Evening star., 1915-03-28
This will probably be taken up by the
convention in q few days. when 1t Sc
lects a SUCCESSOR to Cara
Villa Leading His Army
in Attack on MatamoraS,
to Control All Border

Gen. Villa is personally leading his
army in attack on Matamoras. culmin-
ating his campaign Of more than a
month to gain complete control Of the
entire sweep OF Mexican territory bor-
dering on the United States.
The assault began yesterday, and. &C.
cording to advices from the Villa camp,
this last port Of entry on the Amer
lean frontier will be wrested from Car
rama within a couple Of days. Car
rama, however, has concentrated sew
eral thousand of his best trained sol
diers in Matamoras and Is prepared to
offer a stubborn resistance.
The only other port of entry on the bor-
der in the hands Of the Carranza follow
ing. since the evacuation OF Piedras
Negras, is Nuevo Laredo. which Is de.
fall quick prey Of the villa-zapata al
lance II Matamoras falls.
Gen. Villas plan Of campaign for the
last month has been directed against
those border towns. because he found
his troops could mako no substantial
progress in the south with their lines
of communication constantly threat
ened from the rear.
State Department advices last even
ing were that the Villa-Zapata govern
ment was planning the re-esta blishment
Immediately of mail service between
Mexico City and Piedras Negras. Train
service between the latter town and
Monterey is almost completely restored.
Gets Export Revenues.
Aside from the strategic value OF the
northern border to us. enabling the
Villa faction to obtain the export
revenues on coal and other minerals
mined in the rich regions Of Coahuila
and Nuevo Leon, Gen. Villa believes he
will be able to concentrate his attack
thereafter on Tampico and Vera Cruz
and points in southern Mexico.
State Department reports indicate
that there has been continued fighting
at Ebane. near Tampico. with some
the Villa forces have not approached
near enough to Tampco to threaten
the city, as no requests have been
made for transportation Of foreigners:
in preparation for the attack. Navy
Department reports indicate that the
Carranza garrison has successfully
withstood preliminary attacks.
The State Department summary says,
"A mail report dated March %, from
Piedras Negras. states that Americans
and other foreigners are being shown
every courtesy. 1t is said that wher-
ever a wrong has been done by the
new faction speedy redress has been
given. 1t is stated that better condi
tlOHS are expected IN the district AFTER
the new party has had time to settle
down and make appofntme to the
many civil offices.
Madero Report Unfounded.
The same report states that the
statements to the effect that Gen. Ra-
oul Madero. with 5000 troops. was at
Sabinas. en- route to Piedras Negras
appear to have been unfounded, as
refugees arriving from the Sabinas
coal fields report that there are only
1000 troops under Gen. Pereyra garri-
soninG Sabinas and the surrounding
country.
Coal is being shipped from that sec
tion daily by the Villistas, who are
purchasing it from foreign-owned
mines.
mo attempt has been made to seize
any property in that section and alb
solute protection is said to be given
to all. March % there remained but
seventy kilometers of railroad to be
repaired between Allende and silencio
station before trains could go directly
from Piedras Negras to Monterey"
statement issued by the villa
agency last night was as follows:
agency that the battle for possession
of Matamoros had begun.
''The confidential agency has recefved
official news Of a severe defeat of
Pablo Gonzales army by the conven-
tion forces under Gen. Filipo Angeles
at Montemorelos week ago. The dis
patch added that Gonzales army was
retreating toward Tampico.
Numbers Of Carranzistas are arriving
in Neuvo Laredo. fleeing from Canon de
Santo Domingo. where the Villistas de-
feated them and captured many horses
and a large amount Of ammunition"
According to State and Navy Depart
ment advices, the sstal situation at Pro-
greso Is improved. The collier Jupiter
sailed Thursday for New Orleans with
a cargo Of hemp. and two merchant
steamers are now loading. Extra duties
on sisal have been collected. however.
since March 20. 1t was previously re-
ported these would be imposed after
April 20.
About forty soldiers arrived at Pro
greso last Thursday. presumably from
Vera Cruz. but no interference with ship
ping was reported