Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-26
OFFICIALS Puzzled
|BY ACT OF MEX|CANS
Members of Prominent Fam
lilies Coming to U. S. Unex-
pIained to Administration.
MAY BE DUE TO SITUATION

Official reports received here showing
that members of the Carranza. Obregon.
Trevino. Huerta and Madero families
are now in San Antonio, Tex, have puz-
zleu observers seeking an explanation
of the gathering in the United States
of -combatant Mexicans. The re-
ports do not explain their presence.
Some officials believe, however. eco
nomic and social conditions generally
in Mexico are such as to make Mexi-
cans of the wealthy class anxious to
get their womenfolk out of the coun-
try for the present. The dispatches in
dicate that most of the women have
come recently from Mexico.
The State Department has not re-
ceived, so far as known, any official
reports bearing out the charges of
his grip is relaxing and that he is
preparing to leave Mexico. The exodus
to San Antonio has been used to sup
port this view. but high officials have
seen nothing showing such develop
ment Is to be expected.
Situation in Chihuahua Uncertain.
cles that the military situation in Chi
huahua state has been made highly
uncertain by renewed bandit activities.
Despite persistency of reports that
Villa is personally leading his men
against the Carranza garrison at Chi
huahua City. neither the State nor War
department has received convincing
reports that he is alive.
Military experts are frankly pessi-
mistic of the result of the Carranza
campaign against these bandits. They
believe that the de facto troops have
little chance to destroy the brigands
because they have no transport trains
and supply systems which would per-
nit them to chase the outlaws into the
barren hill country 1t is known that
has been strongly presented to the
American-Mexican commissioners. To
the minds of American army officers 1t
represents a serious obstacle to the
present restoration of order in north
ern Mexico.
Situation Regarded as Serious.
villistas' activity near Chihuahua
had the effect today of convincing Of
ficials here that no thought should be
given soon to removal of guardsmen
from border patrol duty or withdrawal
of Gen. Pershing's column from Mex
leo. Fear was felt that II Villa should
succeed in his apparent movement to
capture Chihuahua he might hnd II
easy 6 get control later of nearly all
northern Mexico. The entire Mexican
situation was regarded as more Sc
rious than for many months.
Conditions at Chihuahua were the
subject of greatly conflicting reports.
Mexican Ambassador Arredondo re-
ceiyed from oCnsul Garcia at FL Paso
a denial of Gen. Treyino, Carranza
commander at Chihuahua. that he was
eyacuate the city. Carranza losses in
the fight with Villistas at Santa Ysabel
had been slight. he said. and 5000
troops had arrived to reinforce the
however, We're that villa was en-
camped five miles from Chihuahua
with considerable force, after having
defeated CarranZa troops severely, and
that Trevino was ready to abandon the
city.
Prepares for Assembly Meeting.
The Mexican embassy's explanation
of Gen. Carranza's move to Queretaro
was that he had gone to prepare for
the meeting of the constituent assem-
bly,. for which deputies just have been
elected. The arrival of the families Of
United States was declared to be with
out Significance.
'srhe rumors that this visit has any
political significance or that the fami-
lies of the leaders are abandoning the
country are absurd" said an embassy
statement.
Reports by Maj. Gen. Funston. how
ever, said Gen. Trevino had privately
advised many officials in Chihuahua to
, leave the city. Trevino has sent his
| own family out of the country and he
prepared a special train for officials
| which he guarded with military trains
| in expectation of an attack by Villa
| bands.
Villa Promises to Leave Mexico.
| Reports to persons here in touch with
| the Legalista movement state unequiv-
! assurances that he will leave Mexico
! and go to Cuba If Carranza Is over
thrown The shortage of ammunition
among Carranza troops in the north is
| explained by the same persons with
the statement that the internal politics
| among the Carranza leaders is such
| that Gen. Obregon lis personally keep
| ing control of practically all the avail
able ammunition. Recent news dis
| patches reported the movement of a
/
! when Gen. Carranza and Gen. Obregon
| went there from Mexico City. Sources
| in touch with the Legalista movement
! say Obregon took it with him that he
/ might control it's disposal
! Robbers Executed in Mexico City.
LAREDO. Tex. October 26-Twenty
men. principally warehouse men, have
been executed in Mexico City during
the past week for participating in rob-
bing freight consignments through
! fraudulent bills of lading. according
to reliable information received here
today. Robbery of freight cars has
! been so frequent recently on the con-
| stitutionalist lines that merchants have
practically abandoned shipments. 1t
| was stated.
| Con 1ro,i;nn nonioc RiHnnrS i