Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1913-12-02
Villa Seeks to Extend His Authority
Over States of Northern
Mexico.
WORK TOWARDS THE SOUTH.
Troops to Unite and March on to
the Federal Cap
ital.

Juarez, Mex, Dec. Northern
Mexico, embracing the states of Son
ora, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo
Leon and Tamaulipas, and including
the territory from the border to a
line 500 miles southwark, will be
wholly under the authority of the
rebel forces within two weeks. The
forces which are fighting Huerta
will then join at Guadalajara with a
view to marching on to Mexico City.
Gen. Francisco Villa, the rebel
leader, SO announced yesterday. This
campaign, he said, contemplated not
only the capture of Chihuahua City,
but also the spreading of the rebel,
or constitutionalist authority furth-
or south.
He is to be Joined in the interior
later by General Carranza, the head
of the revolutionary movement.
So far as the north is concerned,
Villa said, the campaign is between
1850 federal troops, mostly in gar
risons, and 10000 rebels or constitu-
tionalists, in garrisons or roaming
the country.
The approximate strength Of the
opposing forces in the north as gath
cred from official sources by Villa,
and made known by him yesterday,
is:
At Guaymas, Sonora, 5000 feder-
al troops, commanded by Pedro Ole
da.
At Chihuahua City, 5000 federals
commanded by Gen. Salvador Mer-
cado.
At Saltillo and Monclova, Coahuil-
la, 3,00Ogfederals. se %. .e
At Monterey, Nuevo Lon, 1900
federals.
Scattered, 1900 federals.
Opposed to the federal positions
are:
In Sonora about 5000 rebels un-
der command of General Carranza,
head of the constitutionalists.
At Juarez and en- route to Chihua-
hua City, $500 rebels commanded
by Villa.
South of Chihuahua City, 1900
rebels commanded by Gen. Manuel
Chao
Scattered and at other cities, g.
900 rebels.
In preparation for the attack on
Chihuahua City $500 troops with
sixteen machine guns and equipment
which filled three trains had left
Juarez up to yesterday and had
reached point fifty miles south. Viii
la expects to join his men within a
few days and if possible to keep
open train and telegraph service be-
hind him. He said he would be in
Chihuahua City within ten days. But
the capture of the city, he insists,
will be only an incident of further
advance later in conjunction with
Carranza and other rebel leaders.
Villa pointed out that the only i'm
portant point along the United
States border not held by the rebels
now are Nuevo Laredo, opposite Lar
edo, Tex, and Piedras Negras, oppo-
site Eagle Pass, Tex, that his forces
already had captured every city in
the north except Guaymas, Chihua-
hua City, Saltillo, Monclova and
Monterey.
1--WE shall move right on to Next
co CITY," said Villa. THAT is our
destination. Our forces are working
together. The troops now in Sonora
will move southwark, attacking
Guaymas on the way. Those in the
east now centered around Victoria
will move southwest, while I shall
go right down through the heart OF
the country. On the way l will take
chihuahua, where I will be in COM
mand within ten days. Then / will
join the eastern and western wings
Of our army at Guadalajara. Com
bined we will march to Mexico City"
Chihuahua City has been cut of
from communication for more than
two weeks. At that time it was said
the federal forces had made every
preparation to oppose the rebel at
tack. Almost all the food supplies
have been exhausted.
WANTED-10O farmers to leave Or
ders at the Freeman-Tribune Of