New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-20
Move on His Vera Cruz
Communications Forces
Retirement.
CARRANZA STOPS
FOOD SUPPLIES
Closes Railroad to Capital TO
Freight a1d Passengers for
Military Use.
[From The Tribune Bn,eau !

Of communications to Vera Cruz threat
ened by column of Villistas coming
from the north, General Gonzales. in
command of the Carranza force which
captured Mexico City a week ago.
evacuated the city and its suburbs to-
day, according to advices received by
the State Department,
The Vilista column is said already
to have reached Pachuca. This is about
sixty miles northeast of Mexico City,
but within thrty-fve miles of Otumba,
on the Vera Cruz railway. In the city
the popular belief is that Genera!
Gonzales felt the necessity OF retaking
Pachuca and preventing union with
the Zapatistas of the column coming
down from the north
The civil and military authorities
lately appointed by General Gonzales
have also left the capital. to such an
extent according to State Department
advices. that the City Council has again
assumed charge of the local govern.
ment and appointed new chief OF
police. .
General Gonzales in his statement
SAYS he is leaving a sufficient gar
rIson." His explanation follows:
"In view OF the fact that the enemy
recently expelled from this city mas
been committing outrages which cause
uneasiness to the Inhabitants, and
wishing to find a remedy, | have de-
cided to leave this city for few days
and to 90 out personally to combat the
enemy. In the meantime, civil ana
military authority, as well as SUI
ticient garrison, are left in the city ana
surroundings in order to afford proper
protection to the people.
YiIlistas Predicted Evacuation.
That General Gonzales would be
forced to abandon Mexico City within
2 short time has been the confident
boast of the Villistas in Washington
ever since the capture. They declared
that the only effect was psychological
in the United States, as 1t had no
strategic value, with the water supply
exposed at all times to Zapata troops.
That the Villista movement cutting
off Oregon from Vera Cruz is more
significant than a mere raid is evident
from the uneasineSs OF the Constitu-
tionalists.
State Department adyices, however,
indicate that through train service be-
tween Mexico City and Vera Cruz has
been restored for the first time since
the wreck by the bandits. The lmme-
date completion of wireless station
at Mexico City, by means of which
communication will be kept constantly
open for Vera Cruz, is expected.
- ~ % OF
taken possession of the reconstructed
railroad east af Apizaca, a junction
point south of Pachuca, and has or
dered tina. it be held exclusively for
transportation of troops and ammunl-
ton, thus preventing further shipment
of provisions from Vera Cruz to the
needy thousands at Mexico City.
Situation a Grave One.
Officials here made no effort to con-
ceal their belief that the situation sur
rounding the Mexican capital was a
grave one. With enother battle for pos
session of the city imminent, and with
much needed food shipments from the
cast coast cut off, it was feared that
further suffering among the civil pop
ulatiOn would follow. That the food
shortage has not been exaggerated was
Indicated in report to the American
Red Cross describing conditions exiss-
ing shortly before General Gonzales
&c ok possession Of the city. Il spoke OF
1.-THE vastnCss of msery already appar'
emit" and cited instances of crowds be-
.ieging the slaughter houses for blood
Of animals.
General Gonzales's retirement with
out an effort to head off the invading
Villa forces, together with Carranza's
action in closing the railroad to freight
and passenger traffic, it is feared here,
will make further relief work at the
capital practically impossible until some
other development in the situation has
occurred.
Secretary Lansing tonight would not
discuss the recall from Mexico City of
American Consul General Arnold
Sharklin, further than to say that he
was returning to Washington. 1t is un-
derstood, however that differences
arose between Mr.. Shanklin and the
Brazilian Minister at the capital, who
has charge of American affairs, and
that Mr. Shanklin WIS recalled to avoid
embarrassment.
According to persons arriving from
the South to-day, General Francisco
Villa has lost the support of General
Paniio Natera, who, with Generals
Benuelos and Dominguez, went TO Som
brerete, State of Zacatecas, after the
/ flight from Aguas Calientes, and there
| declared themselves neutral. The men
who followed them numbered not more
! than five hundred, it was claimed.