The San Francisco call., 1910-12-25


anybody to come to harm.
The state department has called upon
Alfred c. Sharp, commander at Fort
Bliss; A. L. Sharpe, collector of Gus
toms here. and d. Edwards, consul
at Juarez. for q complete report of the
Mexican disturbances along the bor-
der. It is stated that complaints
reached Washington that the neutral
ity laws have been violated In a num-
Der of instances and an investigation
was ordered.
Navarro Kills Civilians
CHIHUAHUA, Mex. Dec. 2s (via Ell
Paso, Tex. Dec. 24).-Arrivals from
the front today brought confirmation
of the statement that Navarro executed
a number of civilians at Cerro Prieto.
The number is given now as 32--22 in
the village proper and 10 at a hamlet
near by. The story was told here to-
day in convincing detail. Last ,Satur-
day the revolutionists executed 10
prisoners as a retaliatory measure.
These were loyalists taken at Guerrero
three or four weeks ago. They were
given trial Of rough sort and con-
victed of itreachery without being al
lowed the consideration of neutrals.
When the revolufionists became doubly
certain of the executions at Cerro Pri-
eto they shot their own captives. The
execution occurred at a hamlet be-
tween La Junta and Guerrero.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, when
the Associated Press man left the
scene, there was, no lighting. Navarro
was content to hold his position.
The revolutionists have ordered the
arrest Of Pancho Villa, the bandit, who
was formerly one of their number.
representative of the Associated
Press who has been with the insur-
x,AI %OI1 ~
by mule team His Judgment of the
situation in this state may be sum
married in the statement that General
Navarro has been fought back from
the offensive to the defensive, but that
the reinforcements now at hand will
crush the rebellion within a month or
two.
In this connection. it was stated to-
day that federal troops are now sta
toned as follows:
Six hundred under General Navarro
at Perdenales and vicinity (west Of
Nal Paso), 700 at San Antonio, made
up of $40 who were uninjured In the
Nal Paso anbuscade and $40 reinforce
ments and 1900 who arrived here last
night and today. The latter include a
battery of artillery made up of two
Hotchkiss guns and two rapid flrers.
MARCH ON STRONGHOLD
Twenty-Five passenger coaches are
now on the tracks of the Mexico and
Northwestern railroad to forward the
reinforcements Today was spent in
loading food on the cars and in making
other preparations for the campaign.
These troops will go first to San An
tonic. making a new force of 1000,
led by the best officers in Mexico. It
is their program to take Nal Paso, the
present rebel stronghold. This once
taken, a junction will be formed with
Navarro and the troops which have
come overland from Sonora.
All this will entail serious lighting,
but there Is no foreigner here now
viewing affairs impartially who pre-
tends a belief that the federals will not
triumph eventually. The insurrectos
lost their one chance of creating a ma
tion wide revolt when they failed TO
crush Navarro at Cerro Prieto. At that
time they did not have their forces con-
centrated and Navarro held his own.
He is now strictly on the defensive at
Pedernales. While he is under orders
not to take the defensive, he is In a de-
fensive position; which the insurrectos
can not attack without disaster. His
job Is to sit tight and allow the rein
forcements, now numbering treble his
own force, to continue the campaign.
been shown, scarcely more than a po-
lice force. which a misguided govern
ment considered sufficient. Diaz is now.
sending an army.
DRAwN RATTLE is FOUGHT
The Associated Press brings word
that in the fighting around Pedernales
and the west entrance to Nal Paso the
insurrectos were much inferior in num-
pers, but at Nal Paso they were supe-
rior In position. 1t will be two weeks
ago Sunday that Navarro met the in
-surrectos at Cerro Prieto and fought a
drawn battle. He remained there until
the following Thursday, when he was
ordered to clear Nal Paso of rebels to
MAKE way Tor prospective troop train.
with ms entire force he left Cerro
Prieto and marched with every semb-
lance or making an attack on the well
posted revolutionists toward Rancho
Santiago. The insurrectos opened fire
but their shots fell short. Navarro then
ordered double quick and shot off at
tangent toward Pedernales, four
miles north. For most of the distance
he was protected by low hills, around
which the awakened ..pronunciades"
hurried when they discovered his real
objective
Wnen the hills were passed Navarro
used shells on his pursuers, who were
running parallel and somewhat behind
and kept them off. There was no loss
OF life, and Navarro occupied the shell
ter or the adobe houses of the town.
The next day, Friday, Navarro occu-
pied the railway station, where he now
mas his headquarters, and at the same
time sent detachment of ATS troops
to take Nal Paso. These went astray,
and they naturally found none of the
enemy.
THOUGHT HE HAD PASS
This accounts for Navarro's official
report that he had taken the pass.
He thought he had Meanwhile the
federal force at Pedernales was at
tackled but repulsed. Navarro lost IN
this engagement about IL dead, in
Guiding two officers and about. 25