Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-24
MEXICO CITY CUT OFF
FROM COMMUNICATION
In Washington Diplomatic as Well as
Government Circles There Is
Much UucaSiucSs.
WILSON CONSIDERS SITUATION
Gives Callers Impression That This
Government Has in Mind Takin
Some Decisive Step Latcr-Confers
With Officials Of Red Cross.

WASHINGTON. July 23.-With the
| Washington government completely
cut off from communication with
| Mexico City for five days since the
occupation by tho Zapata forces, and
with the local agents factions In COM
plete ignorance of military operations
| believed to be In progress near the
capital the Mexican situation to-day
| began again TO assume an air Of ten
| sion.
Somewhere in the neiEhborhood of
Pachuca. fifty miles northwest Of the
capital. General Pablo Gonzales, with
i Ms CarranZa army, is believed to be
battling with the Villa flying column"
whose swoop down from the north las
week caused him to hurriedly abandon
Mexico City Cutting of cables and
! telegraph wires has drawn veil over
! this whole section.
| In diplomatic as we'll as government
circles there is much uneasiness. 1t Is
| assumed that the diplomatic corps in
Mexico City has taken steps to insure
the safety Of foreigners. but no one
knows just what force Zapata has sent
| IN to preserve order. and the food sup
plies delivered during the brief Car
rama occupation probably were in
sufficient to check famine riots for
very long
! WILSON TURNS ATTENTION
| PARTICULARLY TO AiEXICO
President Wilson. with the note TO
Germany dispatched, turned his atten-
ton to-day particularly to Mexico He
conferred with officials of the American
Red Cross and listened with interest to
reports that the Red Cross had been
seriously hampered in lis efforts TO cx-
tend relief to the needy civilian popu-
| lation Of the country. He told Briga-
dier-General Devol. general manager OF
the Red Cross; Ernest =. Bicknell it's
director. and Miss Mabel T Boardman
not to - discouraged by handicaps, and
to keep up the relief work. getting
supplies into Mexico wherever they
could.
The President did not indicate what
course Of action he was contemplating
as result of failure of the rival fac
tons to get together for a peace con-
ference in accordance with his sugges-
ton made nearly two months ago.
Although Mr.. Wilson gave his callers
the impression that this government has
In mind taking some decisive step later.
ne animated that the military situa-
ton as between Carranza and Villa
forces at present made any immediate
action inadvisahle. Much depends. 1t
is believed here. on the outcome OF
battles in progress or impending in the
vicinity of Mexico City. at Torreon and
in the northern coal regions.
AWAIT WITH INTEREST
REPLY FROM CARRANZA
State Department officials await with
| interest reply from General Carranza
at Vera Cruz to the message sent to
him yesterday calling his attention to
the fact that his forces had violated
the Scott agreement for the NEURALGIA
! tion of border cities by the recent oc-
cupation of Naco, on the northern bor-
der OF Sonora. There is apprehension
also concerning the situation at
NoGalcs. which is regarded as included
in the agreement that border towns
would not be subject to attacks which
might endanger American citizens.
Following their conference with the
President, Red Cross officials tonight
| began to formulate plans to continue
their work. Extraordinary efforts will
! first be made to get food into Mon
clova. a point they have been seeking
to reach for some time.
The CarranZa agency issued a state
ment answering a recent assertion by
General Devol that both Carranza and
Villa had been engaged in the cxporta-
| ton of foodstuffs from Mexico and
prohting from proceeds OF heavy
export tax. This charge was declared
to be false. in SO far as territory under
control of the Constitutionalist govern
mcnt is concerned"