New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-03-10
Obregon Evacuates Cap
ital and Zapata Again
Is in Control.
PRESIDENT FEARS
TROUBLE is AHEAD
Carranza Promises Quick Reply
to u. S. Note-Warships on
Way to Vera Cruz.
from The Tribune Bureau. !

Washington, March John r. Silli-
man, American Consul, telegraphed the
State Department from Vera Cruz to-
day that he had reliable information
that General Obregon and his Carranza
forces began the evacuation Of Mexico
City last night.
The Villa agency here announced to-
night receipt of a telegram stating
that Zapata forces occupied the capital
to-day, and had begun repairing the
railroad northward. Communication
with the border would be restored in
six days, the message said.
Advices received in FL Paso to-day
from Torreon stated that, following
the withdrawal of Carranza troops.
rioting had been resumed in Mexico
City, and a crisis which threatened all
foreigners with violence was imminent.
II is said the food scarcity in the cap
ital has grown even more acute, the
poor are driven to desperation by
hunger, and even the wealthy are suf
fering, there being no food to buy.
Fears for Foreigners Safety.
1t is felt here that the safety of
Americans ard other foreigners in Mex
leo City is by no means assured. For
several days the State Department has
suppressed information received
through the highest diplomatic chan
nels in Washington directly from Mex
leo City, that all possibility of trans
portaton from the capital to Vera Cruz
or any other Mexican point was out
Of the question. The authors Of this
information were three American news
paper men of high repute. now in Mex
leo City. Their message, sent to the
United States last Friday, was shown
to the State Department and taken
under Amusement" IL was of such
serious character that one OF its re-
cipients made public to-day this tran
script Of the message:
enquiries at the State Department
should develop reasons for Bryan, un-
der date Of March 8, through Minister
of Brazil, reiterating previous warn
ings TO Americans TO leave Mexico. II
Bryan intends this notice TO be perfect
it should be made public through press
in United States that at present abso-
lutely no means OF transportation exist
by which Americans or other foreigners
can gain Vera Cruz or any border point
from Mexico City.
"Unanimous opinion of all foreigners
here is that if State Department be
lieves that impending Developments IN
Mexican situation are such as TO render
il advisable for foreigners to leave the
country responsibility for taking imme-
diate steps to insure means OF trans
portation for such as can go rests with
State Department"
Two Warships Sent.
The dispatch of two additional war
ships TO Vera Cruz, coupled with yes
terday's orders concentrating the
American force of minor armed vessels
at Vera Cruz, Progreso and Iampico,
is accepted as demonstration OF
President Wilson's statement that this
administration does not issue ulti-
matums, but, after expressing ITS
views, il follows with coordinate ac-
tion.
The two warships sent last night
were the armored cruiser Washington,
with a complement of S64 men, under
command of Captain Beach, and the
battleship Georgia, with 9O2 men, un-
der command of Captain Coontz. Ihe
American force at Vera Cruz Will be
under command of Rear Admiral
Caperton. formerly in command of the
cruiser division of the Atlantic fleet.
The Washington is his flagship:
These vessels augment the force OF
marines at Vera Cruz to about 25O, IN
Guiding the marine guard of the Della
ware. For landing purposes about
$50 men could be put ashore.
Vera Cruz, March 9.-General Gar
ranzas peply to Secretary Bryan's note
has been drafted, and, it is expected,
will be delivered to Mr.. Sillman to-
night or tomorrow for transmission
70 Washington. The note was resent
ed by Carranza, but Charles A: Doug
lass, Carranza's counsel, seconded Mr.
Silliman's efforts to induce proper
reply.