The Washington times., 1913-12-07
.zAPATA BANDITS
MAY BEAT VILLA
TO MEXICO. CITY
Huerta's Capital Menaced by
Outlaws as Well as Villas
Constituencies.

MEXICO CITY, Dec. with Die
tator Huerta's Golfers depleted, the
remnant Of his army in the north
fleeing before the approach Of the
constitutionalists and his citadel i'm
minently likely to crumble, a new
menace-or an old menace grown
strong-now is looming large on the
horizon Of Mexican disaster-a mem
ace that may prolong internal strife
in the Latin republic. even though
the capital be wrested from the
present federal control.
Zapata Takes Santa Maria.
This is the outlaw band commanded
by the sol disant General Zapata,
which, according to late dispatches, has
captured Santa Maria from the federals,
only forty miles to the south of Mexico
City, and will be storming the gates
of the capital before General villa and
his victorious army shall have left
chihuahua City.
From present indications II is likely
that the two forces will meet at the
rapine and plunder. that of villa de-
sirous of overthrowing existing evils
and establishing a constitutional gov
ernment throughout the republic. The
result OF such meeting can be only
surmised.
Army Of Bandits.
Zapatta, originally a gambler and a
deserter from the army OF Madero,
began his independent campaign with q
handful Of outlaws. Since that time,
however, he has arrogated the worst
of the flotsam of southern Mexico
ignorant poems, with british passions
and real or fancied grievances: bandits.
Adventures, criminals-men who care
for nothing but their personal aggran-
dizement and the qualification Of their
blood lust. Such an army has grown
around Zapata-an army that now Is
sufficiently, strong to venture an at
tack on Mexico City.
Zapata refused to compromise with
Madero, and declined to link his fortunes
with those of Huerta- He and his men
merely wanted to slay and burn and
pillage. II is not believed probable,
therefore, that he will lay down his
arms to Carranza.
Monterey Reported Evacuated.
In the meantime the constitutfonalists
continue 70 pile victory on victory.
Word was receiyed hefe today that
the federals' had evacuated Monterey
owing to the failure Of Huerta to pay
his troops There is a report now that
Huerta has ordered his division COM
manders to take any way they choose
Of paying their men.
The inference Is that Huerta's gener-
ais will levy on citizens at will for
money, and that these hold-ups will be
enforced at the point Of the guns.
Huerta's treasury is bankrupt.
1t was reported that constitutionalists
under Martin Espinoza had captured
Morelia, capital Of the State of Mich
oaca. This is an important strategic
point. as it bears upon Huerta's ap-
proach to the city Of GuadaIajara,
which is said to be the immediate OBJ
jective of Villa and General Carranza
as step toward the City of Mexico.
Reverses Are Conceded.
1t Is believed that Huerta is conceal
ing hte fact of a severe federal defeat
in the state of Zacatecas, between Ca
lera and Fresnillo, which has upset
hope for the relief Of Torreon. The
federals are said to have lost 900 men.
According to meager reports received
tot. l..
the attack, and drove the federals to-
ward Calera, where another constitu-
tionalist force fell upon them, almost
IInarficfaa