The Topeka state journal., 1916-12-01
Chinese Witness Slaughter of
Foreigners at chihuahua.
Fifty COuntrymen Are Slain
Before Eyes of Refugee.
little HOPE FOR AMERICANS
Firmer Policy Advocated to
Hasten Conference.
Policy, "MexicO to Put Her
House in Order" Wanes.

Washington. Dec. IA firmer poll
icy toward Mexico. if Carranza fails |
to deal adequately with veKing prob
lens is the present administration
plan.
Such a policy, authorities hinted, |
may be put into effect shortly, if the
first chief is unable to cope with the
villa movement in northern Mexico.
At anv rate it will be inaugurated,
providing CarranZa does not see to it
that American demands for internal
changes are met.
In short, the policy will be to allow
Mexico sufficient opportunity to put
| her house in order" without American
! Interference, but with American
".-eIp''
Where Did Villa Get Force?
The Villista movement. with it's ap-
parent success at Chihuahua City, is
a puzzle here. How the bandit chief
got his new strength mystifies and
where it may lead is an admittedly
, touchy speculative point.
General Pershing's force will not go
hunting trouble in the present situa-
ton, tho there is still authority for
action if Villa gets within range of the
American expedition.
While watching northern Mexico
| anxiously the administration is still
in doubt as TO what Carranza intends
to do about the Atlantic City confer
ence agreement for American troop
All reports mere 1nd1-
cate the Mexicans are disturbed at
Chairman Lanes hints of a firmer
policy toward Mexico, unless Mexico
cleans herself up.
Fear Villa at Juarez.
Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. Shorty be-
| about four miles south of Juarez.
bout fifty shots were heard on the
American side of the border, but all
efforts of the United States authorities
to learn the cause were unavailing.
Native residents of Juarez believed
the city had already been attacked by
Villa and several families ran to the
American side of the international
bridge in panic. A heavy detachment
of de facto cavalry was hurried out
toward the race track.
- United States military authorities
here thought the de facto troops out
posts had sighted a rowing band of Viii
listas, known to be lowering south and
east Of Juarez.
| Stragglers Reach Juarez.
| Demoralized and without guns.
which had been thrown away in their
i hasty flight from Chihuahua City,
several hundred more Carranzista sur
vivors of the five-day battle in the
northern capital reached here at 8
| o'clock this morning. Part of the in
coming soldiers were cava1rymen who
in the rout had lost their horses.
Every secret service agent of the
/
ordered Ito find out what became of
the Americans and other foreigners in
! Chihuahua City" and the federal au-
| thorities made another request to the
Mexican consulate for aid. Altho
scores of native and foreign refugees
| have been questioned, the only scrap
of news obtained was from persons on
the fourth train leaving the capital in
the retreat. They declared they saw
George Brittingham and several other
| Americans standing beside the track,
but that they were not allowed to
leave on that train. They were ex-
pected to catch the next train out.
Planning to Re-take City.
Every energy of the Mexican de
facto government leaders is directed
today toward gathering reinforce
ments from the north and south to
hurl against Villa in Chihuahua City
A new army to retake the city is
being massed at ,Tuarez- Stragglers
from the remnants of General Tre-
who's command are still streaming to
the border in a demoralized condition.
During the night a repair train
started south oyer the Mexican &
+, Northwestern railway to rebuild the
! bridges near GuzmaE and open a
channel for the transportation of
troops from western Chihuahua to the
/ border
| In Juarez, opposite this city. a new
| column of government forces is be-
ing formed to make that town the
base of operations, while in the south
ianother column is forming under
! command of General Murgia, accord
ing to Carranza officials at the Mex
lean consulate here
simultaneously large forces from
both directions will be launched
against the bandit chief.
The offensive against Villa will be
started within a fortnight or sooner
| General Gonzales, commander of the
he faPtO i
today.
Blames L. 6. for Fall of City
1--WE are seriously hindered in our
operations by the embargo of arms
and ammunition by your government"
he said. THAT was responsible for
| the fall of the capital. And now our
column in the north is encountering
difficulty in getting enough cartridges
to renew the attack against the bandit
| chief