Arizona republican., 1911-05-05
.HERMOS|LL0
THREATENED
InsuFreclos Have Designs
on Capital
LEADERS CONSIDER PLAN
Aqua Prieta May be At
tackled Today - Strongly
Fortified by Federals.
Mines Laid Along Border
of City.

The leaders Of the insurrectO forces
now gathered before the city OF Aqua
Prieta have been considering two poll
cies of action since last Saturday, one
advocated by Juan Cabral commander
in-chief. and the other by the officers
who have enlisted to serve under him
In a secret conference held in the
mountains to the south of the city Sat
urday night definite conclusion was
reached concerning which policy should
be adopted for the future government
of the troops. but until the intention
OF the rebels TO re-take Aqua Prieta
or leave il unmOlested in the hands of
the federals is known, the result Of the
conference cannot be learned. An at
tack on Aqua Prieta today viii mean
that the sub-commanders of the forces
prevailed in having their plan approved
by the conference. and the failure to
attack the city will mean that Cabral
has carried his point. and that the
forces of the rebels will Immediately
leave the border 10 march south on
HermOsillo.
Widely known throughout the south
west as attorney for the insurrecto
junta at Douglas, r. y French. who
came TO Phoenix yesterday to attend
the supreme court. gave an interview
To- a reporter of The Republican. in
which he outlined the substance Of re-
cent conversations he had held with
Cabral relating 10 the probable action
of the insurrectOs in carrying on the
campaign against Diaz in the state Of
sonora. During his services as counsel
for the junta he has been thrown in
intimate contact with the rebel leaders,
and is well acquainted with the per
sonalities of Cabral. Lopez and other
men prominent in the revolution. and
mas conferred with them a number of
times on the advisabilitv of making
certain moves against the federals He
was present at both battles in Aqua
Prieta. and eXonerated Red Lopez
from the charge of cowardice preferred
against him by some who questioned
his action in the second battle. and re-
called almost word for word the re
marks which passed between himself
and Cabral in a conference held last
Saturday afternoon i'm the lobby of the
international hotel of Douglas Com
ing over the line 10 spend a few hours
in the city of Douglas. the insurrectO
leader met Mr. French. and the ques-
ton Of the imminence of another battle
being raised. he was asked il the re-
taking of Aqua Prieta might not have
a Statutory effect in assisting the peace
negotiations pending at FL PasO. He
was also asked if the rebels would not
consider it necessary TO command the
border town to have means of bringing
supplies and ammunition across the
line. Replying to these questions, Ca
bral said:
Il am opposed to the re-taking of
Aqua Prieta for reasons which l con-
slider worthy of careful consideration
by the people who want to see the revo-
luton succeed. In my opinion it was
unwise for Lopez to attempt TO hold
the town after he had brought in his |
supplies 1t would have been better |
for the cause if he had evacuated it |
afterward. as the move !
ment would not have suffered from the !
loss Of prestige Occasioned by a de- !
feat
Now that the troops of the insur- |
-ectos are well armed and equipped for |
war. what they want and must have,
as you know. is a capital, a govern
nent. a standing army of sufficient
size to protect life and property in
Mexico in the event of the Diaz gov
.rnment falling, and a currency. We
must have all these and other things
4
nents to recognize US as belligerents.
Il am therefore opposed TO retaking
aqua Prieta, and am in favor of cap
uring HermOsilld terrifying it, and
making it the seat of the insurrecto
government. | will have a conference .
Dnight with my commanders, and we
'ill consider the adoption of plan. | .
ill use all the influence in my power
, prevent any further waste of life in .
forming Aqua Prieta. which will be of
o value to us even if taken, and will
tempt to persuade the other COM
landers that their best hope lies i'm
Wrestling the capital of Sonora :
Today's developments along the bor-- 7
ar south of Douglas will determine the
Iture policy and plans of the insur-
actOS under the command of Cabral,
nd unless the city Of Aqua Prieta is
ataken there can be little doubt that
ne rebel troops will move south with :
Iermosillo as their objective point.
abral's argument before the confer
nee may have been strengthened by
lie knowledge of the Notifications
hch have been thrown up around
lie city by the federal soldiers since
ley occupied the town. Breastworks
ave been thrown up and rifle pits dug
ield guns have been placed in position
rake the approaches To the city, and
ines of dynamite placed along the
ne of attack to the east, west and
uth The officers in command of
e federals have received instructions
hold the city at all costs, and des-
rate fighting is assured if an at
elk is made today.
Before leaving Douglass Saturday,