The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1914-09-27
MEXICAN WAR
| IS SURE THING
General Villas Army is On
the March to Clash
With the Army Of
Carranxa.
THOUSANDS TAKE PART
constltutionaIIst Army Of 1900 Men
Has Been Isolated by Destruc-
tion Of DrId1es and
Railroads.

nultroA0O.
limited Press Leased Wire service.1
| WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-complete
isolation Of the constituttonalist army
Of $4,000 men under General Jesus
carranza In the lsthmus Of Tehaun-
tspec, rendering Il useless In de-
fensive campaign against Villa, has
been accomplished through the de-
struction Of long stretches Of rail
roads BY ex-federaI soldiers who are
now allies Of Villa. This was stated
In an OFFICIAL report to the war depart
,--nt tonight from General Funston at
Vera Cruz. The ex-fsdsrais who are
now cooperating with the new revolu-
ton, are said to be from 5000 to 5000
strong and are commanded by PigenIo
AoulIar and Benjamin Aroumedo. 4
force Of 100 men from Soiedad, rein
forced by others from Cordoba and
orzaba have been sent by General
Candida A0uiIar, loyal constitution
ist, to oivs battle to the sx-federaIs
and drive them out II possible, 20 that
the railroads and telegraph commune
cation can be kept open between Vera
Cruz and Mexico City.
With Wills threatening on the north,
Zapata on the west and the ex-feder-
ais east Of Mexico City, the situation
Of carranza was considered tonight
to have grown perilous. General Fun
ston reports that the blocking Of the
railroad had been accomplished BY
the federals turning freight trains
loose In opposite directions. Long
stretches Of track have been torn up
and bridgea destroyed.
MARCHING TO WAR.
CHIHUAHUA, Mexico, Sept, 2e.-
Ten thousand Mexican troops support
Ina the new revolution Of General
francisco Villa, with thirty-five field
pieces, left this city today for the
front below Torreon 70 give battle to
the forces Of Provisional President
]Venustiano carranza.
They will 90 directly to Torreon
and from there will divide into two
armies. one will move on saItiIIo,
capital Of the state Of coahuiIIa and
carranza's stronghold, and the other
will move south to attack the Car.
ranzista army which 10 reported mob
iIIzlng at Apuas Galleries.
saItiIio Is regarded by General VII
Ia 40 the key to northeastern Mexico
and he plans to rush his campaign to
conclusion there.
There have been several thousand
troops In Torreon since the mobiIiza-
tion has begun and part Of the troops
are already moving east Of Torreon
toward saItiIIo. At HipolIto, sta
ton east Of Torreon, small detach-
ment Of csrranza cavalry was en-
countered and were fired on by Villas
troops. The carranza cavalry immed-
lately retired.
There 10 some question Of loyalty
70 villa Of General Panofil Natera,
commander In chief Of the central
| military zone, comprising the state Of
zacatecas through which the Villa
forces must pass to reach Aauas Cal
| ientes. Il was feared at Villa head
quarters that Natera might espouse
| the cause Of carranza and give battle
to Villas troops when they attempt
20 move through the state.
General Aivero Oregon, according
20 vlIiistas, promised Villa to remain
! absolutely neutral in the war with
carranza. He has passed Torreon In
special train enroute from Chi
huahua to Mexico City with an i'm
portant communication for carranxa.
Since leaving Torreon, no report has
been received Of his whereabouts and
Il 10 not known whether he arrived
safely In carranza territory.
vita was confined to his room TO-
day on account Of Illness. He even
refused to see his generals who were
In command Of the movement south,
before their departure.
Convention on Thursday.
WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-The con-
vention scheduled for October 1, In
Nexico City, representing over q hun
6rea thousand constitutionalist sol
diers. will compose the differences
between Carranza and Villa, Gastavo
tIireles, Carranzas private secretary
declared tonight. All divisions Of the
army will be represented at the
meeting, he stated. Mireles advised,
however that 1.-THE success Of the con-
yention will depend upon the unbias-
ed consideration Of the wants Of the
entire nation"
Carranza's secretary has been here
several days on a vacation. Most OF
the time, however, he has been i'll.
He said he is on no special mission
1,r the first chief.
Unconfirmed Report.
CHIHUAHUA, Sept 26.-An uncon-
i6rmed report was received here to