Evening star., 1915-04-02
QUERETAR0 TAKEN
BY GEN. 0BREGON
Carranza Chief Menacinq
Villas Army on Its South
ern Advance.
GUNB0AT MACHIAS SENT
TO VERA CRUZ SQUADRON
Neutrality of Mexico City, Urged by
Bryan, Awaits Acceptance by
Constitutionalists.

First definite information Of the To-
cation of Gen. Obregon and his army
since he evacuated Mexico City to the
Zapata forces came today in an official
dispatch from Gen. Carranza to his
agency here. announcing that Obregon
was at Queretaro. eighty miles north
of the capital. and thus again menac-
ing any southern advance Of the Villa
army. Gen. Carranza sent this message:
Yesterday Queretaro was occupied
by Gen. Obregon's troops"
Obregon was once thought to be
moving along the railway toward Vera
Cruz and was later reported intending
to concentrate at Puebla. Recently 1t
was reported that the Zapata-ViIla
force intended to evacuate and that
Obregon would again occupy the cap
ital.
The gunboat Machias was today or
dered from New York to Join the
cruiser squadron at Vera Cruz. The
battleships Delaware and Georgia soon
with the Atlantic feet.
Black Smallpox in Vera Cruz.
BLACK" smallpox in Vera Cruz was
reported today in official dispatches
The State Departments summary said !:
The number Of cases of smallpox Of
the black continent type is on the in
crease throughout the city. It Is re-
points are also badly infected"
J. NJ. Dougherty, an American, man
ager OF an estate near Soledad, was
arrested at Puebla recently by Car
rama authorities because Of some unex-
planned financial transaction, and has
been taken to Vera Cruz, where Consul
Canada is looking after his interests.
Success Hinges on Carranza.
Upon Gen. venustiano Carranza de-
pends today the success Of negotiations
on the part of the American gov
ernment with the various warning
factions in Mexico for taking Mex
leo City out Of future military op-
erations and for the naturalization of
the railway between that city and Vera
Cruz These steps are designed to
provide permanent security for the
25.0O0 foreigners in the Mexican cap
itaL
The fact that the villa -zapata forces
have promptly accepted the two pro-
posals of the American government
led administration officials and diplo-
mats here today to hope that Cen Car
rama also would give his assent. II
Mexico City the Zapata forces are wilt
ing to evacuate that city.
A declaration of neutrality Of the
Mexican capital would not only allay
eigners there, but would eliminate the
famine menace and reduce the possi-
bility of foreign complications
Plan for Neutralizine City.
The plan with respect to Mexico City
contemplates an arrangement whereby
order would be maintained there by a
local council made up Of Prominent
residents selected Big mutual agreement
between the opposing factions. The
capital would not then. under the
terms of the proposed agreement, be
subject to further attacks. nor would
there be any more changes In govern
ment until a central government had
been established.
Oficials and diplomatists here who
are conversant with the details Of tho
plan are much encouraged by the
prompt acceptance given to II by the
villa-Zapata authorities. and now are
hopeful that Cen. Carranza can be per
suaded to do likewise.
Duval West. personal representative
of President Wilson, who, 1t is under
stood. viii confer with Gen. Carranza
at Vera Cruz in the next few days on
the Mexican situation in general. prob
ably will assist American Consuls Silli-
man and Canada in their efforts to Sc
cure Carranza's approval Later. 1t is
understood. Mr.. West will go to Mexico
City to talk wfththe Brazilian minister
concerning the situation.
Should the capital be declared neu-
tral, much Of the apprehension for the
safety Of foreigners would be removed
and the famine menace eliminated.
Since such a step would lessen the
likelihood Of complication with for
eign powers. the plan. in the opinion
Of American officials. should appeal
to all Mexican factions.
Payment Of Mining Taxes.
The Brazilian minister at tho capital
advised the State Department that
taxes on mining property in Lower
California were payable at the capital
or at Chihuahua, money deposited in
any American bank to the order OF
the treasurer general Of the de facto
government being acceptable for that
purpose.
The department had inquired II Gov
Santu Of Lower California was sub
ject to the orders of the Mexico City
government, various American owners
of mines there having been puzzled as
TO how to meet their tax obligation be
cause of confused conditions in Mexico
The status of Gov. Santu was not de-
fined in the reply.
Minor Merriweather. the young Amer
lean and former Washington news
writer, arrested by villa officials on q
charge of counterfeiting, and who was
later released. has complained that his
personal effects and the money which
caused his arrest were confiscated
Merriweather entered the territory
controlled by Villa carrying a con-
siderable amount OF so-caIled Mon.
clovia currency. used by Carranza sun.
porters, which the Villa officials re.
Quire to be revalidated Merriweathe,
asserted that this was done on writer