The daily sentinel., 1913-08-13
MEXICO FACES
CRISIS; HAS
No MONEY
Men Idle, Crops Moi Planted and
Great War Debt Piles Up
TO Burden Latin Republic
Associated Press.


could be had. Failure to plant crops
in thousands of fields formerly cul-
tivated, the increasing number Of
idle men due to the closing down of
numerous Industrial concerns, and
the indirect siege instituted against
scores of cities have resulted in re-
ducing to a deplorable condition re-
gions where n great majority of the
population asked only to be permit
ted to work.
Lack of money resulting from lack
Of work has had its effect in increas-
ing the prices, but the most direct
cause has been the cutting OF the
railroads in all parts of the coun-
try.
The fall of Durango revealed that
the people of that town had been
paying fabulous sums for certain or
binary commodities and that meat
was an unobtainable luxury. Torreon
fer a time was in a situation almost
as bad. Reports from Chihuahua
were that one egg was bringing a
peso and that eight pesos were paid
for a kilo, or two and two-fifths
pounds, of sugar. Conditions in Sal
tillo and Monterey became serious
Notwithstanding that the government
was able most of the time to keep
open the line from Tampico In all
towns the neighboring country is de-
pended upon to supply a large part
of the food supply but even where
railroads were kept open marauding
bands of rebels made it their busi-
ness to prevent the entry of supplies
from the neighboring truck farms
brought in on the backs of Indians or
in carts. The effect of these tactics
has been keenly felt in the capital
itself. where prices have more than
doubled in the past year.
Failure to plant crops has not yet
had its full direct effect. The sea-
son for the maturing OF most crops
has not come, but when II does. it is
inevitable that the country will find
itself forced to buy abroad, and mon
ey is scarce. In previous revolutions
the planting has not been so serious
ly hindered, but since this is the
most widesread revolt the country
has seen there are hundreds Of
thousands of implanted acres.
Those who were attempting to keep
in touch with revolutionary activities
by marketing a map realized early in
July that the most simple means was
not to block in with black those re-
gions held by the rebels, but to block
in the portions where the govern
ments control was unquestioned. II
was much more simple and required
much less time.
Keen expectations of success
were created by the determined ef-
forts to reopen the railroad from
Capital to Laredo, but in spite oi
some success attained the rebel
movement continued to grow and the
government was forced to concede the
seriousness of the situation irf the eX-
treme south in the states of Cam
peche and Tabasco, as well as in the
north, while the rebels operating in
Veracruz along the coast line be-
tween Veracruz forced the attention
of the war department.
From time to time marked pro-
gress in the campaign against the
Zapatistas was announced and un-
doubtedly thousands were brought
from that district and sent into the
army, exiled to Quintanoo Roo or
shot But the Zapatistas continued
active, carrying the warfare charac-
terized by fire and loot into neigh
boring states and even into the fed
eral district. That bands were oper-
ating in rifleshot of Tlalpam or San
Angel ceased to excite interest on
San Francisco street.
As an example of the nervousness
felt in official centers was the fact
that soldiers were detailed to ride on
the suburban cars early in July.
Rebels on whom Pascual Orozco
last year conferred the title of COM
missioned officer, and whose title
ia tot f.sta satsl-e In
the newspapers of the capital, have
come into their own. They were ta-
klein into the army with the same
rank, but in division styled "irreg-
ular militia" The army had be-
come topheavy with classifications,
and President Huerta has issued Il
decree converting all affiliated bodies
into the regular establishment. 1t
was announced that hereafter Cen
eral Orozco and General Salazar and
General Campo and all other holders
of titles should be generals or such
as their rank might entitle in the
regular army.
In connection with his program
for upbuilding the army, Huerta has
ordered number of changes that
have created comment, some of which
is not altogether favorable. One of
these was the order to purchase lane
es with which portion of the cavalry
will be equipped, instead of with sa-
bres. The fact that the British used
them with some success in South
Africa is said to have caused Huerta
to insist upon their use in his
army.
The use of more automobiles also
has been insisted on by the President
and the column which went north
along the line of the National rail-
way carried about fifty cars. When
the order reached the war depart
ment to use more automobiles there
was no time to deal with factories.
and agents of the department went
on the streets buying where they
could from private individuals 1t
was Huerta's idea to use the cars mot
so much for the rapid transportation
EEs IL