Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-24
VILLAS TROOPS
BADLY BEATEN
NEAR NAM|QU|PA
Dispatches Received by
General Gavira Of the
JuareZ Garrison
BORDER PETITION
SEEKS DISARMING
OF ALL MEXICANS

Ell Paso, Texas. March 23.-General
Gavira of the Juarez garrison received
further advices this afternoon regard
ing the battle between Francisco Villa
and Col. Cano near Namquipa last
Monday. Gen. Gavira said the Villa
troops were routed and fed toward
Namiquipa and that forces of Gen. Luis
Putierrez went in pursuit to give Villa
further battle.
| According to telegram which Gen.
Gavira says he received the battle took
place several kilometers south of Mani
quipa and lasted several hours. Villa
according to the telegram is now in the
vicinity of Namiquipa. Forces ad-
vancing upon Villa under command Of
Col. Cano, Col. Salas from Babricorap,
Col Hernandez from TepehuaneZ. Gen.
Cara from Santa Clara. and Gen. Ca
bazos from Temopacio, the telegram
added.
Andreas Garcia. Mexican consul here,
made public tonight a telegram which
he said he had received from Gen. Gavira
announcing that the Carranza forces hal
defeated Villa today at Santa -Gertrudes,
near Namiquipa.
According to the announcement. Villa
after leaving several dead and wounded
, in the field abandoned 100 horses and fled
| to FL Oso. 49,
| The Telegram
Further confirmation that Gen. Luis
Herrera of the Chihuahua garrison had
not deserted to Villa was received by Gen
Gavira of the Juarez garrison this after
noon in a telegram from Gen. Herrera
| himself. The telegram said:
Your telegram of yesterday received
q Deny in my name emphatically the ru
NOR that the reactionaries have circulat
:. ed in San Antonio saying | have gon,
, over to Villa. On the contrary, an
: ready to fight him as energetically as LOS
n sible.'
> Want Mexicans Disarmed
o 1t is understood that government of
n ficials here have sent to Washington
recommendation, couched i'm tn.
L strongest terms, urging that steps b,
l. taken to disarm all Nexicans along tn,
r border. taking the riaht of forcible en-
$, try and search if necessary. Up to thu
n present il is said that the Washington
y authorities opposed such a step on tn,
ground that il would be misinterpretet
by the MeXiCanS as discrimination
against them and in violation of the,
rights. 1t is now insisted by the loca
authorities that the time has passee
= for any delicacy in handling the sit
\ uation. 1t is pointed out that no Ameri-
can is permitted to enter Mexico arm
ed and that there has been a far great
err laxity on this side of the border
, than was desirable
The situation in .Juarez remains
mostly a subject Of conjecture. witt
such information as is obtanabl
bearing a decided sinister aspect. II
is known that bitter feud exists be-
tween the mayor. Manuel Prieto. ano
the military governor. General Gabrie
\ Gavira. PrietO is a staunch CarranZa
supporter while Gavira is devoted tr
the interests of General Obregon. Car
) ranzas minister of war but who al
n the same time is known to be bitterly
G hostile to the First Chiefs program
d especially as it relates to cooperation
: with Americans.
o Gaviras troops are divided between
t Obregonistas and former Villistas.
: 81 Paso's Danger
Whatever may happen in Jnarez
there is no supposition here that any
attack would be made on Ell Paso from
the other side of the river. but there
is the greatest apprehension that an
/. outbreak OH one side would be fol-
lowed by an outbreak on the other
There are about So 900 Mexicans ir
this city out of a total population OF
|" Il 900 The military and civil authori-
= ties have made vigorous efforts tf
y forestall trouble by arrestlnS every
Mexican who was suspected OF lncN-
ing their fellow couhtrymen against
Americans. That such system APP
parently organized. has been carried
on for some time has been wei
known Numerous arrests have beer
made, especially among tn" \liiis'a
colony, which is quite large
Arrests Continued
The police last night renewed thelr 81
t. forts and detectives were sent INTO eN
S ery section of the city. They arrested be
e tween Is and 20 Mexicans susperte" OF be
ing engaged in anti-Amercan rio''ihs
u The most important arrest was that Q
Melchor Herrera, brother of General l-ui
Herrera. Herrera was arrested as n
crossed the international bridge after
. conference with General Gavra al Juarez
According to the police they have proc
that a plot had actually been perfected D
Herrera and his associates to start RIO,
ing on a large scale in Ell Paso. NV
hundred men were said to have been en-
listed as a nucleus, having been won owe
\ bv promises of the booty they would gair
, According to the police. plans of Her
n rera anticipated that as soon as the riot
e ing started large numbers of Mexican
10 would join them.
i The precautions adopted by the militar
= and civil authorities were not relaxed to
e day. They we're in part the result Q
= General Funston's order that especia
J. steps should be taken at all points alon
u the border to safeguard American live
Il and property in view of the disaffectio
Is of General Luis Herrera and other Car
- rama chieftains in northern Chihuahua.