Norwich bulletin., 1915-04-08
News From Battle
Fields of Mexico
CONFLICT OVER RAILROAD
ROUTE IN NORTH.
TWO ARMIES MASSING
General Obregon to Cut OFF Villa
Troops in the North from Commu
nication with Mexico City-Forces
Withdrawn from Tampico.

Washington, April 7.-Advices fndi-
eating that a battle was imminent
which would decide whether the Villa
Zapata forces were to control unmo
Tested the railroad route from Mexico
City to the border or whether Gen
era1 Obregon, the CarranZa command
er, would cut off the northern troops
from communication with the capital,
attracted wide interest today in off,
cial quarters here.
Watching Campaign Closely.
Officials are watching the military
campaign closely and attach much i'm
portance to the outcome Of the contest
expected to be fought in the vicinity
of Queretaro, where two armies have
been concentrated. General Villa him.
self is understood to be in charge of
the operations of his forces and Gen.
eral Obregon is in personal command
of the Carranza columns.
Drawing Forces from Tampico.
Fighting still continues in the vi
cinity of Tampico, but indications are
that both sides have drawn on their
forces there to strengthen their lines
in the neighborhood of Queretaro This
has given officials some relief because
they believe there is less likelihood of
attacks on oil tanks at Tampico.
Mexico City Conditions Unchanged.
Conditions at Mexico City are un-
changed. Duval West, personal rep
resentative of President Wilson, has
arrived in Mexico City and will confer
with the Villa-Zapata officials. He had
many conferences at Vera Cruz with
CarranZa and will endeavor while at
Mexico City to- get in touch with the
Zapata chiefs and, if possible. visit
General Zapata himself at Cuernavaca,
His mission is understood to be to
report comprehensive on conditions
in all parts of the republic, economic
as well as political.
A summary of conditions in Mexico
was as follows:
Obregon Attacking Queretaro.
"a mail report, dated March 80, from
Aguascalientes says the troops OF
General Obregon were reported to be
troops of General Dieguez were at
tackfng Guadalajara. Fifteen troop
trains of Vfllista soldiers had possed
through Aguascalientes going in the
direction of Queretaro and Guadala-
lara and at the time these advices
were forwarded trains were bringing
in wounded Villa soldiers to Aguas-
calienteS, indicating that there was
probably considerable fighting between
Guadalajara and Queretaro.
Oil Wells Not Endangered.
''The department is informed thai
the constitutional authorities at Vera
Cruz have given assurances that il
the fighting at Ebano there will be
no unnecessary OF premeditateo
ment's advices indicate, however thai
so long as there is fighting at Ebanc
there will be danger of the oil tanks
| being pierced and Of the oil wells be-
ing damaged or destroyed. The hun
dred and fifty thousand barrel tanks
recently set on fire by the Carranzs
forces appear to have been destroy
ed during an engagement in which ar
til1ery was used.
Irregular Train Service.
Train service from Aguascalientes
| to FL PaSo was resumed on March 25
| It is stated there is no through ser
vice from Ell Paso to Mexico City ant
| that there is only an irregular traiI
every two days south of Aguascaliente.
| to Celaya and sometimes as far a.
Queretaro. A number of refugees have
| leo City. but they had to come via
| the narrow gauge line from Mexico
| City to Toluca, thence to Acambart
| and Celaya and had to travel a par
of the way on hand cars. There ar,
no regular trains running on this mar
row gauge line and its bridges ar,
being continually burned or destroyed
Quiet on West Coast.
Reports from the west coast stat,
that uaymas and MaZat1an are quie
and that indications at Manzanillo ar,
| unfavorab1e to Carranza forces. Tht
Colorado arrived at Mazatlan on Aprf
| 6. A fight has occurred near Muralta
state of Sinaloa- The supply of foul
in Mazatlan is becoming exhausted anG
l.
issued providing that when merchant:
have flour and do not offer it for salt
it will be seized by the government
and sold.
Villa to Attack Nuevo Laredo.
Tt is reported to the department
from Laredo that new Villista force
said to number 1900, is marching from
the vicinity of Piedras Negras, with
the avowed intention of attacking
Neuvo Laredo in conjunction with tht
Villa force now in the vicinity of Can
della with which the Nuevo LAREDO
garrison has been battling for the pas
few days. The Carranza forces from
Lampazos and other nearby points has
been ordered to concentrate at Nuevc
Laredo and the fortiflcations are being
strengthened.''
Statement by Villa Agency.
The Villa agency here gave out the
following:
General Colin, acting as governor
of the state of Michoacan for Carran
"a, has surrendered with 500 men tt
General Francisco Carrera, Of the con
vention forces at Acanrbaro. state O.
Gunajulato. The captured men i'm
mediate1y Joined the ranks Of the con
| vention troops. the confidential agenc.
Is informed.
Provisions for interior.
ga steamer laden with provision
has arrived in Guaymas to relieve tn
situation there and in the interior. An
other provision steamer Is expected
! With these provisions the scarcity o
food will be entirely a1leviated.
| Movements Of Steamships.
| Genoa. April 6.-Arrived, steame
Europa, New York.
siasconset Mass April 1-steame