New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-24
Capital Isolated Since Ia
pata Occupation-Fear
for Foreigners.
WILSON RECEIVES
MISS BOARDMAN
Talks Over Relief Situation nth
Red Cross Head and Wants
Work to Go On.

Washington. July %. As result
Of the complete isolation of Mexico
City for five days, the Mexican Situa-
ton to-day again began to assume an
air of tension. Both the State Depart
ment and the local agencies Of the
various revolutionist factions are in
complete ignorance as TO what has
taken place in the capital since its
reoccupation by the Zapata forces.
The silence is believed to cloak mill
tary operations which may be Of the
greatest Importance.
General Gonzales with his Carranza
army. military observers think. may
alrea Nv be battling with the flying
column" Of Villa, whose descent from
the North caused him hurredly to
abandon the capital IN order to save
his communications with Vera Cruz.
Neither the Carranza officials at
Vera Cruz nor the Villa headquarters
IN the North have heard any reports
from the battle assumed 20 be IN prog
rcss, although each expresses conf
dence in its outcome. In diplomatic
as wei. as government circles there IS
much uneasineSs No one knows how
much reliance to place on Zapata, but
il is assumed that the diplomatic corps
in Mexico City will take steps to pro-
tect foreigners in case Of food riots.
Although Mr.. Wilson gave ms call
crs the impression that this govern
mont has I'm mind taking some de-
cisive steps later, he intimated that
the military situation as between Car
rama and Villa forces at present made
any immediate action inadvsable.
Much depends, il Is believed here on
the outcome Of battles in progress or
impendinc i'm the vicinity of Mexico
Civ. al Torreon and in the Northern
ccal regions. Should one faction win
a series of victories at these points,
the victor might become dominant
enough TO undertake the reeStabhsh-
ment of a constitutional government
State Department officials await with
interest a reply from General Car
rama at Vera Cruz TO the message
sent 10 him yesterday calling ms at
tention 10 the fact that his forces had
violated the Scott agreement for the
naturalization Of border cities by the
occupation of Naco. There Is appre-
hension also concerning the situation
at Nogales, where General Maytorena,
head of the Villa forces, is expecting
an attack by Carranza's army under
General Gales. Some steps may be
taken to prevent this impending bat
tie. Nogales being regarded as includ-
ed in the agreement for border towns.
President Wilson, with the note to
Germany dispatched, turned his at
tention to-day particularly to Mexico.
He discussed with Miss Mabel Board
man, president of the American Red
Cross, relief conditions for half an
hour. She gave him an account of the
work and the situation as regards food
supply.
The President told Miss Boardman
that. in spite Of the present difficulties
he thought il extremely important to
seize every opportunity to rush food
to the starvation centres.
The report of the Red Cross shows
that approximately $4,000 has beer
collected for Mexican relief, of which
about $4,000 has been expended. Ad-
ditional funds will be needed if the
work is to be resumed on an effective
scale. Red Cross supplies destined e
Monclova, according to dispatches tC
the State Department, are still hell
up at Piedras Negras because OF tn
condition Of railroad service. Hope
however, was expressed that TRAN
might get through to-day.