Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 April 1914 — REBEL GENERAL WILL NOT FIGHT UNITED STATES [ARTICLE]

REBEL GENERAL WILL NOT FIGHT UNITED STATES

Villa Says He Did Not Join In Note From Carranza and That World Would Laugh at'Folly. - • *-'-'-fru r , '?#

ACTIVE AT VERA CRUZ Some Feeling of Relief Existed When Chief of Constitutionalist Army Said That He Would Not Oppose TQT. fi. and Approved the Occupy tion of Vera Crux—Gen. Frederick Fnnston Was Ordered With a Brigade of Infantry to Embark For Vera Cruz to Assist in the Program There—Embargo On Arms Restored. General Francisco Villa, chief of the rebel army, has intoirmed George C. Cairofthens, special agent of the state department, that he'had no interview with Carranza and did not join with him in the mote Vo Bryan* which objected to the occupation oi Vera Cruz. In fact, he stated that he was in sympathy with the United States and that the world would laugh if Mexico engaged in a war with the United States. This expression of Villa, conveyed ■by Mr. Carorthers to the President, brought a feeling of relief throughout the country, tor War with Mexico is not wanted if it can be honorably avoided, and it tits hoped that Villa is able to control f ' the feeling throughout Northern Mexico, where the anti-American sentiment has been. bfitter for a long time. At Vera Cruz active steps haVe been taken to' establish the complete control by the United Spates. The snipers (have finally all bean silenced and firing ceased Wednesday afternoon. There were 3,100 marines in Vera Cruz Thursday and the city-was vigorously patroled. All businessmen had been asked bo return to their business places under full protection, and Admiral Fletcher has issued a bulletin guaranteeing uninterrupted pursuit of 'business. At the same time General Maas, the Mexican commander of the troops that left Vera Cruz, is reported to be concentrating his forces for an attack on Vera Cruz and an effort to wrest the custom ports (from the U. S. The folly of this may be clearly seen, when it is understood that the guns from the battleships could sweep the country Inland for seven miles. The plan at Vera Cruz is for the United States to proceed toward Mexico City and to protect the railroad and the bridges between the capital and Vera Cruz, thus providing a line of communication from the base at Vera Cruz. To accomplish this the first infantry troops under General Frederick Funaton, of Philippine fame, has been sent with a brigade of infantry and will doubtless proceed Ixwlard Mexico City. The embargo on arms has been restored and all shipments of rifles and ammunition to Mexico from this country has been held up. There is much unrest along the border and all traffic across the Rio Grande alt Jaurez has been suspended. The border patrol is bo ing strengthened to give it ample protection in the event of an outbreak, a thing that the people on •the American side greatly fear. O’Shaughneesy, American Charge

d’Affaires, given his passports, has left Mexico City, and the Mexican Charge, Algara, has asked for and received passports from this country: Anto-American disturbances at Mexico City; in the opinion of O’Shaughnessy, demand that the troops be sent there at once. An extra squadron of 16 warships has been put into service and will leave Sunday to join the fleet in Mexican waters. Later dispatches report that there was some fighting at Vera Cruz again Thursday and that three Americans were killed and twentyfive wounded. The additional marines landed Thursday bring the, total now in Vera Cruz up to 5,400. ■ President Wilson issued a warning to Carranza to the effect this country will act against Huerta and those who assist him. Congress Thursday appropriated $500,000 to remove Americans from Mexico, those who apply being almost invariably without means, ■taking hasty leave and many having left behind homes which they iiiad been years in establishing. Some, it is reported, have refused t| leave, stating that they would Sooner remain and take the chances along with their property, which would be confiscated or destroyed if they left. German and British Ships aided Thursday in transferring refugees ifrom Vera Cruz to the U. S. S. battleships, : vv-:-.--' -- ——' - There is a growing sympathy among many in this country for the poor, misguided and ignorant Mexicans, who are being blindly led into this terrible conflict of eudh frightfully unequal term®. That it will eventually restore Mexico from it® wair-tom and bandit ridden status to ja prosperous and peaceful nation is certain, but there is a pathos that fills every heart that the Mexicans can not realize what It all mean® and give up the fight and ask for peaceable terms of satitlemenjt.