Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
SIXTY ARE killed
IN MEXICO BATTLE
ConstitutionaIists Triumph in
Engagement in Nueva
Leon State.
FIGHTING NEAR TORREON
REPORTED TO HAVE BEGUN
Rumor That Huerta Is to Take the
Field Is Being Seriously
Discussed.

BROWNSVILLE. Tex, March 7-Sixty
Mexican federals. including six officers,
were killed In battle Wednesday in the
nils between Monte Morelos and Cade-
royta, In the state of Nuevo Leon. accord
ing to news received today in Matamoros
at constitutionalist headquarters
The rebels said they lost two dead and
seven of their men wounded, including two
omcers. Capt. Antonio Choa and Capt
Dfonisio Benavides
The report stated that the federals oc-
cupied strong position on the hills. but
were dislodged after six hours' fighting
Another engagement is reported to have
occurred near Altamira, near Tampico.
In which ten federals and three rebels
were killed
To Arm Americans.
VERA CRUZ, March 7-Following
the recent dispatch from this city to the
British and German legations in Mexico
City of machine guns and squads of
trained gunners, arrangements have been
made to place in the hands of all Amer
leans. capable of bearing arms. weapons
for self-defense in the event of an up
rising in the Mexican capital.
A shipment of !. 600 rifles and a large
eeny by 81 steamer fro% the hsss
OF the rifles, go were dispatched to the
capital and arrived there today. The re-
naming $50 are placed on board the
flagship Florida for disposal at the dis
cretion Of Admiral Fletcher.
The shipment was made with the con-
currence Of the Mexican government but
every effort was made to prevent the
fact gaining publicity. The arms and
O. mi f~Vr Ntn
vested OF all marks indicating the char
acter Of their contents. The chests sent
to the capital were placed on board a
special car attached to a passenger train
on the Mexican railway. with all the
secrecy possible, fears having been en-
tertained that the followers of the rebe!
leader Emiliano Zapata might deraii the
train for the purpose Of capturing the
arms.
1t is not known whether marines or
bluejackets accompanied the shipment to
Mexico City. II they did SO they were
In citizens dress. It Is understood that
the American embassy In the capital al
ready has several guns and that there
colony and also a number Of men with
military experience who are competent
to act as leaders in the organization Of
plans for self-defense.
Fighting Near Torreon.
MEXICO CITY, March Light fight
ing north and west of Torreon was re-
ported to the var department today by
Gen. Velasco, who claimed that he had
repulsed the enemy in both directions.
Supporting the rumor that President
Huerta intends temporarily to leave
the presidency and assume command
OF a division of the army. Gil Bias. an
afternoon Spanish newspaper, today
devoted considerable space to discuss
To- XII
the executive.
Secretary of State Bryan has in
structed Nelson OShaughnessy. the
American charge d'affaires, to urge the
government to release Inocencio Bena-
vides. resident on the frontier, who
was arrested several days ago by fed
eral troops and charged with being
implicated in the rebellion.
This affair promises to develop into
an important incident. since the au-
thorities appear to have no informa
ton concerning the whereabouts OF
Benavides and the embassy has been
unable to locate him. He was traced
through Saltillo into Guanajuato by
the embassy. but there he was lost
The State Department at Washington
presumes that Benavides is an Ameri-
can.
Abandonment of the proposed scheme
to re-establish a federal bank through
which the government could issue its own
currency was discussed at the palace to-
day. and it appeared probable tonight
that such a bank would not be one Of the
means used for raising money The
scheme, 1t is said, met with the oppo-
sition Of Adolfo de la Lama, minister OF
finance, and the antagonism toward Il
by the regular banks was undisguised.
The announced intention to establish
the federal bank was one OF the reasons
for the high rate Of exchange today. al
though there was some evidence that the
increase was artificial. The national
bank was one of the heaviest buyers OF
exchange late today. The exchange rate
stiffened toward the closing Of the mar
ket, when the selling rate dropped from
$50 to 335.
The banks were flooded with demands
for such exchange, based largely on
the announcement by the government
Of the establishment of bank of is
sue with unstable bonds as collateral.
The banks of today were offering $40
for 100. and predictions were current
that the rate would reach 400 to 100
In the near future.
The prices Of foodstuffs and all i'm
spondinsly.
Case Of Terrazas.
Ell PASO. Tex. March 7.-when Con-
sui Letcher left here today to return to
his post at Chihuahua 1t was reported
that he carried instructions from Secre-
terry Of State Bryan with reference to the
case Of Luis Terrazas. jr.. who is being
held for ransom by Gen. Villa.
1t is said that Gen. Villa and Gen. Car
ranza both will be informed that the
State Department could but construe the
threatened execution of Terrazas as in
dicative Of great weakness in the rebel
government of northern Mexico.
This information came from a rebel Of
hcial today. The official added that the
Carranza commission appointed to inves-
tigate the killing of William S. Benton
was prepared to face any facts which
might be unearthed derogatory to the ac-
tons of Gen. Villa or his subordinates.
1T will not be whitewash." he added,
land ask you to observe particularly
that the assurances given to Washington
on this point have carried conviction
with them
Rebels Get War Material.
NACO. Ariz., March 7.-customs re-
ports issued today at this port of entry
show to what extent the Mexican con-
in Sonora have taken ad-
vantage Of President Wilson's act of a
month ago in lifting the embargo on ex-
portation Of arms from the United States
into Mexico.