The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-04-17
VICTORY
OVER VILLA FORCES
NOT YET CONFIRM
Severe Engagement Taking
Place at IruaputO, Where
Villa Is in Personal
Charge

brownsville. Tex. April 16.--A re-
port that the 5000 villa troops which
have been bcsieging Matamoros for
more than two weeks had started for
CeIaya TO assist General Nilla In his
campaign against General 0bregon was
received tonight by Mai. Gen. Fred
erick Funston. IN command of the Uni
ted states troops here.
Wnshington, April 16.--Confirmation
was lacking at the state department
tonight of the victory which Carranxn
crsI obrcgon over Villas forces near
CeinsR. The Carranza claims were Of
GcinIiy reported from Vera Cruz, hut
advices from various points in central
Mexico Indicated lighting continued.
Ne report was received from Villa head
quarters where the nghting general Is IN
personal command of his troops.
OF the fghting today it was indicated
that tho severest engagement was at
Salamanca, near Iruaputo. stf
The Carranza agency made public to-
night this cablegram from Vera Cruz:
Vera Cruz Is deiiious with JOY over
Obregon's great victory. Thousands are
parading streets cheering for Carranza,
Obregon and constitutionalist government.
It is generally thought Villa will never
recover from this blow. Obregon is stead
ilv pushing north toward Irapuato. Cen
eral Luis Hernandez has delivered to
Carranza two banners OF Villas northern
division captured in the battle at Ce-
lava Popular demonstration as they
We're paraded through the streets
Villa Troops Routed
The agency also reported that villa
troops attacking Tuxpam has been routed.
The railroad between Vera Cruz and
Quretaro is in almost constant use by
Obregon for transported tlon of reinforce
ments and residents of Mexico City have
been unable to get any freight. Already
there is suffering in the Mexican capital
from lack of food. Duval West. personal
representative of President Wilson, tele-
graphed from Mexico City that famine
threatened Secretary Bryan forwarded
Mr.. Vests telegram TO American Consul
Siliman, now at Vera Cruz, with instruc-
tions to present It to General Carranza
and impress upon him the necessity Tor
opening the railroad to Mexico City for
Transportation of food supplies
Zapatistas are operating along the same
railroad and there are iears IN vera
Cruz that Obregon's line of communica-
ton to his base in the latter place may
be cut at any moment.
Official Summary
A summary issued by the state depart
ment tonight said in part:
''rhe American vice consul at Progreso
reports that Moritz Caller, the German
subject recently imprisoned on charge
of having dynamted military train, has
been liberated.
"Matamoros was quiet but both sides
appeared to be preparing for renewed
engagement.
.rhe international committee at Mex
leo City, representing approximately 5000
foreign residents, has just sent tele-
gram to the Secretary of State express
ing it's great appreciation of the efforts
that have been made by the American
government and the diplomatic corps In
Mexico City to have some arrangement
effected for the forwarding to Mexico
city OF foreign mails that have been held
at Vera Cruz since February"
Outpost Engagement
T1,..xyr oxyiI1a Anril 1ft--Affer