The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-04-02
UNITED STATES ASKS THAT MEXICO CITY BE DECLARED NEUTRAL
Wilson Seeking Method to Protect Lives of 25,000 Foreigners in Mexi-
 can Capital

Washington, April With the hope of securing permanent protection for the 25.0o0 foreigners in Mexico City, the United States government has pro- posed 10 the Villa Zapata foces and to General Carranza that the Mexican capital be declared neutral and out side the field of operations herea fter in Mexicos civil war.
 The Villa -Zapata forces have agreed to the proposal and are willing 10 evacuate the city as soon as sim liar agreement is obtained with the Carranza authorities
 On General carranza depens also whether or not tine effort of the Uni ted States to neutralize the railway between Mexico City and Vera Cruz shall succeed as the Villa-Zapata of ficials have agreed to this.
 The plan with respect to Mexico City contemplates an arrangement where by sorder would be maintained by a local council of prominent residents The capital would not be subject to further attacks nor would there be more changes in government until a central government has been estab- lshed
 Would Relieve Anxiety
 Should the capital be declared neu- tral. much of the apprehension for the safety of foreigners would be re- moved and the famine menace elim- mated.
 No important engagements between n. ported 10 the Washington authorities today, dispatching saying that com parative quiet prevailed along the bor- der and that the Mexico City situation was unchanged.
 Minor Merriweather the American arrested by Villa officials on a charge of eounterfeiting and who was later released has complained that his per sonal effects and the money which caused his arrest were confiscated. Merriweather entered Villa territory carrying so-ealled Monclovia currency. issued by Carranza supporters which the Villa officials require to be reval : dated. Merriweather asserted that this was done on written order of General Angeles.
 Three additional nurses were ordered to Brownsville, Tex, tonight by Red Cross officials to assist in caring for the wounded Carranza-yilla soldiers moved there from Matamoros.
 Brownsville, Tex, April 1.--An aero plane and d prospective river gunboat today entered the already somewhat complicated international situation here in connection with the impending attack on Matamoros. The saeroplane. after flying to the Villa camp outside Matamoros, broke a wheel and is to- night in two sections, one large por- ton in the attacking Villa camp and one small portion on American soil fully repaired but not permitted to re- enter Mexico on account of customs regulations. Furthermore the machine is minus an aviator R. H. Rinehart of Dayton, O.. an American demon strator for the Villa aviation corps who flew the machine here from Mon terey, left for the north this evening following difficulty over financial ar engagements, it is said
 The Villa officers are now trying to hire another American aviator
 Six Deaths Occur
 The Carranza authorities in Mata- moros began negotiations today to buy d fast motorboat, announcing they in- tended to arm her with a machine gun and prevent Villa troops from ferry ing supplies across the Rio Grande above here. The Villa soldiers have been obtaining both food and ammu- milton on the American side.
 Maj Gen. Frederick Funston today inspected this Villa ferry He gave or ders that no more Mexican soldiers in to the American side. As this ferry is in an inaccessible place the Villa soldiers had been doing about as they pleased.
 A large amount of Villa supplies are piled upon the American side Of the ferry awaiting advices from Wash ington as to customs regulations at the ferry.
 Gen. Precopio Elzondo, a wounded general from the Matamoros garrison who was brought to Brownsville Sat urday, was arrested today by Texas rangers charged with murder and as- sault to murder. He was charged with the murder about 10 years ago of Elm melt Roebuck, Texas ranger, and the shooting of A Y. Baker, now sheriff of Hidalgo county.
 Six more deaths have occurred in the past 24 hours among Villa wound ed, bringing the total deaths among local wounded to 10. The accident to their aeroplane was believed tonight to have delayed plans of Villa officers to attack Matamoros.
 A force oL tarrdHza troops numDef- ing from 600 to 1000 appeared today at Los Ebanos, about 25 miles up the Rio Grande, and In the rear of the Villa troops before Matamoros. The soldiers were reported to be hungry and Carranza officials here made ar engagements to furnish them food and money. They appeared to be a de- tached organization from the Carranza army which retreated from Monterey about two weeks ago.