Evening star., 1915-03-20
Are Anticipating an Early At
tack From the Villa
Zapata Forces.
BARBED WIRE BARRICADE
ENCIRCLlNG THE CITY
Arrival of Catholic Vicar General
and Fifteen Priests From Mex
leo City Reported.

r:arranza forces are digging trenches
and fortifyiug Vera Cruz with series
of harbed wire stocl1ades. apparently in
anticipation Of attacks by Villa -Zapata
forces. according to advices to the
State Department today.
The tarbed wire fences extend from
points on the beach to the railroad
about a mile and a half north of the
city and are to be continued to TeJera
In Semi-circular sweep.
Several business men from Progreso
and vicinity conferred with State De-
partment officials today on conditions
in Yucatan They fear Carranza's oc-
rupation of the port. which they say
will make business impossible. by ex-
ceSsive taxation
Priests Arrive From Mexico City.
Vicar General Paredes and fifteen
priests who We're taken from Mexico
City by Gen. Obregon when he evac-
uatcd the city recently, have arrived
at Vera Cruz. the state Department
was informed today. Gen. Carranza has
ordered that they be released
No mention is made in the dispatch
of the arrival of Obregon himself IN
Vera Cruz, and it is not known here
where he is.
partment. who recently started out to
investigate the entire Mexican s1tua
tion. and who made a trip through the
northern part of the country, is at Ha
vaua ready to sail for Vera Cruz to
continue his conferences with various
leaders. Secretary Bryan announced
TO-DAY.
Further advices to the department
stated that the James ". Paul, an
American schooner from Mobile, which
sailed for Prosreso, Yucatan, with
proper clearance papers. during the
time Of the blockade there. has ar
rived at that port and will not be in
terfered with.
Army Movements Noted.
The constitutionalist agency here an
ncunced receipt of a dispatch from
Minister Of the Interior Zubaran at
Vera Cruz. which said that Gen. Alva-
RADIO had occupied Merida, capital of
iucatsn. The agency added: Merida
3 twenty miles south of Progreso. and
II i expected the constitutionalists
aiii occupy that port some time during
.ti- day
Defeat and complete rout Of the Car
rama forces under Gen. Monclovio
Herrera by the convention troops of
ietL Rosalio Hernandez at Oregano.
ported to the Villa agency here last
night by the military commander at
piedras Negras.
Dispatches from the border to the
Villa agency said convention troops
took Aldamas after severe fighting and
were marching on to attack Matamor-
as, the Mexican port across the Rio
Grande from Brownsville. Tex.
Herrera Forces Scattered
The dispatch said large number of
prisoners were taken by the conven-
tIon forces. and Herrera's men scat
tered and fed to the Burro mountains
near the border, between the states of
Chihuahua and Coahuila.
This defeat. the agency claims. marks
the end of resistance by the Carranza
element in that section of the country.
Another report said the scattered
remnants of the Carranzista forces sur
prised and routed by Gen. Villa at
Ramones, east of Monterey, were re-
treating northward toward the border
city of Camargo and the main body
had reached Aldamas. with the Villa
troops in close pursuit. All their ar
tiliery and ammunition was captured.