The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-05
Mexican Rebels Capture First
Seaport in Long Time.
Fan of the City Accompanied
by Hot Fighting.
|THE GARRISON VAS WEAKENED
By Withdrawal Of Troops to
Guard Guaymas.
Arms and Ammunftion Arr
Pouring Across the Border.

Pouring Across the Border.
Nogales, Feb. 5.-Maxatlan, an i'm
portant seacoast port ID the state Of
Sinaloa. was taken by Carranxa's rebels
today. according to rebel advices from
Sonora.
The rebels had been investing the
city for some time. having captured
Culiacan. the state scapital. several
weeks ago.
Culiacan is north Il Ma.atlan and
it was used by the rebels as a supply
base for their attack on the federal
troops in Mazatlan.
The federals had taken the larger
portion of their 'troops out Of Mazat-
Ian and sent them t9 the defense of
Guaymas. which they evidently
thought the rebels wtuld first try to
invest This weakentd the garrison
to such an extent tn 1t the rebel in
vestiture was compask ktively easy, al
though much hot fehtfng Is said to
have accompanied tho fall Of the port
The rebels used artillery in the at
tack and their shells shattered many
OF the buildings in the town. The
rebels had the advantage OF protect
ing hills in the attack and the federal
gun fire was not serious.
Mazatlan is the home Of many rich
Spaniards and Mexic4ns. The faH OF
the town will place many people with
money in q position where they may
be forced to contribute to the rebels
Mazatlan is a port nom which much
shipping is done. 1t Is also the home
OF many fishermen. AID it's carEoes 20
not only to Mexican hut to California
ports. The capture OF Mazatlan
places the first seaport IN the possess
sion of the rebels. For months the
Carranzcistas have sbattled for the
possession of Guaynaas, sonora, the
most important seaport. without
Many with Arms to sell.
Cuiiacan. Mexico. Fbb. Lifting Of
the embargo On tho exportation of
great activity amolE constitutional
military chiefs. General CarTanxa's
headquarters hcre w1xe flooded today
With telegrams from safmB manufac-
turers in many parts Of the world. The
propositions offered showed the action
OF President Wilson had aided the
credit Of the revolutionary party.
II, as expected. the United States de-
Hvered the arms and ammunition con-
f1scated along the border since the be-
ginning Of the rebellion the insurgents
would have the elements necessary to
begin at once an aggressive campaign.
It is fntimated that about 1,0oo. 600
cartridges and nearly 5000 rifles have
been confiscated by the United States
authorities during the last year.
Huerta Issues an Order.
Mexico City. Feb. 5.-A circular of in
structions was issued today, by Pro-
visional President Huerta, to the chiefs
of all army divisions and governors Of
states 1t recites the government has
begun a more active campaign against
the rebels and urges that extreme dill
gence be observed. in giving Ill possible
protection to non-combatants. foreign
as well as native, removing them when
necessary from the zones Of operations.
Takes Conservative View.
Mexico City, Feb. 5.-Dr. Igancio Al
cocer. acting minister of the interior. in
commenting today on the raising of the
embargo on arms by the United States
said it was proof of the sincerity of
PRESIDENT Wilson. since for long time
nobody had been ignorant of the fact
that there had been undisguised toler-
ance in the matter of introducing arms
and ammunition across the border. He
said it would not aid the revOlutionists
but that on the other hand, the Mexican
government would profit by it "since it
presents happy opportunity to make
known the power which it really pos
sesses.''
DR.. Alcocer said he hoped in the near
future Mexico would have amicable re-
lations with the United States because
right and justice were bound to prevail
Get Back Their Guns.
Washington, Feb. 5.-Hundreds of
thousands Of rounds of rifle and ma
chine gun ammunition under seizure
along the Mexican border are being
turned over to the constitutionalists as
fast az they prove ownership. During
the two years the embargo on arms has
been in force, agents of the department
of justice have arrested hundreds Of
men in the act of Transporting arms
across the border and have seized car
loads Of ammunition. In many cases
the ammunition so seized was turned
over after it had been used as evidence
+, Such arms as may be needed as evi-
. dence against persons. still under in
dictment, will not be released for the
present 1t was said however. the de-
partment of justice probably will not
attempt to prosecute all the cases
against arms smugglers.