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Show FREEDOM CLOSE AT HAND. American Prisoners at Chihuahua to Be Released Shortly, CHIHUAHUA. Mcx.. May 22, via El Paso. Tex., May 21. Preparations- arc being made to release tho fourteen Americans Amer-icans who arc held In the penllcntlary hero as prisoners of war. Tho Americans Ameri-cans were captured by the federal troops In the battle of Cosas Grandes on March U and several weeks later were taken on a memorable march under guard of General Gen-eral Lis and 000 federal troops of 300 miles over the plains to Chihuahua. On tho way the Insurrectos attacked the federals fed-erals In an attempt to release the prisoners, prison-ers, with the result that forty Insurrectos Insurrec-tos were killed. Since their arrival In the penitentiary, whore they were to have been tried on charges- of sedition against the Mexican government, the Americans havo been visited regularly by United States Consul Marlon Letcher, who has provided them with food and clothing. Telegraphic communications with Mexico Mex-ico City has been cut off for several weeks, but it is said that as soon as official of-ficial orders can bo received, the military mili-tary authorities here will release the Americans together with two Germans taken prisoners with them. In their talks with Consul Letcher, the prisoners stated their Intention Immediately to return re-turn to the United Slates. Tho prisoners Include two from New York City, two from Oklahoma, three from California and one each from Texas, Tex-as, Arizona, Colorado, Missouri. Minnesota. Minne-sota. Indiana and Pennsylvania. Word of the signing of a peace agreement agree-ment reached this city Just in time to prevent an attack. Flye thousand Insurrectos Insur-rectos aro within a da,y's march of the city. Food supplies have almost been exhausted, and although it may be a week or ten days before trains reach here, the people are rejoicing over the termination of tho war. |