The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-30
VILLA IS AGAIN TEN THOUSAND BRITISH
REPORTED DEAD LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS
General 0bregon is Said to De-
cline to Discuss Anything
except Withdrawal.
CoNFAB MAY BE FUTILE
Scott and Funston Are Not En-
powered to Discuss With
draWal of Troops.
trv Assoe,Artp rsssN

Ell PASO, Tex, April 29-Two
conflicting situations developed i'm
medlately after the beginning in the
Mexican customs house late today Of
the conference to decide the future
disposition OF the American expedi-
tionary forces in Mexico. They are
understood temporarily to have In
creased the gravity of the negotia-
uons. In addition. another factor Is
believed to have been injected into
the situation by the receipt Of fresh
reports that Francisco Villa is dead.
Mexican Consul Andreas Garcia
said Colonel Carlos Carranza had
telegraphed him from Cusihuiriachic
that he had been unable to find VIII
las body, but that he established be-
yond dispute that the
Bandit Leader Was Dead
and he hoped to recover the body in
few days. The telegram said all
the evidence tended to confirm the
death of Villa. This telegram is un-
derstood to have been laid before the
conferees, butt none would confirm or
deny 1t. The initial meeting which
lasted two hours was held behind
closed doors in the room which Villa
used as his council chamber when he
dominated northern Mexico and
Juarez was his headquarters. An
other conference will be held tomor-
row. this time in FL Paso.
Generals Hugh L. Scott and Fred
erick Funston represented the
\1Jnited States. The Mexican con-
Lerees were General Alvaro Obregon,
frn 80 rnf
Jacinto Trevino, military commander
of the northeast district OF Mex
leo.
Two Things Learned.
The progress OF negotiations was
not divulged, but from an authorit-
alive source two things were learned.
First-That the Mexican repre-
sentatives reiterated the wish ex-
pressed in General Carranza's recent
note to the Washington government
that the American troops would be
Withdrawn from Mexican soil at an
early date.
Second-That they were informed
by the American officials that the
latter were not empowered to discuss
the withdrawal Of General Pershing's
columns.
It Is understood that the Ameri-
can representatives told the Mexican
officials that II the defacto govern
ment insisted on an American with
drawal that the conference would
go in a deadlock and the whole mat
ter would divert to a diplomatic dis
cussion between Washington and
Mexico City.
Conference Objects Told.
The Mexicans were further in
formed that the purpose of the pres
ent conference so far as the United
States Is concerned is the develop
ment of a specific plan for the CO.
operation Of the American and de-
facto armies in wiping out the bandit
groups that have caused SO much
bloodshed along the border and have
repeatedly taken American life in
the interior of Mexico.
1t Is understood that General OBJ
regon. prior to the conference, open
ly expressed q disinclination to dis
cuss any other subject than with
drawal and that he carried this at
titude into the initial meeting.
He carried this attitude into the
initial meeting after the primary is
sues had been reached, He is report
ed to have carried out the intention
he announced shortly after his arri-
val on Friday, of meeting Generals
Scott and Funston halfway in the ne
gotiations. The attitude Of secret
ness maintained by the officials gave
rise to all sorts Of speculations to-
night.
Mexicans Are Mum.
Mexican officials declared their in
tention of allowing the Americans to
do all the talking. The latter re-
fused all but the most inconsequen-
ltial information regarding develop
)ments, in well informed quarters, the
opinion was freely expressed that the
present negotiations are unlikely to
lead to any definite agreement. 1t
Continued from page l, first section.)
Continued on page 6, first section.)