The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1915-07-21
Message from a Responsible
Source Pictures the Situa-
ton as Desperate
IMPORTANT BATTLE -
is HOURLY EXPECTED
Carranza Promises Speedy Victory
Over the Villa Columns Suspension
of Railroad Communication Viewed
with Alarm in Washington.

WASHINGTON, July 21-Despatch-
es to the state department from Mex
leo City late yesterday announced that
Zapata forces reoccupied the capital
Sunday, following the evacuation by
| the Carranza army under Gen. Coma
les Zapata officials were said to have
! resumed full control of the city, from
which they were driven 10 days ago
| by Gonzales, who now has gone north
ward with his troops to meet an adj
vancing Villa force.
This development came as a surprise
not only to officials of the Washing
: ton government but to both the Mex
lean agencies. 1t had been known that
the Zapata army, defeated and har-
assed on retreat, was operating along
the railroad to Vera Cruz, waiting an
opportunity to form a. junction with
the villa column approaching from the
north.
No word has been received of the
whereabouts of Gen. Gonzales since he
quit the capital. News of n battle near
Pachuca, already reached by Villa s
men, is hourly expected and may al
ready have occurred, messages being
received in Washington requiring "A
hours in transmission.
Other reports to the state depart
ment during the day said that railroad
communication between Vera Cruz and
Mexico City was suspended "On ac
count of the present military opera
TONS but no details of the opera
tions were disclosed. Suspension OF
railroad communication is viewed IL
Washington with alarm for the suffer
: ing people in Mexico City, as this ac
tion completely cuts off the sending O.
mueh-needed food supplies. A private
message from a responsible source re
r ceived yesterday pictured the situa
tion as desperate.
A state department announcement
n last night regarding the latest chang
in authority at Mexico City said:
1.-THE department is in receipt o
advices, dated about noon on the 10th
from Mexico City, stating that tn
n evacuation of the city is complete. TIL
y Zapatistas occupied the city on tn
afternoon of the 18th, and on the lot
appointed some authorities. They ar
therefore, again in full power. How
ever, it is stated that their actions in
= dictate a desire to maintain order
President Chazaro and the convention
- ist government have not yet returned
or The department has received from on
= of the towns on the Mexican border
report stating that the last report
:. Gen. Villa had received from his fly
K ing column was that it had take
e. Queretaro His instructions were t
- give full protection to foreigners an
TO their interests
&c At the cabinet meeting yesterda
= the uncertain Mexican situation wa
g briefly discussed. Some move on tn
part of the United States in pursuanc
: Of President Wilson s message to tn
20 Mexican factions two months az
urging peace Is expected in the nea
n. future. American Consul Gener;
/, Shanlllin, who is now at Vera Cru
- returning to Washington from Mex
n co City, is expected to give the az
e, ministration considerable light on til
exact status of affairs in the republi
. when he arrives in Washington neg
rk week.
&C Confirmation was received yesterda
a of the capture of Naco by Carranz
Z; troops Monday The attack upon n;
= go, Villa s agents in Washington claim
}. ed, was a violation of the horde
i. agreement negotiated at the instanc
of Mai.-Gen. Hugh l.. Scott, chief {
!, staff of the United States army. Wa
is department officials indicated, hov
8 ever, that SO long as no one on IL
NJ American side of the boundary W;
!. injured, the agreement had not bee
8 violated, and the Mexican faction
m would have to settle the differenC
a. among themselves.
13t- Elisco Arredonde, Gen. Carranza
. agent in Washington, yesterday sal
no no Gen. Gonzales s forces had left Mexi,
nd City to combat raiding movemel
north of the city by an inferior Vi
nd la force, based near Silao 1" Adequa
nd provision for the preservation of o
IT. der in Mexico City has been MAJ