South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-24
Mexican Leader Facing What
Will be Crucial Battle of
His Career 49, Admits
Army is Too Weak.
VILLISTAS ARE DEFEATED
IN MONTEREY ATTACK
After Two Hours Battle They
Withdraw, Leaving Half of
Their Men on the Field.
Gen. Pereira is Killed.

Ell PASO, Tex. Aug. 24.-Finding
himself whipped in every engagement
he has fought during the last four
months, and facing what will be the
crucial battle of his career, Gen.
Francisco Villa has sent, through an
American messenger, an urgent ap-
peal for help to Gen. Emiliano Ia
pata, commander of conVentiOniSt
troops in the south. The messenger
left FL Paso early today for Gen. Ia
pata's headquarters via Galveston and
Vera CduZ.
Zapata will be handed a detailed re-
port from Villa, giving the status of
the cOnventionist army in the north.
He will be told that the only way to
save Villas army from annihilation
at TOrreOn is for him 10 send not less
than 1000 Zapatistas northward TO at
tack rear of the powerful CarranZista
army now operating against that city.
IF you do not do this, says Villas
message to Zapata, "CarranZa : ban
dts may succeed in whipping my
army in which event they will turn
right back and so down and whip
YOU
The name of the American bearing
the message cannot be given at the
present as he must pass incOgnito
through Carranza territory.
According to a telegram received
by both Villa and CarranZa agents in
FL PaSO, two thousand Nillistas under
Gen. Oestes, Pereira and Gen. Rosa
lie Hernandez. made an attack last
Friday on the city of Monterey, be-
ing garrisoned by an equal number
of Obregon's soldiers. After two
hours of fighting the NillistaS with
drew with less than half of their men.
Gen. Pereira is reported to have
been killed in the fight and Gen. Her
nandeZ was taken to Torreon last
night seriously wounded. The Car
ranzistas captured eight Of Villas nine
cannons.
VERA CRUZ Mexico. Aug. "a
Through Foreign Minister Acuna, Gen.
Venustiano CarranZa has addressed to
the signers of the Pan-American peace
note an inquiry as to whether they
are acting for their governments. The
inquiry was sent TO the six Latin
American ENJOYS as well as to the
United States.
The Interrogation for the Washing
ton government was transmitted by
Senior Acuna last night TO John r.
Silliman, the special United States rep
resentative and he immediately for
warded it to the state department.
The inquiry is in effect a request for
luIllieI lulOIUldllOu. II Is stated l0dL
pending the receipt of this information
the cOnstitutiOnalists' first chief will
indicate nothing as TO his attitude on
the conference proposition drafted by
the Pan-American cOnfereeS.
Five days more probably will be re-
quired for further consideration OF
the matter and an exchange of mes
sages
WASHINGTON, Aug "a - Gen.
Funston today reported to the war de-
partment that Mexican troops had
fired on American soldiers at Lochiel
AriZ., the second time within a few
days. No one was wounded. The
Mexican commander sent word to the
commanding American office at LOch-
iel that it would not happen again.
The Villa agency here today issued
a statement claiming that the con-
stitutiOnalist forces routed a Carran-
zista army after a hard battle at
IcamOla. near Monterey The claim
was based on advices from the Villa
consul at Laredo, Texas. The Car
ranzistas are declared TO have lost
| heavily in dead and wounded and
| have fled in disorder.
TWO ARE KILLED.