Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-23
Villas ARMY NEARS
GATES OF TORREON


at Vera Cruz between John Lind and
Senior Portillo y Rojas, Huerta's minister
Of foreign affairs. have not reached the
stage of formal negotiations or definite
proposals. The President made this clear
to callers today.
Administration officials do not expect
that any peace parleys which may be
started will crystalline until after the
battle of Torreon, since the outcome Of
that fight Is believed to be certain to ma
terially effect the status of the two fac
tons. o.,
Brig. Gen. Bliss, commanding the
American border forces. informed the
War Department today that in expec-
tation of battle below Guerro, Mexi-
CO, opposite Zapata. Tex. a detachment
from Troop !. 14th Cavalry. had been
Zapata. 1t was at this point that If
teen armed Mexicans were captured by
customs guards while attempting to
cross into Texas.
No Further Steps by Army.
Secretary Garrison Of the War De-
partment made 1t clear today that the
army would take no further steps in
the event that the soldiers and camp
followers held informed at Fort Bliss
were released under habeas corpus pro-
ceedings.
Should the courts direct the release
Of the Mexicans on habeas corpus pro-
ceedings, as unlawfully held interned,
the presence of the men and those
who accompany them in the United
States would be a matter for the immi-
grafton authorities to deal with. 1t
was expected today that the immigra-
ton authorities will take up the Ques-
ton soon.
Confident that Gen. Villa will succeed
In car turing Torreon within short time,
said today that he is prepared to push
forward on Monterey and Saltillo, two
other important cities in northern Mex
leo. Another rebel force under Gen. Obre-
gon. Is said to be pushing down the west
coast with the ultimate object of attack
ing San Luis Potosl, capital of the state
of the same name.
To Explain Attitude Of U. S.
The attitude of President Wilson and
the Washington administration toward
the recent attitude of Gen. Carranza Is
to be made plain to the constitutionalist
leader this week by Roberto Pesqueira,
the rebel confidential agent here. who has
gone to Juarez to meet him.
Senior Pesqueira, 1t was made plain to-
day, Is to tell Carranza that the Wash
.ngton officials are not at all pleased
with him. and that they are not relying
on him entirely to solve the situation.
1t is confidently expected by other con-
stitutionalists that Gen. Carranza will
adopt a different attitude after talking
with Senior Pesqueira-
In connection with visits here of Cen
Felix piaz. aspirant for the presidency
OF Mexico, a story was current among
Mexicans here today that he Is being
backed by men connected with what is
known as the Manning and Macintosh
claim against the Mexican government.
This claim Is now owned, it Is said, by
the Mexican Securities and Construction
Company, corporation made up of
American tlnanciers. The claim dates
pack to the Mexican war, and Is now
said to amount to more than $lOO. OOO, 600.
William H Ennis, a man who Is said to
have brought about the purchase of the
claim by the American company. was re-
ported here today to have left Mexico
City last week after working in the in
terests Of Gen. Felix Diaz.