Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-20
Gen. Gonzales Advances To-
ward Paehuca to Engage
Flying Squadron.
FEARS THEY WILL JOIN
ZAPATA FORCES IN SOUTH
City Council Again Takes Over Gov.
ernment Of Capital From
Carranzistas.

between Carranza and Villa forces
! north OF the capital city depends
the fate of the Villa faction, in
the opinion of some of the officials
here today. If Villas so-called
flying squadron, which has been
raiding from the north toward
Mexico City, should succeed in
defeating the Carranza troops, the
prospects of the conventionalists
would brighten considerably, al
though leaving the constitutional
lists still strong enough to be
reckoned with.
On the other hand, should Gen.
Gonzales defeat the Villa army
decisively, the prospects of early
recognition of the constitutional
lists by the United States would
appear good. For territory over
which Gen. Villas forces have
control has been constantly re-
stricted during the last few weeks,
and he himself has been retreat
ing rapidly toward the north, for
the purpose, it has been said, of
giving battle to the Carranzistas
under Gen. Obregon, near Tor
reon.
The reports concerning the strength
| of the various armies in the field re-
ceived in Washington have been at
variance. Some reports have placed
the Villa flying squadron as high as
| 10, 900 men. But dispatch was given
out at the Carranza agency today in
sisting that the Villa squadron num-
bers not many more than $500 men.
The same agency declared that the Car
rama forces had not evacuated Mexico
City, as claimed in some Of the press
dispatches, but had gone out under
Gen. Gonzales to put an end to the
raiding Villa squadron. The agency de-
c1ared that military force sufficient to
insure order had been left behind in
Mexico City.
Between Villa and Zapata.
1t has been reported here that Gen.
villa has been out of communication
with the army. moving toward Mexico
City for some days. Gen. Gonzales
forces have to compete not only with
| the Villa force from the north, but the
| Zapata army. which was driven out Of
| Mexico City recently. 1t is expected
| that Gen. Gonzales will do all in his
power to prevent these two armies
| from forming a union before he at
tacks the Villa troops from the north.
The latest reports stated that the Villa
forces had taken Pachuca. about forty
| miles northeast of Mexico City. and
| were marching toward the capital.
Meanwhile news of renewed fighting
| in the north is reaching here. Car
rama forces have taken Naco, Sonora,
| on the border. and forces Of the hrst
| chief are reported to be marching on
| Cananea and Nogales.
Fighting Near Border.
The international border between
Mexico and the United States runs
through Naco. and to prevent danger to
Americans Maj. Gen. Hugh l.. Scott,
chief of staff of the army, brought
about a neutrality agreement between
the two forces. under which each side
agreed not to do anything which would
bring about injury to any one on the
! American side of the line. In short
period preceding that agreement there
had been ffty-three people killed or
wounded on the American side from
lean forces in the vicinity of Naco.
| Since that agreement" Gen. Scott said
| today, mot a single person has been
harmed there by bullets from the Mex
| lean side"
| Gov. Maytorena stated at Nogales
yesterday that in taking Naco the Car
rama forces had violated the Scott
agreement. and that the Villa troops
! Department officials indicated today
that the two forces will have to set
tie that among themselves. SO long as
there is no one injured on the American
! side, and until there is such injury the
agreement will not have been violated.
State Department Advices.
| The State Departments summary of
its most recent advices Is as follows:
The department is in receipt of ad-
vices 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 ap-
pointed by Gen. Gonzales have also left
to such extent that the city council has
again assumed charge of the local gov
ernmen. and appointed a new chief OF
police. The press of Mexico City states
that the evacuation was caused by the
necessity of retaking Pachuca and pre-
venting a union with the Zapatistas OF
a column coming from the north to help
them.
Gen. Gonzales Statement.
Gen. Gonzales has issued the following
statement
lin view Of the fact that the enemy
recently expelled from this city has been
committing outrages which cause uneasi-
ness to the inhabitants of this city.
and wishing to find a remedy for such
evils. l have decided to leave this 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"
Trouble Around Pachuca.
Trouble around Pachuca' Is the Ia
comic way in which Red Cross dis.
patch today refers to the situation
Continued on Fifth Page.)