The Elbert County tribune., 1914-12-18
GENERAL SCOTT STARTS FOR
NAco TO PERSUADE MExI-
CANS TO QUIT FIRING
OVER LINE.
BATTLE NEAR TORREON
GUNS CRASH ABOUT NORTHERN
RAIL CENTER IN FIRST DE-
cIsIvE CLASH OF
RIVALS.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Washington.-Brig. Gen. Hugh l..
Scott. chief Of staff of the United
States army, left Wednesday for Naco.
Ariz.. to endeavor to use his personal
influence with the warning factions
near Naco to stop firing into American
territory. He was accompanied by
Lieut.. Col. Robert E. L. Niche, who
was on thes staff OF General Scott
when the latter was at Ell Paso.
Should this final effort fail, and the
threat OF the American government,
communicated both to Provisional
President Gutierrez and General Car
rama, that force would be used II their
subordinates did not cease firing into
the United States go unheeded. it is
generally understood that a defensive
fire will be begun by the six batteries
of artillery, eleven troops of cavalry
and three regiments of infantry which
have been ordered by the Washington
authorities to the international line.
Gen. Scott will not supersede Gen.
Bliss, who is In command of the Naco
situation, but will act in diplomatic
capacity, role in which he had sue
cess in a similar situation at El Paso
and the troubles among the Arizona
Indians.
Provisional President Gutierrez has
assured the United States government
that none of the executions which have
occurred in Mexico City recently have
been at his orders, but were the re.
suit of "the commission of actual
crimes"
Gutierrez said a decree would be
published prohibiting the carrying out
of summary executions, and providing
for the trial OF. the accused by court
martial, with someone being permitted
to conduct the Defense"
incidentally, 1t was learned that the
United States government, in view OF
the recent executions in Mexico City
had pointed out in a friendly way tc
the Gutierrez government the horror
which the civilized world felt toward
such occurrences. American consular
representatives, moreover, were in
structed to indicate that the American
government could not but view with
! disfavor such Incidents.
An American battery was placed on
the Bisbee road nearly three miles
from Naco but about two miles from
the border in straight line and di
rectly north Of Governor Maytorena's
headquarters. This battery faces the
front of the villista force besieging
Gen. Hills Carranza soldiers in Naco
Sonora. 1t also places Hills east
trenches. The guns are trained direct
ly south, and the gunners are sta
toned beside their artillery. Two more
American batteries are in the same rel
ative position as the one installed ex
! cept that they are further west.
Battle Raging.
Ell Paso.-The first decisive battle
between the Carranza and Villa fac
tions of the constitutionalist revolu.
Zionist army is in progress near San
Pedro de las Colonias. a town east OF
Torreon. Several columns of Car
rama troops from Coahuila state, ag
gregating about 5000 men, are being
engaged by Villa force of slightly
superior number.
Reinforcements for both sides are
| being rushed to the scene of conflict.
Both sides have ample artillery and
the fighting is described as desperate.
The Carranza force Is commanded by
Col. Ilifonzo Vasquez, a man of less
than thirty years.