Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-05-20
VILLA WAS
VICTORIOUS
At !! PkRED0N |
ovERCoMEs FORCE OF 5000
FEDBRALs AND CAPTURES
AMMUNITION.
CONFERENCE OPENS TODAY
Mediators Headed for Canada
In An Effort to- Compose
Crisis.

FL PaS0, IeXaS, May lS.-GeneTds
Villa defeated a federal force of 5000
at Paredon, according to message
from Isidro Fabela, acting minister,
Of foreign relations in Carranza's
cabinet. The date of the engagement
was not given. but the message said
the federals suffered a severe loss
in killed and wounded. 1t is said two
federal generals are among the killed.
Captured 800.
The message stated that Villa cap
tured 800 prisoners, several machine
guns and 100000 rounds of ammuni-
tion and large quantity of military
supplies.
This was the only direct informa-
tiOn reaching here, although desper-
ate fighting undoubtedly is in prog
ress before Saltillo, but the wires
from the front are silent and are be-
lieved to be under the stern order of
Villa. The engagement mentioned
has proven puzzle to men following
the campaign. 1t has been reported
that the rebels occupied Paredon af-
ter defeating 400 federals. The quesl
tion of how 5000 federal troops could
reach Paredon, As miles from the fed
eral base, since Friday, with the rail-
cut off, and engage in battle undoubt-
edly fought two or three days since,
is unsolved tonight. ~
..RELAxEs At WASHINGTON. 1
Washington, May 19.-With media
ti0n proceedings removed to Niagara
Falls, the activity here in the Mex
ican situation notably relaxed. The
American commiss sioners left for the
scene of the conference, followed lat,
er,=by Minister SHare2 of Chile, tho
last of the mediators to leave. All
will be on hand at the opening of the
conference tomorrow.
Special Wire.
A special wire Is to keep the presi-
dent informed on every step of the
proceedings. All the important ques-
tions will be submitted to the presi-
dent before the American representa-.
tives take action.
There is every indication that Off.
cials do not expect prolonged con.
ference.
The president and cabinet discussed
conditions, but there were no notable
developments relative to Mexico.
Dollar . Noisy Thing.
A senate letter from a government
official at Vera Cruz, the name with
held, was read, stating that the AM
erican dollar is "the noisiest thing
in Mexico" Anxiety over the per-
sistent lack of information regarding
American Consul Silliman at Saltillo
and ten members of the Smith fam
lily reported to be held at Tenola,
Chiapas, continued at the state de-
partment.
Diplomatic efforts to secure definite
reports were pressed. Mexico City
is reported quiet. Two hundred refu-
gees left tonight for Puerto Mexico.
Niagara Falls, Ont, May 19.-On
the eve of the opening here of the
mediation conference for the settle
ment of the Mexican problem, practi-
cally everything is in readiness for
the proceedings to begin. At $500 to-
morrow afternoon, the hour set for
the formal opening of the first ses-
sion. ah'iss
The arrival late tonight from Wash.
ingtons of the third mediator, Eduar-
do Suarez, Chilean minister, and two
American delegates, Justice Lamar
and Frederick Lehman, will COM
plete the conference personnel. The
three Mexican delegates are due to
arrive tomorrow morning.
Ambassador Da Cana and Minister
Naon have been here since yesterday,
and are busy completing many de-
tails of preparations, especially to
formulation of tentative rules of pro-
cedure for the conference. Tomor-
row will be devoted mainly to formal
tiles incident to starting the interna-
tional gathering.