Evening star., 1914-03-13
Mexicans Here Believe Car
rama Will Act in Deaths
of Benton and Bauch.
GIVES GENERAL CHANCE
TO SHOW HIS AUTHORITY
Secretary Bryan Acknowledges Re-
ceipt Of Huerta's Note, But it
Carries No Significance.

Decisive action on the part of Gen.
CarranZa. in Furnishing the murderer Of
w. S. Benton. the British subject killed
al JuareZ, was believed today by Mexi
cans In Washington to be forecasted by
the reported arrest in Chihuahua City
of Maj. Fierro. on whom private in
formation received here several days
ago placed the blame for Bentons
death.
Ever since Carranza named his commits
sion to investigate the killing of Benton
and Guatav Bauch, an American. sup
porters of the Mexican consttutionalists
here have insisted that there will be no
whiteWashing done by the commission.
but that if any wrong was found to have
been done the guilty party would be pun
lshed and proper reparaton would be
made.
Information received here has been to
the effect that Benton and Villa had a
dispute, and that Fierro pulled his re-
volver in Villas Office and shot the Eng
iishman. Fferro and Villa have long
been friends, it is said and therefore
Villa tried TO defend him despite his
realization that the affair might have
serious consequences.
Friends of the conStitutionaiSts also
say that Carranza realizes fully that in
great measure his authority over the
rebel forces in the eyes of the outside
world will rest on the manner in which
and that he has an excellent opportunity
to stop the frequent reports that he is a
mere fgurehead.
French Cruiser Off Mexican Coast.
The French cruiser Montcalm. on
way to Santa Rosalia, has reached Quay
mas, on the west coast of Mexico. it is
reported to the Navy Department by
Commander Taylor, in command of the
navy transport Buffalo. also in harbor
at GuaEmas. The Montcalm. COM
manded Dy Rear Admiral Huget. will
proceed Wednesday of next week to her
destined port.
Santa Rcsalia is the home Of a consid-
cradle French colony. Ii Is a port in
Lower California on the gulf coast. An
American gunboat, taking a survey of
conditions, crossed from Guaymas to
Santa Rosalia a few days ago. starting
visit indicates that conditions We're found
tranquil, although no report has been
given out by the Navy Department
Santa Rosalia is Practically out Of the
zone of telegraphic communication. like
many points on the Bay of Lower Cali
fornia- The dispatches from the -Ameri-
can warshfps and from insurrectory
sources in Sonora provide what in
formation is received by the outside
world at this time.
Acknowledgment Of the receipt of
the note of President IIuerta of Mexico
has been made to the Mexican embassy
IN Washington.
The acknowledgment is no more than
formal procedure of diplomatic courtesy
and has no greater Significance. Nor has
II the status of new procedure as the
State department has consistently ac-
knowledged the receipt of all state COM
munications through the Mexican en-
baSsy since the new administration came
into power. although there was some de-
lay in this act Of courtesy in the earliest
days Of the Wilson regime.
Arms Question at Standstill
Secretary Bryan this morning denied
protest against the lifting of tie embargo
OH the shipment OF arms. In fact he had
no knowledge of the formal letter sent
10 the Mexican embassy, but was certain
that no other Importance than usual
courtesy attached to any communication
from the State Department on the Sub
ject. 1t is well understood that the state
Department is planning no reply to She
memorandum, which asks for the CO.
operation of the United States to sup
press conditions of anarchy in northern
Mexico. by resembling the order lifting
the embargo on arms.
Gen. Felix Diaz and his friends re-
manned here today, but his expected
plan 70 solve the Mexican question did
not materiaiiZe. 1t is said by his friends
that ne is still hard at work on his PLAN
and that an announcement Will be made
soon. 1t is said that ne two MexicauS
who are to appear before the House for
eiSn affairs committee tomorrow have no
connection with DiaZ.