The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-06-29
CONDITIONS NOW ARE EXTREMELY CRITICAL
 IN MEXICAN CAPITAL
Thousands Facing Famine and Relief Committee Is Short of Food-Zapa-
 tistas Hold City

Washington. June 2s.-OficiaI dis pntches sent by the British charge d'nRaires nt Mexico City by courier to Vera Cruz and from there cabIed to the state department today pictured conditions In the Mexican capital ms extremely critical.
 The zapatistas holding the city with a force estimated at nearly 25,ooo men, were reported by the courier to have re- pulsed last Wednesday an attacking Car ranza army under General Gonzales while General Carranza was dspatching all available men to reinforce Gonzales and continue the assault The situation was described in the following ann ,uncenent tonight by the state department.
 Conditions in Mexico City are not reas. surfing, according to reports. Communities tion is still interrupted and General Car ranza is rushing all available men to re- inforce his troops in the vicinity of aiex- ico City. 1t is said to be the intention of General Carranza to send in provisions with his army, although there is nothing definite in regard to this report.
 Reports Agree
 "A courier sent by the British charge d affaires arrived in Vera Cruz on the morning of the 27th. having left Mexico City on the 2sd The departments ad- vices conveying this information also state that it is confirmed that the Zapa- tistas have appropriated the cable. vari- ous press reports agree. according to this dispatch to the department from Vera Cruz under date of June 27, that the zapatistas have assembled force esti- mated at 25,O0o troops to contest the en- try of the Carranza forces Most of these Zapatistas are outside the city in front of the positions occupied by General Con- zales. It Is reported that the troops of Gonzales have been defeated in the north ern suburbs, losing ammunition and other military supplies. Other reports state that the Zapatistas are poorly equipped aud provisioned Business in Mexico City Is said to be suspended. The food shortage is causing concern.
 'The department is in receipt of adviccs dated June 26 from Vera Cruz stating that transportation TOT Reu CToss neprt- sentative O'Connor and Consul General Shanklin has been arranged to the head quarters of General Gonzales. Consul General Shanklin and MT. O'Connor ex- pect to leave on the morning of June 29 and will take with them the hospital sup plies furnished by the Red Cross
 Face Food Shortage
 Thousands of persons in Mexico City are depending on the supplies of the inter- national relief committee, which itself faces a food shortage. Fears are enter. tained in the city that aside from the famine the endorsements sent to Genera Gonzales will cause him to carry th4 fighting into the capital, endangering the lives of foreigners and their property.
 State department officials have takcr no steps in the situation. but details have been transmitted to President Wilson al Cornish. N. H. Officials are depending on the Brazilian minister and others ol the diplomatic corps to remove foreigners from the danger zones or arrange a truce for their exodus if the fighting is carried into the city.
 The situation on tho west coast of Mez foo is improving.