Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1914-05-14
Federals Retreating by Way
of Railroad Leading to
San Louis Potosi.
HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE.
Victorious Soldiers in Pursuit of Fed
erals-Few Details Of the Recent
Bloody Battle.

Washington, May 14.-Evacuation
of Tampico by the Mexican Federal
garrison began at 1880 yesterday,
according to a relayed wireless dis
patch to the Navy Department from
Rear-Admiral Mayo. The Federal
troops were leaving by the railroad.
That the rebels encountered des-
perate resistance in their final at
tack, and that they were compelled
to carry their fight to the heart of
the town was indicated by Rear
Admiral Mayo's report. He report
ed that at II o'clock today when it
was reported the rebels had occupied
Tampico, there was heavy rifle fir
ing in the plaza, and that big gun
firing continued.
Advices received by Constitution
alists here said the Federals were
evacuating Tamrico, but details
were lacking.
The Federals were retreating by
way of the railroad leading to San
Luis Potosi, and it was assumed that
they hoped to reach Pachuca, the
terminus of railway line that leads
Indirectly to Mexico City. The rail
road out of Tampico to Monterey,
is held by the Constitutonalist.
Monterey, Mex, May 14.--Tam-
pico was occupied yesterday even,
ing by Constitution ;s.ts, urlHaa com
mand OF Generals Pablo Gonzales
and Luis Caballero. Loss Of life was
heavy on both sides. A. heavy force
has been sent in pursuit of the
Federals who are said to be attempt
ing to reach San Luis Potosi by rail.
The railroad sout:of Tampico runs
through the Panuco river bottoms.
The Consttutionalists, under Gene
tal Eulalio Gutierrez; hald many
points on the Tampico-San Luis Po::
tosi line as far east as CardenaS,
which lis ;sixty-three miles east OF
SAM EuiS,l It,is. doubtful, I*eyen if
the Federals manage to escape from
fampico by rail. if: they; can get by
Gutierrez "
Washington, May 14.-The United
States may recognize athe- belligeren-
cy of the Mexican constitutionalists.
Formal demand that it do so is ex-
pected to be made by General Car
ranza almost Immediately. With
Tampico, the second most important
seaport in! Mexico, in his possession,
and with Mazatlan's fall an almost
immedia late certainty, the success of
the. revolution seems assured. But
arms and ammunition are again a
necessity. Without them the con-
stitutfonalists cannot move against
Mexico City and the South. And
unless their belligerency is recog-
uizcd the United States cannot per-
nit their importation either from the
United States or through the
port of Vera Cruz. Therefore
the constitutionalists junta here is
in constant communication with Car
rama and his provisional cabinet
debating the advisability Of asking
that they be accorded belligerent
rights.
And in view of the openly express
ed friendship of the Administration
for Carranza and Villa it is believed
and Villa it is believed the
President would be willing to accord
such recognition unless plan can
be devised whereby the mediation
proposals, to be made by the 4. B
c. representatives. can be made sat
isfactory to the constitutionalists.
The fall of Tampico overShadoweC
all else today. 1t has served 10 en-
phasize the extent of enormous ter
ritory already held by the Car
ranz!stas. And it also emphasize;
the almost complete Isolation 0:
Huerta. His revenues are complete
ly interrupted.