The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-24
Mexican FederaIs Attack Texas
Town.
Great Excitement Prevails
There This Afternoon.
IT IS UP TO HuERTA
President Wilson Announces
That Nothing Will Be Done
Unless 1t Is Brought On by the
Other Side.
He AGAIN WARNS THE REBELS
No Action Against Them If
They Remain Neutral.
Mas Is Concentrating an Army
Along the Railroad.
President Wilson Announces
That Nothing Will Be Done
Unless It Is Brought On by the
Other Side.
He AGAIN WARNS THE REBELS
No Action Against Them II
They Remain Neutral.
Mas Is Concentrating an Army
Along the Railroad.

Along the Railroad.
San Antonio, April 24.-A long dis
tance telephone message received here
at 2:35 p. m. said that Mexican fed
erals in NuevO Laredo, Mexico, had
fired the town and were firing across
the river into Laredo, Texas.
The federals evacuated NuevO La
redo yesterday but returned during
the night. They found the Mexican
town deserted, the Inhabitants hav-
ing fled to the Texas side, fearing at
tack by bandits. According to the
reports received here the federals dy-
namited the customs house, the tele-
graph Office and railroad property in
Nuevo Laredo and then started an
attack ON Laredo.
What damage has been done to the
American town was not known but
great excitement prevails.
Americans Return Fire.
Laredo, April 24.-Mexican federals
today wrought destruction in Neuvo
Laredo, across the river from this
place, blew up the public building
with dynamite and then turned their
guns across the international boun-
dairy. At o'clock the Mexican town
was burning in several places. All
available United States troops. here
have been called out to control the
situation.
1t was reported that three persons
had been killed, bu the Mexicans.
fire, but in the excitement prevailing
it was impossible to verify this report
imme diately. Americans attracted to
the border said that probably ten or
twelve Mexicans were seen to fall
when American troops on border pa
troll returned the fire.
NuevO Is Doomed BY Fire.
Among the buildings destroyed in
Nuevo Laredo were the United States
consulate. the municipal building the
flour mill, one Of the largest in this
section Of the southwest: the post
office, theatre and the custom house.
At 3:15 the fire. originating from
the explosions or deliberately set, had
spread to all quarters of the city,
which appeared doomed.
Americans Shoot True.
Another report which could not be
confirmed Immediately was that the
Mexicans and American troops had
brisk skirmish across the interna-
tional boundary, the accurate Ameri
can fire driving the federals back.
The federals opened fire on the Amer
leans as the federal troop trains
pulled out of the city. The railroad
follows the international line for
some distance going south and from
windows and platforms the Mex
leans began a rapid fire, aiming in
discriminatory at any person II, sight.
Washington, April 24.-President Will
son and his war staff today proceeded
with their plans for operations in Mex
leo. The day found every available
American warship ploughing southwark
for the Mexican coast and a brigade
of the First army division, shipping in
transports from Galveston for Vera
Cruz. This army force would place
more than 10000 American troops in the
Mexican seaport to hold the city or
begin offensive operations toward Mex
tco City with Vera Cruz as a base. No
plans for further aggressive move
ments aboutVera Cruz were made today.
The president in. talking over the situ-
alton with callers, said that for the
president no general campaign out
side of Vera Cruz was planned, and
that no further campaign would be be-
gun unless General Huerta declared
war.
The president told Representative
Fitzgerald that no further war funds
We're needed as yet. and that none
would be asked unless a general war
was precipitated by Huerta.
Washington, April 24.-The war
department today announced that it
would be unable to move the entire
brigade ordered from Galveston to
Vera Cruz in available army trans
ports. The department said that it
would be necessary to charter mer-
chant vessels for the movement Of the
troops; that the department was not
in a position to complete arrange
ments for such ships and that further
authorization and further funds were
needed through congressional action
President Wilson today told Chan :
man Fitzgerald of the house COM
Agnittee on appropriations who had
come to the White House to learn IL
any war funds were needed, that no
appropriation was required "for the
present" In discussing the general
situation with callers the president
explained that no aggressive act to
asgravate the status of affairs would
be taken by the American govern
ment
Rebels Must Keep Quiet.
The president wished 1t to be i'm
pressed generally that the United
States had not adopted a threatening
attitude toward the constitutionalists
In Mexico. but merely that it expected