The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-03
VILLA Command
Anglers ALIENS
Serious Trouble Expected in
Monterey if He Proceeds
to Collect loan"
MAY DROP FLAG INSULT
State Department Is Informed Moth
ing in Incident Warrants
Action.

| Information was received here yes
terday that Gen. Villa may face serious
4 trouble in Monterey If he proceeds to
collect the forced loan Of 100000 pesos
that he called for some two weeks ago.
| Residents of Monterey appear to be IN
/ ugly frame of mind, and not at all dis
posed to pay up in accordance with the
demands of Villa. Immediately upon the
receipt of intelligence that Villa had
made up his mind to impose a tax on
foreigners this government asked for an
| explanation, pointing out that a pro-
test had been lodged by Great Britain
Villa replied that he was merely max
| ing collections for the poor. and that
no Americans would be affected by the
| haul.
The information that came yesterday
that if Villa tries to enforce the collec-
| ton he may meet great difficulty in &C.
comprising his purposes.
Carranza Report Discounted.
Information received here yesterday
from Carranza sources that Gen. Obre-
gon has occupied Queretargo. eighty
miles north OF Mexico City. menacing the
southern advance Of Gen. Villa and cut
ting off communication with the capital,
is discounted in official circles.
The State Department was informed
yesterday that Piedras Negras, just
across the border. is still under military
control and that Gen. Hernandez, the
Villa commander. has prohibited the cir
culation of Carranza money in that dis
trict
The prevalence OF black smallpox In
Vera Cruz was reported in official dis
patches as follows: THE number or
SMALLPOX cases of the black continent
type is on the increase throughout tho
city. 1t is reported that Cordoba and ad-
jaccnt points are also badly infected.
Flag Case Investigated.
Secretary of State Bryan announced
that the Brazilian minister at Mexico
City has informed the department that
nc has made an investigation OF the al
front alleged to have been offered the
American flag at the time of the MUIR
der of John B. McManus. and that he
finds there was nothing In the incident
that would warrant the United States
in calling upon the Zapata government
for an explanation.
Enrique c. Llorente, the Villa agent
in this city, last night received informa-
ton that indicates that the movement
of Gutierrez against the convention gov
eminent is about to collapse. Mr.. Llor-
ente received a message from Gen. VIII
la in which Villa announced that Gen.
Robes. who was secretary OF war under
Gutierrez had surrendered to Villa, and
that all the men in Robes command had
re-enisted In the convention army.
About the same time Mr.. Llorente re-
Ceived dispatch from Piedras Negras
stating that Gen. Eugenio Benavides. a
Gutierrez leader. had fed from Mexico.
and is now at Davis. Tex. With the elm
nation of Gems. Blanco and Almanac.
the surrender of Robes, and the retire.
ment OF Benavides. Gutierrez has lost all
the leaders of note that he had in the
field.
Bryan Plans Naturalization.
Observers of the Mexican problem see
in Mr.. Bryau's attempt to bring about
the neutra lization of Mexico City and the
railroad from the capital to the port of
Vera Cruz a great opportunity for the ad-
ministra ton to secure a firm hold on the
stua ton.
Mr.. Bryan Is trying to secure neu-
tralization by agreement between the
Carranza authorities. holding Vera
Cruz and part of the railroad to Mexico
City, and the VilIa-Zapata group.
which holds the capital and part of
the line to Vera Cruz.
With the United States holding this
railway. it is believed successive steps
could be taken without resort to war
fare to bring about the gradual pacifi-
cation of Mexico. There is no doubt
here, but that the initial step would
be received with rejoicing by the Next
can people in Mexico City and along
the line of the road, and that subse-
quent action which this might we'll
lead up to would be recognized as of
real benefit to the country as we'll as
the interests of foreigners.
The suggestion regarding the Vera
Cruz Mexico railway reached the State
Department first through a suggestion
from Charge Hohler. Of the British
legation in Mexico City. to the Embassy
here.