadier
General Funston ordered that all the
railroad equipment at Vera Cruz, or
within the American zone OF influence,
should be confiscated that Carranza
came to his senses and permitted the
resumption OF traffic between the two
cities.
This fact has been known at the war
department for several days, but has
been kept from the public by orders
of the highest government officials.
Another fact which has been sup
pressed is that hundreds of business
IL.
have been thrown into Jail by Carran-
za's orders. because they refuse TO pay
TO his government second" duty on
goods which they have imported.
Since occupation of Vera Cruz by
the American forces the customs of
that port have been administered by
specially designated American army Of
ficers. All duties, according to the
Mexican tariff, have been paid TO this
officer, and, while no direct statement
has been issued by the administration
the disposition OF these
FUNDS, it is generally understood that
they would be held in escrow pending
n settlement of American and other
foreign claims for damages inflicted |
during the war.
Business Men Jailed.
Such a settlement cannot be made |
until a permanent government Is es-
tablisne6 and recognized by the Unit |
ed States.
Carranza, however, according to Of /
fetal dispatches, has demanded from |
importers who have once paid duty To |
the American officials that they shall |
again pay duty TO him, and on failure |
to receive the money he has promptly |
thrown them into jail. 1t is reported |
that several hundred business men OF
prominence now are in Jail on this
account.
Members OF the general staff believe /
that even President Wilson's patience
can nu sustain such affronts as Gen
eral CArranza has been putting upon I
and the United States gov
arnment much longer. They believe |
a crisis is at hand. and that interven-
ton must follow.