New Britain herald., 1915-03-16
GUTIERREZ OPENS
MEXICAN CAMPAIGN
Independent Movement Said to Be
Backed by 10000 Soldiers.

Washington, March 16.-A new
Mexican confidential agency" was set
up In Washington yesterday. to rival
the Carranza and Villa esta bIshments
ana brlng prominently before the
american government an element in
the complicated situation below the
Rlo Grandc to which, so far, scant at
tentlon has been paid. Jose Vascon-
celos IS IN charge and her represents
Eulal1o Gutierrez, who is said to be
at the head of an independent move
ment In central Mexico, backed bv
some 10000 soldiers.
Gutierrez was elected provisional
president of Mexico by the Aguasca-
ientes convention and for a brief
period was ruler in Mexico City. Vas
comedies, who was minister Of public
instruction in his cabinet, reached
here yesterday after an exciting jour-
ney and went directly to the state de-
partment to lay the object of the
Gutierrez campaign before Leon Can
ova, chief of the Mexican division of
the Latin American bureau. This was.
he said, the reassembling Of the legal
ly chosen delegates of the Aguasca-
llSuItS CONVENTION IOI IIo SSlcCllOl VI
a provisional president.
Had 1900 Mile Ride.
Vasconcelos reached the town of
RIO Grande, on the Mexican border,
near Matamores, three days ago, after
a l,2OO-m11e ride on horseback with
a detachment of troops. Four Of his
men were shot down by Carranza SOL
diers he said, as he crossed to the
American side. Stopping only to get
some clothing he took train for
Washington. Vasconcelos' story was
the first account which state depart
ment officials had of the Gutierrez ex-
petition after it's departure from Mex
leo City.
Vasconcelos said that Gutierrez had
established his headquarters at Moe
tor Arroyo, in the state Of San Luis
Potosi, and from there will direct his
campaign against Villa, Carranza and
Zapata. r...
Deposed Villa and Zapata.
1T is true he said, that Cen
eral Gutierrez, when provisional presi-
dent in Mexico City deposed both Villa
and Zapata from their commands on
February II. Villa was angered at
this and ordered the Imprisonment of
Gutierrez and his cabinet. This forced
them to abandon the capital with g.
600 loyal followers, including General
Robes, minister Of war, General
Lucio Blanco, minister of interior,
and myself. Aguirre Benaviedes, sub
secretary Of war, was in San Luis
Potosi at the head Of 10000 Conven-
ton troops and we started for that
city. We arrived at Pachucah, where
we communicated to the United States
government and the governors Of the
Mexican states and military chiefs a
reclamation stating that Villa and
zapata had been deposed from their
and that they should take
orders only from General Gutierrez.
eve failed to get in touch by tele-
graph with other forces, as Villa took
of the telegraph lines and
20 we started from Pachucah for San !
luis Potosi to join the bulk or our !
roops. We selected the mountainous
,oad of Huasteca. On our second day !
,ut the Cara nzistas attacked us ana !
we were forced to change our route !,
They had only 800 men, but we could |
lot waste time fighting, as our ooJect |
vas to reach San Luis Potosi quickly.
Chosen By Vile.
Vasconcelos decla red that Carranza, |
Villa and Zapata did not have with |
hem the delegates of the original
A tg,1acalientes convention. He added |
hat the convention which met at Mex
co City after the sessions at Aguas- /