The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-07-20
gonzales QUITS
CITY OF MEXICO
Commander of Carranzistas
Says Il Go to Combat
the Enemy"
BIG BATTLE IMPENDING
Forces Evacuating Capital Probably
Will Meet Villas Flying Squadron
Combined with Zapatistas.

The forces OF Vcnustiano CarranZa
have been compelled 10 vacate Mexico
City. which they captured last week
The news of the retirement OF the Car
ranzistas from Mexico City was received
at the State Department yesterday from
official sources. Gen. Gonzales. the Car
rama commander, issued a pronounce
ment to Washington. stating that he
was leaving the city temporarily because
OF the enemy, which. he claimed, is
committing outraGes in the surrounding
country.
Intelligence comes from other quarters
that Gen. Gonzales will have his hands
full for some time to come with Villa S
flying squadron coming from the north
and a Villista force assembled at Pa
chuca, which is forty miles from Mexico
City.
Evacuation Blow to Carranza.
Present indications are that Villa Is
gaining strength. and this means a pro-
longation of the struggle between the
two factions in the absence of action by
the United States.
From a military point of view Mexico
City is of no value to any of the fac
tons Its possession was sought by Car
rama. who had determined to set up a
government there, in the hope that his
control of the Federal district would
strengthen his claim for recognition.
News of Gen. Gonzales evacuation of
the Mexican capital was given out by
the State Department in the form of a
bulletin as follows:
The department is in receipt of advices
from Mexico City. dated July Is. stating
that Gen. Gonzales and his forces have
unexpectedly evacuated Mexico City and
its surroundings The civil and military
authorities lately appointed by Gen. Con-
Zales have also left 10 such an extent
that the city council has n gain assumed
charge of the local government and APP
pointed a new chief of police. The press
of Mexico City states that the evacuation
was caused by the necessity of retakinS
Pachuca and preventing union with the
Zapat!stas of column coming from the
north to help them"
To this was appended a statement is
sued by Gen. Gonzales. as follows:
In view of the fact that the enemy
recently expelled from this city has been
committing outrages which cause I'M
easiness to the inhabitants of this city.
and wishing TO find a remedy for such
evils | have decided to leave the city
for few days and to go out personally
to combat the enemy. In the meantime,
civil and military authorities as well
as a sufficient garrison are left in the
city and surroundings in order to AFFORD
proper protection to the people"
No Carrnnzistas Remain.
Despite Gen. Gonzales statement to the
contrary, advices received at the State
Department indicate that he has left
no garrison in the capital The belief
is strong here that the Nillista force
at Pachuca combined with other armies
and the Zapastistas. presented such a
formidable front that Gonzales dared
not risk battle in defense of the capital
Officials here are inclined to the opinion
that a desperate battle is about to be
waged outside of Mexico City, and in
formation received here is to the effect
that the Villistas have a large force that
is well equipped end ready to make a
most earnest effort to drive the Carran-
zistas out of that section of the republic.
While the Nillstas are mobilizing in
forces in the neishborhood of Mexico
City, Carranza is facing another revolu-
ton in the vicinity of Vera Cruz. This
movement is headed by Manuel Armenia
A wealthy land owner. Armenia Is said
to have a force of about $500 men wei
equipped with arms and ammunition.
Armenia has the support of Gen. Gabais.
who is represented as good fighting
man.