Evening star., 1916-04-28
Alarming Reports Received
by the State Department
of the Situation in Mexico

Alarming reports OF conditions in
Mexico City were received today by the
State Department from confiueut.aI
sources. The situation was described
as bad from every point of view and
this condition was said to include the
capital and the surrounding TERRITORY.
Food supplies are not sufficient and the
railroads cannot at present relieve the
condition. The de facto government is
said 10 be receiving only half hearted
support and to be in a precarous condi-
ton.
The prestige of Villa. the department
was told rs increasing and his pursuit by
the American troops bids fair to make
him hero of national proportions This
has had natural effect on the Carranza
government. The financial situation is
ssid TO be poor with the peso worth about
cents on the dollar in exchange
Many revolutionary bands in the
l.aguns district OF CoahuiIa and tn
eastern part of Durango are reported
In dispatches to the State Department
today to have surrendered to the Car
rama government.
Conditions Better in Torreon.
The Department" said an official
announcement, rs in receipt of tele-
graphic advices stating that it is re-
lisbly reported that since the arrival
at Torreon of Gen. Jacinto Trevino
conditions have greatly improved in
the Laguna district. Good order is said
to have been restored in that parI OF
Coahuila and in the eastern part of
Durango. In these sections many
Villa or revolutionary bands are re-
ported to have surrendered to the de
fscto government. II is further re-
ported that in Gen. Trevino's district
the people are calm and friendly to-
ward Americans ami other foreigners.
Guaymas and Topolobampo. on the west
coast. are reported quiet
The department is informed that
about the middle of April there were
nfteen Americans, includings three
women and four children, in Progreso
and eight Americans. including one
woman. in Merida, state of Yucatan.
I'm addition to these Americans there
were other foreigners. as follows:
Spaniards and Cubans, several hun
dreds: Germans. twelve; English. four;
The department is in receipt of an
ofncial report stating that conditions
at Tampico are much improved. A
mail dispatch from Agusscalientes
states that two American citizens and
two British subjects left Zacatecas on
April Is. and that only about six for
eiSners remained in that district
Await Result of Conference.
Awaiting the result OF pending ne
eotistions to secure the cooperation
OF the Carranza forces in the cam
psign against briga ndage beyond the
border. the Washington government
will take no further important steps.
either military or diplomatic Gen.
Scott has received the Instructions for
his guidance prepared by Secretary
Baker. The redisposition of the forces
in Mexico is proceeding under Gen.
Funston's directions. No steps are be-
ing taken ct the State Department
toward preparing a reply to Gen. Car
rsnza's note suggesting a withdrawal
Of the American troops. aud none VIII
be taken until the conference con-
ciudes
OF the three troopers OF the 1th Cavalry
wounded in the engagement with Villa
bandits near Tomachic. The wounded
are: Private Thomas Henry. Troop II,
left leg; Louis kraink. Quarternaster
sergeant. Troop ". right arm. and Pri-
vste William r. Matthias. Troop II, right
side.
Gen. Funston also telegraphed that the
four ninety-horsepower biplanes recently
sent TO Columbus were not specially
adapted to army service and that higher
power machines were needed. Secretary
Baker replied that the department has
authorized purchase OF sixteen more high
er powered machines four of which have
been shipped. This will give the army
twenty new aeroplanes. including the four
now at Columbus.