The Snyder signal. (Snyder, Tex.) 1887-????, 1911-04-07
REBELS BOTTLE UP 5000
FEDERALS IN CHIHUAHUA
Provisional President Believed
Preparing to Deliver De
cisive Stroke

Chihuahua, April 5.-Three
thousand Mexican troops, repre-
senting the main strength Of
President Diaz s force in North
ern Mexico. are bottled up in
this city.
An instance Of the proximity
of the insurrectos was shown at
Armada. twenty miles east, on
the Kansas City, Mexico & Orient
railroad. Hearing ofthe pres
ence of the insurrectos, who had
occupied the town and were stop
ping in the church, 300 federols
were sent before daylight to sur
prise them. The night before the
insurrectos had been supplied
with great quantities OF liquor.
Eighteen insurreetos in the
church were killed. Awakened
by the fight, the residents of she
town peered out of the windows
and as a result eighteen noncom-
batants were killed
When the federal troops re-
turn to Chihuahua. they reported
no prisoners and no wounded
taken. The inference is that they
had been shot, on the supposition
that some concessions TO the IN
surrectos might be forthcoming
from the City of Mexico within
week, and that in any event, de-
cisive action is expected soon.
Prepares for Attack
II is the belief Of the 700 Amer
leans in the city that Francisco /.
Madero. the insurrccto president,
is preparing to deliver a decisive
stroke with n view TO bringing
the insurrection 60 a crisis in this
section
The opinion held by the Amer
leans and expressed freely by
them in the streets is that with
it's present tactics Of allowing It's
forces to be shut up in towns, the
Mexican government will never
be able to suppress the insurec-
ton: that the insuIrectos are
gaining strength daily, and that
already they have extended their
control over far graeter area
than heretofore has been allow
ed to leak out.
Chihuahua. with $4,000 inhab-
itants. is believed TO be well for
tilted The churches. housetops
and other points of vantage are
surmounted by breastworks and
machine guns. as if in aniicipa-
tion Of am attack.
The troops mounted and head
ed hy brass bands. frequently pa
rade through the streets, as d to
impress the people with a feeling
I of security.
Many smaller towns m the in-
terror are garrisoned wi,h a mere
handful of men just outside the
city the msurrcjos are n great
force.
Rebels Have 5000
Madero. with Orozco and l.-Ut
iusurrectos. is at Bustillos. sixty
miles west. where. surrounded hy
his staff. he has established % $50.
caiied capital
Two Thousand more msurrrc.
los in smallr groups are entrench.
ed I'm semi-circie about th,
north of the city
Abraham Gonzales. insWIrcio
governor of Chihuahua state. l'
gt San Ysidor. about one hUnyreo
miies west. where hc has csiah
hshed provisional government
io the extent of appointing civil
officers and police The purpose
of the insurrectos is believed 90
bc 10 proceed with civil organ
cations regardless of amy peace
possibility. and with plan TO 49,
tahlishing themselves prfHl"l''hl
IN ON the land which they regard
as conquered
Governor Alumada today sem
wodr TO eGncral Hernandez re
auesting that no more troops h'
sent out of the city unless an
emergency demanded it The M
snlrection movemeps appears t'
be advancing 90 the souht.
At Torreon. forces are report
ed 10 be- about the city. All th'
railroads 10 the south have heei
hlockaded. although trains arr
still running in other directions
This. with the Exception OF th'
larger cities. makes a sweel
which the inWrrecios control o.
almost 1896 miles o fterriior.