File No. 812.00/20006

Consul Edwards to the Secretary of State

[Telegrams]

Local officials at Juarez state that they have information that Carranza troops under General Murguia have reached outskirts of Chihuahua and are now fighting to regain the city. Villa is not expected to come further north; that he will be content to vacate the city and return to mountains with such loot as he can take with necessary speed. There is but little apprehension of the bandits coming to Juarez. There is a possibility, however, that those now in possession may revolt against Carranza and declare in favor of some other leader in such event looting and general disorder would follow. No authentic information from Americans in Chihuahua has reached this city, there being no wire further than Sauz, thirty miles north of the city. No trains expected from there until sometime to-morrow.

Edwards