The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-14
Secretary Bryan Repeats . Demands Made on Zapata
 to Chief of the COnstitu-
 ti0nalists
VILLA FACTION HAS COMPLETE CONTROL
 OF BIG COAL FIELDS
Mexico City Is Reported to Be Quiet-Lack of Food Making Sonora Situation Serious

Washington, March 13.-Demands by the United states upon General Sal azar. Zapata commander in Mexico City, for the punishment of soldiers who murdered John B. McManus, an American citizen, and adequate rcpnr- atfon to McManus' family were rspeat- ed today to General Villa.
 "As Villa and Zapata," snid Secretary y Bryan, "hnve beeu co-operating, thought it was a good idea to make representations to Villa as we'll. so that the offenders would he punished.-
 As finances of the Villa -Zapata gov ernment have been practically in con trol of General Villa, the question of an indemnity to the family of McManus. it is believed, will be settled by the ready promised to punish those guilty of killing McManus
 Mexico City was reported quiet late today. This summary of conditions in other parts of Mexico was given out by the state department.
 The department Is informed that the occupation of Piedras Negras by the Villa faction gives it complete control of the coal region of Coahuila Good order has been established in Piedras Negras and merchants have reopened their stores. It is reported that various issues of fiat money are being accepted. The railroad Is rapidly being repaired and trains are now running from Sa- binas to Torreon. Communication will not be open from Piedras Negras for a few weeks on account of several by the Carranzistas.
 Gunboat to Take Part "A dispatch dated March 12 from Vera Cruz, states that General Carranza has announced that the gunboat Za- ragoza at Progreso will detain any yes sells found discharging or loading car go. and that he exepcts to occupy the port operating by land and sea- The constitutionalist authorities at Vera Cruz announce that the Ocampo also has been ordered to Progreso.
 The department is in receipt of re- port dated March 8. covering the gen era1 political situation in the Nogales district
 1t is stated that Governor Maytorena has dispatched a large force to the south to repel the reported advance of Carranzistas under General Iturbe. Gov ernor Maytorena's control extends as far south as the neNhborhood of Fun dicion, on the Southern Pacific of Mex ico railway. The Carranzistas ocSupy Alamos. Sonora, and Navajoa, to the south. and Agua Prieta, in the north east of Sonora.
 It is said that the phase of the So- nora situation now most serious seems to be the scarcity of food No cases of actual starvation can be reported, but there are said to be thousands of peo- pie who have insufficient food sup plies
 Ut is said that the army of General Juan Cabral, in its march from Chihua- hua across the mountains into Sonora, lost 1200 horses from starvation and eX- haustion. Several men also died, as did many of the 800 women and children who accompanied the expedition. When the expedition reached Cananea it numbered about 2OOO poorly clad persons. The lead CTS were well supplied with paper money, but, according to reports, were unable to obtain supplies because there was nothing on hand to purchase.' Enrique c. Llorente, Villas representa- tive here, issued a statement tonight re- garding the McManus case which says in rart:
 Features of Case
 There are certain features about the McManus case which give rise to q sus- picion that the deceased might not have been entirely without fault. If, as stated, he was guilty of having killed three Zapatistas when the latter entered Mex leo City some months ago. it is equally possible that he might have been detected in sniping on Wednesday last when the same troops again entered the capital. In that case he may have been shot by way of reprisal. which circumstances would tend to relieve the Mexican gov ernment from responsibility. On the other hand he may have been wantonly shot by an irresponsible group of soldiers. Should investigation develop that such YVES the case the American people may be assured that the provisional govern ment of Mexico will make due repara- tiop, through the payment of money indemnity, to the family or the deceased.
 In this incident we will be guided by the policy of the United States in cases in which foreigners, have met death by mob violence within its territory. In con- formity with that policy we desire only T reasonable time within which to complete an investigation, and when that is accom- plished, prompt and suitable action will be fo1r