The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-21
A CLEAN PAPER FOR CAREFUL HoMEs---Ne

murder about all OF the people in
Chihauhau, because everybody in that
state Is in sympathy with the rebels
And then, with an earnestness that
spoke from the heart, he begged:
For Gods sake ask the American
people to do what they can for the
poor devils in Mexico"
No, the rebels are not lying when
they report the battles.
found out right away that the
Mexican government would not let
me go to the front. American re-
porters who have tried to get a little
nearer the scene OF hostilities have
all been turned back before they got
10 miles from El Paso, the American
border city. That's why. with a fierce,
heartrending rebellion right at our
doors, we Americans have heard less
about its details than similar UP
rising in far-of Portugal
Nevertheless, here on both sides
OF the Rio Grande | have met and
talked with MeXiCans who have been
on the battlefields. Some as fighters;
some as spectators. | have talked
with the wives and children OF the
men who are now lying in DiaZ's
prisons-unless they have been the
victims Of drumhead courtmartials
and summary executions.
From these people and from Amer.
leans living down there | heard OF
many battles, at Lerdo, Gomez Pala'
clio, Orizaba, Cuatroceingas, Chihua-
hua, San Luis Potosi, Camargo, San
Andres Durango, Santa Cruz, Nal
Paso and dozen other places
In many Of these battles the insur-
rcCtos were successful; even the gov
ernment has to admit that. In many
the rebels were defeated, slaughtered
by overwhelming regulars.
talked with rebel who was pres
ent when TorreOn fell into the hands
OF the insurrectos, after half OF its
garrison was killed or injured. Tor
reon is the seat OF the American rub
ber trusts plant.
Although Diaz denied that this bat
tie had taken place, he Immediately
sent Gen. Geronimo TrevinO with two
regiments from Monterey to dislodge
the rebels.
Chihuahua is Hot-Bed Of Revolt
hear that nine-tenths Of the peo-
pie of the farming districts to the
huahua ale against the government.
Many have risen in arms, taken pos
session OF the Chihuahua-No
ern railroad and are reported TO be
in absolute possession Of a stretch OF
15O miles of the road and a large
slice OF the country on each side OF
1t. They are so strong that the regu'
lars have not dared to penetrate very
far into that district.
In many Of these towns ipsurrectos
have supplanted the federal officials.
Should the revolution fail as a whole.
1t Is likely that the state Of Chihua-
hua will attempt to secede from Mex
leo and seek recognition as an 1nde-
pendent republic.
The city OF Chihuahua has nearly
5000 federal soldiers within its
limits; big guns have been brought
from Mexico City, and this city Is pre-
pairing for. siege. This lessr than five
hours from the United States bound.
ary line. 1t Is as though one were to
Jump from ST. Louis to Kansas City
and land right in the middle OF a
war.
But it is not that easy to get into
Mexico with help for the revolution
lists. Brig. Gen. Hoyt, U. s. A., com
manding the department Of Texas, Is
on the lookout for just such attempts
At Fort Sam Houston, near San An
tonic. he is holding his troops in read
mess to enforce the neutrality laws.
Two regiments Of infantry. ten troops
Of cavalry and three batteries Of field
artillery are the guarantee that Am
erican sympathizers will give the
poor devils" down here no natural
assistance.
All along the border American
troops are patroling the river, osten
sibly to protect American property,
but in reality they save the Mexican
government many an anxious night,
when otherwise they would be having
Nightmares seeing American fighting
men rowing across the Rio Grande
with ammunition and supplies.
Mexican patriots know that there
will be no mercy If they fail utterly
They also know that Diaz has back
Of him an army Of 10000, which is
three times as big as the American
army in comparison with the popu-
lation. To reinforce that he has TO-
600 rurales, and a tremendous organ
izetion of regular and secret police.
In Mexico City alone he has 1000 uni
formed policemen-double the mum
ber OF New York city, in comparison
with population.