The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-28
Launch Attack

Washington. March 27.-General Villa launched his attack on Matamoros. oppo- site Brownsville, Tex, today. possession of which would give him practically un- disputed control of the northern Mexican states. Driven out of Piedras Negras, the only ports of entry on the Texas border remaining in the hands of Carranza were Nuevo Laredo and Matamoros. Only a small garrison is at Nuevo Laredo, but at Mntamnrpa several thousand carranzs troops are concentrated
 General Villas plan of campaign for a month has been directed against those border towns because his troops could make no substantial progress in the south with their lines of com munication constantly threatened from tho rear.
 State department advices today were that the Villa -Zapata government was planning the re-establishment immedi- ately of all service between Mexico City and Piedras Negras.
 Aside from the strategic value of the northern border towns General Villa believes he will be able to con centrate his attack thereafter on Tam pico and Vera Cruz and the southern points.
 Continue Fighting
 State department reports indicate there has been continued fighting at Ebano, near rampico, with some dam age to the oil tanks. Apparently tho Villa forces have not approached near enough to Tampico to threaten tho city as no requests have been made for transportation of foreigners. Tam pico is being heavily fortified in prep aration for the attack. Navy depart ment reports indicate tho Carranza garrison has successfully withstood preliminary attacks.
 According to official advices the sisal situation at Progreso Is improved. The collier Jupiter sailed Thursday for New Orleans with a cargo of hemp and two merchant steamers are now load ing. Extra duties on sisal have been collected, however. since March 20. It was previously reported those would be imposed after April 20.
 state department summary today says in part:
 A mail report dated March 23. from Piedras Negras, states that Americans and other foreigners are being shown every courtesy. It is said that wherever wrong has been dono by the new faction speedy redress has been given It is stated that better conditions are expected in the district after the new party has had time to Stltie uOWn anu iIldhe tO the many civil offices.
 Purchasing Coal
 The same report states that the statements to the effect that Gen Raoul Madero with 5000 troops was at Sabinas en route to Piedgras Ne gras appear to have been unfounded, as refugees arriving from the Sabinas coal fields report that there are only 1900 troops under General Pereyra garrisoning Sabinas and the surround ing country. Coal is being shipped from that section daily by the Villistas. who are purchasing 1t from foreign owned mines. No attempt has been made to seize any property in that section and absolute protection is said to be given to all On March 22 there remained but 70 kilometers of railroad to be re paired between Allende and Silencio station before trains could go directly from Piedras Negras to Monterey
 A statement issued by the Villa agency tonight was as follows:
 The convention consul at Browns vilIe Tex, wired the confidential agency that the battle for possession of Matamoros had begun.
 "The confidential agency has re- ceived official news of q severe defeat of Pablo Gonzales army by the con vention forces under General Felipe The dispatch added that Gonzales army was retreating toward Tampico.
 Numbers of Carranzistas ara arriv-. ing in Nuevo Laredo. fleeing from Canon de Santa Domingo. where tho villistas defeated them and captured many horses and large amount of ammunition"