The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-18
Mexican Revolution Appears to
Be on Last Legs.
Federal Force Is Closing in on
OrozcO's Army.
ADVANCING ON ALL SIDES
The Plan Is to Force Him Back
on chihuahua
And Force Him to Surrender or
Take to Hills.

Ell Paso, Texas, May 1S-The Mexi-
can federal government, by a series OF
maneuvers that are expected to come
| to a climax in the next three days
hopes to deal so crushing a blow to the
insurrecto movement in the north as
to disperse the hitherto organized army
of rebels. While General Orozco with
5000 rebels, is holding strategic posi-
tions between ReIlano and Jimenez. 450
miles south of here along the Mexican
Central railroad and General Huerta,
with an equally strong force of federals.
is but fifteen miles away today, press
ing northward to attack the insurrec-
tos, sharp fighting is now looked for
all the way to the American border
Juarez, the little Mexican town across
the Rio Grande which the rebels cap
tured with ease nearly two months ago,
likely will fall into the hands of the
constituted government again. Com
munication by wire and rail south OF
Juarez will be severed within two days
by advancing columns of federais.
Chihuahua, where there are hundreds
of American residents will be cut off
from both the north and the south and
the government plans to drive Orozco
back into that city and force him from
all directions to surrender or take TO
the hills. Chihuahua is likely to be the
last stand of the rebels.
The main columns of both armies for
the last three days have been expected
TO get together near Rellano, nearly
two hundred miles south of chihuahua
but the slow advance of the federaIs
on account of burned bridges has de-
layed the engagement and though news
of battle is expected hourly. II NAV
be that another decisive enEaEement
will not be fought before Sunday.
Closing in ON ,Juarez.
The arrival of Fadaro1
San Ignacio, 45 miles east OF Juarez.
today was the first warning of a we'll
organized campaign in the rear of the
main rebel army. 1t is planned to cut
all railroads and wire connections with
Chihuahua, surround Juarez and de-
stroy the connecting link of the in
surgent forces with the United States.
No fighting is anticipated near the bor-
DER as the garrison in Juarez is small
and likely to offer little resistance.
Three columns of federal volunteers
are converging on Juarez with the pur-
pose OF forcing the surrender of the
city and of bottling up the forces of
Orozco in Chihuahua One column
has marched UP the Rio Grande for
$50 miles from Ojinaga and is now at
san 1gnacfo Another federal force
numbering 500 men is approaching the
city from the west and a third detarb-
ment is marching from the Southwest
While Orozco still is facing the fed
eral army near Jimenez in what Is ex-
pected to be the decisive battle OF the
insurrection, x is believed he will be
crippled by the unexpected canpaien
in the rear of his forces. The capt,1re
OF Juarez, or the interruption of rail-
road traffic between the border CITY a,d
Chihuahua is expected to put a sfor,
to the smuggling of munitions of war
and provisions. An Associated press
correspondent accompanied the federsI
forces from Ojinaga to San Ignacio.
me me coIumn numbers $50 men and is
commanded by Majors SANCHEZ and
Pima.
Detachments from Ojinaga are on
Grating between the city of Chihuahua
and the rebel front and have destroy
ed several bridges and seriously ham
pereo the movement of the rebels