Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-07-07
Besieging Army of Gonzalez,
Failing in Assault, Plans
to Starve City.
FOOD SUPPLY SHORT
Danger and Suffering In
creases Daily for For
eigners in Capital.

Washington, July Increasing
anxiety was felt in official circles to-
day over the situation in Mexico City
from which place no word had come
Of the results Of the fighting said to
have again been begun between the
Carranza and Zapata forces in the out
skirts of that city. Meager Official adj
vices received here reported renewal
Of the lighting, but gave no Indications
Of how 1t was progressing.
With reports at hand describing
conditions in the Mexican capital as
pitiful" and rapidly growing worse
On account Of the shortage of food, Of
liciaIs today anXiously awaited the out
come Of the latest fighting because of
its possible effort on the safety OF for
eigRers there. 1t was hoped that Unit
ed States Consul General Shanklin
and Charles j. OCounor, in charge Of
American relief measures in Mexico
city would soon be able to arrange for
T the transportation of food supplies to
aid the famine stricken population Of
the capital Mr. O'Counor. the Red
Cross representative, reports that the
relief problem is an immense one.
Carranza Plans Siege.
Mexico City July cit is declared
that failing to capture the capital
after IA days Of fighting the Carranza
forces are planning to place the city
/ under an indefinite siege. Reports
are ia circulation that it is Carranza's
purpose 10 starve the Zapata garrison
into submission
Zap8ta's troops within the city, new
ertheless. have been instructed to keep
cut the Carranza forces at all costs.
All of those of the 400. 900 population
who are regarded as able to fight have
been called upon to help Carranzas
inability TO take the city week ago
has resulted i'm demoralizlng his
troops. and 1T is believed they viii not
venture far enough into the city to
cause street lighting
The zapata forge is said TO number
5000 soldiers, included among whom
are many soldiers formerly I'm the old
federal army. Guns have been mount
ed i'm The passes leading into the
valley and 20 all appearances the city
IS preparing to undergo a siege.
Banks Close Doors.
Business In the capital has been
paralvzad since the siege operations
commenced. All the banks and large
commercial establishments immed-
lately put mp their shutters, the fear
being expressed that there would be
general l0oGug of the city should
the constitutonalists succeed in cap
turing II.
1I8ba formed parading the streets
ard calling upon the inhabitants 10
fight with the convention troops, but
few responses were recorded Stores
dealing In firearms were visited and
unsuccessful attempts were made to
batter down the doors.
Daily meetings Of the diplomatic
corps have been held in an endeavoF
to get promises OF protection for for
efen lives and property II IS reported
that the present government has
promised 10 refrain from cutting the
water power should they be compelled
TO eTaauate the city.
SILK Is selling at 81 a quart and
ezes are - cents each The prices Of
raat are prohlbiuve.
10000 Demand Food.
Todas the shortage Of foodstuffs be-
came SO serious that rioting was
avoided only by the presence Of troops
who fired over the heads Of the mobs.
IN one instance the soldiers fred low,
killing a number Of women u is
estimated than more than 10000
people. nearly am women, gathered in
front of the Offices Of the international
relief commissions warehouses. At
the Red Cross hrst-aid booths 500 wo-
men and children were treated for in
/ furiss sustained In the crush six car
] loads of corn we're distributed 70 the
people between 4 IN the morning and
$50 in the afternoon. Tho local au-
thorlfies have been unable 10 do any
thing u date TO relieve the distress.