Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-24
U. S. CONSUL Is UNFRAMED.
Americans in Niazatlau Are Safe, He
Tells Mexico City Embassy.

I u. s. CONSUL IS UNFRAMED.
Americans in Mazatlau Are Safe, He
Tells Mexico City Embassy.
MEXICO CITY, March % R.-The
United States embassy tonight received
0 telegram signed by William 7. BLOCK,
err, American consul at Mazatlan, hieo
At noon, stating that all Americans in
that city were safe. IAN unconfirmed
reueFt at Nogales had said that the con-
sui had been killed during the battle at
Mazatlan.)
An outnumbered federal garrison sue
cessfully had defende! Mazatlan, one
Of the chief Mexican PORTS on the "a
cific. against a 30-hour assault ana TO-
night was confident that its position
was impregnable.
The main federal army, united under
Gen. Plutarco Elias Gales at Torreon,
after successful campaigns in zaca-
tecas, Durango, Euevo Leon and Goa
hula. was divided into three armies Tor
as many separate campaigns.
A communique issued by headquar-
tiers at Chapultepec Castle tonight salo
that the insurgents had been unaple
to make any important advance on Ma
zatlan. although they had obtained q
fnothold in q Cemetery which enabled
them to snipe at the federal position:
THE only reference to casualties SAID
that zone federal was wounded ana
that there were rebel casualties"
Soldiers Strength Hidden.
The government statement gave no
figures of the numbers OF soldiers on
either side, but previous reports nad
been that there were about S,oo0 repeis
Under Gems Cruz and 1turoe as against
1000 constituting the defense force I'M
dsr Cen. Jaime Garlic. Federal re-
Inducements were Ell route. but the nrst
AZ them were not expected to reach the
heleaollred city before tomorrow.
THE fighting has been along the
highways and hilly ground on the out
skirts of the city and for some miles
ont along the railroad and approaches.
The fe6erals were supported by bonn
bardment from q federal gunboat,
ProUresso. which was said to have
made the rebel tenure of the grave
ward and other advanced positions de-
cidedly uncomfortable. Land batteries
Of the federals have Joined In this bonn
bardment.
Gen. Garlic reported to the President
that his position on the iSthmus con-
meeting the city with the mainland
was SO strong that he was confident
that the insurgent attack would IAN.
s Describes Attack.
He reported that the rebels began
their first attack with cavalry, infantry
and artillery at 3:s5 Friday afternoon
upon the federal trenches outside the
city. From this and several later At
tacks the rebels were forced to retreat.
The Progresso, lying in the harbor
after landing supplies, opened its bonn
bardment late on Friday afternoon.
At 6:15 pm. the rebel cavalry, unable
10 stand up under the Smelling, re-
treated from its position along the
highways approaching the city.
The communique referred to o rebel
airplane dropping propaganda on the
city, but made no mention OF any
bombing.
The three separate troop movements
today were under command OF Gen.
Juan A. Almazan, assigned to advance
northward toward Jimenez against the
rebel army of Gen. Gonzalo Escobar.
Gen. Cardenas, who led second column
to the relief of Mazatlan, and ~ regi-
ments Of cavalry totaling about 5000
men, under Gen. Saturnino Cedillo
with orders to clean out "fanaticos, -
the government term for so-called
Catholic rebels, in the states OF
Guanjuato and Jalisco.
Mexico City was somewhat mystified
a. to the reasons which led Gen Gales
to make this offensive at this time.
FEDERALs TO ATTACK NoGALEs.
SAN LUIS, Sonora, Mexico, March
% (P).-A federal cavalry force DOC
strong was dispatched from the gov
eminent garrison here late today with
orders from Gen. AbelaFdo Rodriguez
Of the northern district of Lower Cali
fornia to attack the rebel garrison al
Gogales, Sonora.
Gen. Rodriguez arrived here today
with federal reinforcements from Next
Gala, Lower California, which brought
the infantry strength to 5000 troops
he said. He added that an attack on
the rebel stronghold at Nogales would
be made as quickly as the cavalry
could cross the Sonoran Desert.
Gen. Rodriguez claimed that y
bombing planes for use in the attack
on Nogaies had landed here. An air
port base sufficient for 20 planes has
been established. he said. -.
To provide water for the troops cross
ing the desert, 3RodridgueZ said trucks
had placed SO barrels at intervals In the
desert. Troops also were carrying wa
ter supplies, he said.
The infantry stationed here will fol-
low the cavalry within several days
Rodriguez said, being transported by
trucks and tractors which already have
penetrated large section of the desert
and pounded down semblance OF o
road for marching formations.
FEDERALS TRAVEL OVER u. S. SOIL
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