The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-12-06
fEDERALS SUE FOR PEACE.
HCERTA'S POWER IN NORTHERN
MEXICO DESTROYED.
All of DictatOr'S Generals Join in
Asking Gen. Villa for Protection.
The FaH OF Chihuahua Marked the
Collapse Of Federal Control i'm that
Section OF Mexico.

JuareZ, Dec. 2-Seven generals of
the Mexican regular army are ready
TO surrender and the backbone Of the
Huerta dictatorship in the north has
been broken. a peace commission
tonight arrived in Juarez bearing
terms of the surrender
The peace commission was headed
by Odilon Hernandez and came from
Chihuahua bearing proclamation
signed by Gen. Salvador Mercado,
Huerta's military governor and COM
mandec of the federal forces in all
the North. The proclamation stated
that the Huerta government was
bankrupt and was unable to pay it's
soldiers.
The smultaneOus evacuation of
other federal strongholds in the
North is believed by the rebels to be
the result of concerted decision to
abandon he whole of northern Mex
leo.
The peace proposals were sent by
Gen. MerCado to Gen. Francisco Villa,
rebel leader, through FREDERICK Moye,
civil governor of Chihuahua State, ap-
pointed al interim. Along with it
came an appeal signed by all the for
eign conslls in Chihuahua, calling
upon Villa. TO give police protection
to the citizens of chihuahua City.
Gen. Mercado's proclamation read:
Under the circumstances which
have existed in Chihuahua it has been
deemed wise for the federal troops
to evacuate. l have in charge Fred
erico Moye, a person who is not iden-
titled with politics and who is, there
fore, qualified to give full protection
to foreigners. 1t is impossible to
remain here longer as there is no
money with which to pay the troops"
The generals who have signifed,
through Gen. Mercado, their willing
ness to surrender but who, neverthe-
less, are fleeing to the United States
border, are: Gen. Alvarado Mercado,
Gen. Pascual OroZco, Gen. Jose Inez
Salazar, Gen. Marcello Carravo, Gen.
Jose Manzilla, Gen. Blanz OrpinaI,
Gen. Landa.
The peace commission proposed to
Gen. Villa that all non-combatants
who sought safety by fleeing to the
border be permitted to go without
being fired upon, and all the federals,
including 200 soldiers left on police
duty in Chihuahua City, be par
doned. 1t also asked clemency for
federal officials, but it is thought the
federal generals will seek safety by
crossing the border into the United
states, possibly near Ojinaga.
The peace commission stated that
before leaving Chihuahua the federals
destroyed all the postage and govern
ment revenue stamps; that there
existed practically no money in the
city and that 1000 citizens had left
with the troops, most of them being
those who were rich and who feared
harsh treatment by the rebels.
The commission tonight started
back to Chihuahua with Gen. Villas
assurances that people of all classes
in the city and including the federal
police would be protected, and that
he would dispatch troops to garrison
the place as soon as possible.
Notwithstanding the action of the
federals, Gen. Villa himself was pre-
pairing for departure southwark. He
said Chihuahua would be only a
stopping place on his southward
march, as he was determined to con
tinuo to Mexico CITY.
Carlos a. Heberlein of Los An
SeleS, Cal, mining engineer. accom-
panied the peace commissioners. who
travelled in an automobile by way OF
Ojinaga.
Several thousand people. including
some Of tho richest families in north
crn Mexico, who deserted chihuahua
city in fear OF a rebel attack, to-
night were reported to be nearing
the United states border.