Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-21
Evacuation of Mexico. City by
Carranzistas Again Com
pIicates Matters.
DEFEAT OF VILLA FORCE
WOULD CLEAR SITUATION
Looting in Cananea Is Reported.
Horses Are Seized by Re-
treating Army.

Official Washington awaited
with keen interest further devel-
opments in the Mexican situation
! today. The unexpected evacua-
ton of Mexico City by the con-
stitutionalists, under Gen. Con
zales. its reoccupation by the
forces of Gen. Zapata and the
severing of telegraphic communi-
cation with the Mexican capital
have made a new situation, which
has caused officials here consid-
erable uneasiness. For some days
the successes of the Carranza
forces had given hope in Wash
ington that the military situation
in Mexico might soon be cleared
up and that the United States
might be able to recognize one
| faction there with justice.
+, hinges upon the outcome of the struS-
! gle which is impending. or may be go
| ing on today, near Pachuca, forty miles
| away from Mexico City, between the
! army of Gen. Gonzales and the Villa
army, which has pushed its way from
the north toward the capital.
Should Gen Gonzales win this bat :
| tie and destroy or drive off the villa
| army. it is likely that he will again
advance upon Mexico City and occupy it
within a short time, the Zapatistas
again retreating. But should Cen
alsts would have received severe
setback, and conditions would be as
| unsettled as ever.
Await Presidents Action.
| June last President Wilson sent
| word to the MeXicans that the leaders
must arrange their differences and
! bring about peace or the United States
would be forced to take some action in
regard to Mexico. So far no steps have
been successful by the Mexican leaders.
| When the President returned to WASH
! ington this week Secretary Lansing of
the State Department admitted that
something might be done soon" in
regard to the Mexican situation. Today
Secretary Lansing said that he had
nothing further to add to his original
statement.
In some quarters it is the belief that
the President will soon address more
vigorous message to the Mexican lead
ers, in which he may outline the steps
which this government intends to take,
| if peace Is not brought about within a
short time.
The report of Brig. Gen. Deyol. in
charge of the American Red Cross eff
| forts to relieve the starving Mexicans,
! to the effect that under present condi-
, tions in Mexico 1t is hopeless to at
! tempt to grant relief has added still
! further to -he perplexities of the ad-
ministration in its dealing with the
J Mexican leaders.
The evacuation of Mexico City by
Gen. Gonzales and it's reoccupa ton by
the Zapatistas is believed to have been
| accomplished without fighting of any
kind. Gen. Gonzales. it is said by the
| Carranza agency here, advanced from
| Mexico City to attack the Villa forces
| for strategic rea sons.
Puts Down Uprising.
| The Carranza agency today received
a dispatch from the first chief at Vera
| Cruz declaring that he has suppressed
without difficulty the uprising reported
| a few days ago within a short distance
of Vera Cruz and which was hailed as
a new revolutionary movement
| Vera Cruz advices to the State De-
partment. dated yesterday. say the
complete evacuation of Mexico City by
Gen. Gonzales and its reoccupation by
Zapata forces has been confirmed in
| Carranza quarters and that there is
| no communi cation with the capital.
| Other reports to the State Department
! said that railroad communication be-
| tween Vera Cruz and Mexico City was
| suspended "on account of the present
| military operations but no details OF
| the operations were disclosed. Sus.
pension of railroad communication IL
viewed here with alarm for the suffer
ing people in Mexico City, as this
| action completely cuts off the sending
| of much needed food supplies. A private
message from a responsible source pic
! tured the situation as desperate.
Looting at Cananea.
| State Department dispatches today
| told of the looting and disorder in
| Cananea, near the international border
prior to its occupation by the Carranza
! forces. A Naco dispatch stated that
| officials, police and many others left
| Cananea yesterday afternoon. leaving the
| town without protection. and that Con
| siderable looting and disorder occurred.
Practically all the saddles and horses
in Cananea were taken without regard
| to ownership. fire threatened the
| mercantile bank at Cananea and was con-
trolled after difficult work by firemen
The dispatch said that Carranza troops
| under Gen. Gales were at Del Rio and
were expected at Cananea today, bu,
press dispatches already have announced
that the Carranza authorities report
their troops took Cananea last nigh,
and are threatening Nogales
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