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GENERAL NEWS NOTES OF THE DAY. War h.-.s been declared between the Carranza and Villa elements of the Mexican constitutionalist army, according to advices received at Juarez from officials of tlie conclave of chieftains at Agius Calientes. A preliminary battle already has occurred at Leon between the convention city and Querataro it was reported. Gen. Pablo Gonzales, the Carranza commander, has moved his forces from Quertaro north to Sdao to meet the Villa advance. Gen. Manuel Chao, a Villa chieftain, lia.s departed from Aguas Calientes witli a strong column. A message from official sources in Mexico City given out by Rafael Muzquiz, the Carranza consul general to the United States, is as follows: "The lirst chief is at Cordoba. A majority of the principal chiefs have declared in favor of Carranza. Villa has called on the people to take arms. All the south and east is loyal to "the first chief. Generals Obregon and Villareal have telegraphed they will support Carranza. Fifty drunken soldiers of a sappers battalion went to the quarters of the mounted police in the center of Mexico City and tried to force the police to cry "Viva Villa!" The police arrested the sappers after a short struggle and twenty-three were executed. Higinio Agullar, supported by Gen. Benjamin Argumedo and a contingent of Zapata followers, attacked Puelila, sixty-seven miles southeast of Mexico City, and is in possession of the outskirts of tlie city. The American evacuation of Vera Cruz can be accomplished within forty-eight hours after President Wilson gives the order. Everything is in readiness for bringing Brig.-Gen. Funstons 7,000 troopers and 2,500 marines back from their six months stay in the Mexican seaport. Developments of the next few hours, which will decide whether the troops are to come home and let the Mexican factions light out their differences cr whether they will remain indefinitely, depended upon what news Cjuies to the white house and the state department from Mexico. With assurances well accepted that the American conditions for evacuation will be complied with, the situation ouly awaited orders from the white house. The American forces are virtually ready to break camp and sail for Galveston. John It. Silliinan. personal representative of President Woodrow Wilson, called on Minister of War Pesquiera for a conference relative to what guarantees would be given foreigners iu case of the Invasion of the Mexican capital by followers of Zapata or by General Villa. The minister of war assured Mr. Sillimau that the city was amply garrisoned to prevent any danger. Generals Obregon and Blanco being in command of 25,000 men, while General Alvarado commands a detachment of 15 machine- guns and a large artillery force. The American representative left the war office expressing satisfaction with the protective arrangements. !. Charges by Great Britain that certain South American governments are failing to prevent violations of their neutrality, committed in the interests of the German forces, have served to develop further responsibilities regarded by other governments as resting upon the United States, because of its adherence to the Monroe doctrine. It became known that the British government, instead of bringing directly to the attention of the South American governments concerned its charges with regard to the obseravnee of strict neutrality, , siwke first to the United States government. Washington has heard that Gen. Villa, at the head of a large column of troops, lias begun marching south from Aguas Calientes. to attack the Carranza forces under Jen. Gonzales at Queretaro. Ollicial dispatches say the Aguas Calientes convention ordered the movement. Gen. Blanco, who had announced his intention of remaining loyal to the convention, started for Mexico City to take command of his troops, but was arrested at Silao by Gen. Gonzales. George C. Carothers, American consular agent, reiwrted that he was accompanying Villa on his inarch south. The California anti-prize fight initiative measure, which will shortly become a law, is to be tested on the ground of lacking constitutionality. A test case is to be made on tlie provisions of the act. which in every way prohibits professional boxing and anything more than four-round amateur contests. It will be claimed that the measure passed at the recent general state election is unconstitutional on the ground that it is class legislation and prohibits an established business enterprise. Although President Powell of the Fore River Ship and Engine Company denied ids firm had made auv contract with a belligerent power of Europe, the belief is that twenty submarines, totaling 1-000,009 in cost, soon will be h iilt for Great Britain by this concern. Mr. Powell was notified by Secretary of the Navy Daniels t-iat "of course no American concern could build warships for tho belligerents in American waters." A neutrality lkiard will investigate if tlie ships are built. By a vote of 2S to S the New York City board of education re-affirmed its stand on the teacher-mother question when it defeated the report of the committee on high schools granting a leave of absence without pay until Sept. 10. 1915, to Mrs. Lora M. Wagner, a high school teacher. It was decided, also, that charges of neglect of duty should be preferred against Mrs. Wagner. A balance of ?10,515,S72 in favor of the United States in the exports and imports in the ten principal customs districts of tlie country for tho week ending November 7. is reported by the Department of Commerce. The imports totaled ?20,120,S95 and the exports 0,045,707. Two hundred saloons within the district covered by the Indian treaty of 1S55 were ordered closed iu compliance with a decision of the United States Supreme Court, handed down last June. The treaty covers a vast district in northern Minnesota. A central committee to take charge of Belgian relief work in the United States and co-operate with the international committee abroad will be designated by President Wilson.
