Evening star., 1915-03-31
QUIET ON BORDER,
FUNSTON REPORTS
Only Desu|tory Firing During
Night on Mexican Side
of Line.
U. S. INFANTRY REGIMENT
HELD AT TEXAS CITY
Villa Reported at Torreon Going
Away From the Scene of
Hostiites.

Maj. Gen. Funston, who has taken
personal charge of the situation at
Brownsville, commanding the Ameri-
can forces stationed along the border
to preserve American lives and prop
erty during the impending battle, to-
day reported to Secretary Garrison;
.Desultory firing on both sides last
night. Everything quiet today"
Should more troops be necessary on
the American side at Laredo. Tex, In
the event Of an attack on Nuevo La
redo, regiment of infantry Is in readi-
ness at Texas City.
Gen. Villa apparently has abandoned
his plan to personally direct the fight
ing at Matamoros. State Department
and Carranza and Villa agency reports
agree that he is at Torreon. going
south, but differ as to the reason.
The Villa agency announced that he
was organizing an expedition to round
up Carranza troops operating In north
ern Sonora near the American border.
The Carranza agency claims villa
went to Torreon to prevent Gen. Triana
from going over with his entire force
to Eulalio Gutierrez. after a quarrel
with Gen. Angeles
Assembling for Battle.
Advices from the border to the State
and War departments report the Villa
forces bound to attack the Carranza
garrison at Nuevo Laredo were expect
ed to reach Lampazos last evening,
where a battle probably will be
fought" Earlier messages said Car
rama troops were being assembled at
Nuevo Laredo, including the force re-
Gently driven out Of Piedras Negras
and presumably a part of this force will
be sent out along the National railway
to meet the Villa force at Lampazos II
the battle is not already in progress.
The situation at Matamoros and at
Brownsville, across the border, Is
tense. The Villa troops. repulsed Sat
urday in their first attack, are en-
camped five miles from the city. the
State Department was advised, expect
ing to renew the assault on arrival OF
their artillery.
On the American side a dozen guns
from the Sd Field Artillery are ready
for any emergency. Secretary Garri-
son said the instructions sent to Cen
Funston were similar to those given
when bullets and shells fell on the
American side during the fighting at
Naco. The Secretary refused to say.
however, whether orders had been
thing happened at Brownsville.
SITUATION In Capital.
Secretary Bryan characterized the
situation at Mexico City as uncertain,
but with no disorders" No report
tending to confirm statements that the
Zapata forces were preparing to aban-
don the capital again had reached the
department
The food situation is again somewhat
critical. Mr.. Bryan said, but Gen. Garza
has given assurances that something
will be done to meet the emergency
Reports from the border that Villa
had demanded Of Zapata that Gen. Fe-
lipe Angeles be installed as provisional
president In place Of Gen. Cara caused
considerable discussion here Gen. Villa
was at Torreon, and expected to start
southwark in day or two
Some officials were inclined to credit
the reported action of Villa, saying
that he probably considered that Gen.
Cara was coming too much under the
control of Zapata and his advisers, and
that Gen. Angeles could dominate the
situation in the capital.
No foreigners have yet left Mexico
City, Secretary Bryan said. although
both the Carranza and Zapata otiicia Is
have promised to afford them facilities
latter place said Ell Potrera sugar plan
tation, sixty miles from Vera Cruz, had
been looted by rebel band, and the
manager had asked for IA military
guard