The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-04-01
Reports from Mexico Regarding
His Revolt Against Car
rama Differ Greatly
as to the Facts.
Is OFFICIALLY DENIED
Secretary Lansing Assured by En-
misary of De rFacto Government
the Story is Without Founda-
tion-Missino Aviator Found.

Washington, March 24.-Tension in
administration quartres over the Mex
lean situation relaxed today following
repeated denials of the report that
1000 Carranza troops at Chihuahua un-
der Luis Herrera had joined Villa. Con-
ficting unofficial advices from the
border, however, caked the State
Department to telegraph American
consuls at Chihuahua and Durango for
immediate reports as to the situation
in the Torreon region, where Herrera
was last reported. Slow wire COM
munication south of the border may
delay the replies.
Officials were perpIexed by dis
patches from the border saying Gen
eral Bell had notified General Funston
that the report of Herrera's revolt was
confirmed. When the War Department
closed for the night, at II o'clock, Sec
rotary Baker stated that General Fun
ston had advised the department of
General Bells report, and that all in
formation reaching him indicated that
Herrera was loyal to Carranza.
Scott Doesn't Believe 1t.
Major General Scott, chief of staff,
declared emphaticaIly he did not be-
1ieve the report. Some officials, how
ever, were prepared to believe that
Herrera had deserted Carranza,
though they doubted that he had join
ed Villa.
Secretary Bakers reports on the
days events on the border were before
President Wilson when the latter re-
turned tonight from Philadelphia
They were of a reassuring nature, al
though they contained nothing posi-
tive as to the reported revolt.
The accumulation of denials of the
Herrera report during the day; the
safe arrival of the army motor trucks
with the expeditionary forces; the
restoration of radio communication
with General Pershing's force, and the
satisfactory progress of diplomatic ne
gotiatiOns with the de facto govern
ment served ito relieve official anxiety.
Get an Official Denial.
An official denial from the Carranza
authorities at Juarez that Herrera had
revolted was presented to Secretary
Lansing in person by Eliseo Arredon-
do, ambassador designate of the de
facto government.
The State Department sent some in
formation regarding Mexico to the
War Department tonight, but Secre
tary Baker declined to say what was
its nature. No reply has yet come
from General Carranza to the request
that American troops be permitted to
-
in their pursuit of Villa. Reports
from the border said General Pershing
already was making. use of a part OF
the line. War Department advices did
not mention this.
Missing Aviator Found.
Columbus, N. NJ, March 24.-Lieut
Edgar S. Gorrell of the United States
aero corps, who has been missing
since last Sunday, was found today
three miles south Of Ascension by q
motor truck train under Lieut. J. L
Parkinson, Twentieth infantry, accord
ing to reports made tonight to mill
tary headquarters. Lieutenant Gorrel
was uninjured. He was out of gaso
line and had lost his way.
Carranza General RevoIts.
Columbus, N. NJ, March % (passet
by censor).-Gen. Luis Herrera, unit
recently Carranza military governor
of Chihuahua, has renounced Carranzs
and renowned in favor of Villa, tax
ing the field in Western chihuahua
with two thousand troops, according
to reliable information received here
tonight
The exact place at which Genera
Herrera's troops are encamped wa.
not indicated in the message which
reached Columbus from a source tina
always has been found thoroughly re
liable. 1t is believed, however, tina
the troops, most of whom recent,
constituted the Carranza garrison a
Chihuahua City, tonight are between
San Pedro and Chihuahua and ar
preparing to work north and west to
ward the American punitive expedi
ton in the field under General PEI
shing.
The sentiment of the people in tina