The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-02
The Fan of Chihuahua Has
Opened the Way.
CITY HAS Been EVACUATED
s the Report That Has
Reached Gen. villa.
Water Cut on and Defonders
Were Starved Out.

were under way today in the rebel
ranks for the occupation OF Chihua-
hua. the capital OF Chihuahua State.
which 10 reported to have been ovacu-
ated by the federals because Of threat
ened starvation Of its 36, 900 popula-
tion. Pointing out that OF the Inn
portant stronsholds in the north. only
Monterey and sGuaymas remained.
General Francisco villa, the rebel
leader. said Chihuahua would 30 msdS
ward.
When rebel forces were sent to pur-
sue E,sa- General Salvador Mereade.
ported to be fleeing to the United
states border at Ojinaga, with 1000
famished soldiers and Generals
Orozco and salazar said to have
clined to say defininteiy but said la tSse ~
the rebel advance toward Mexico Clfv
would continue briskly.
We will be shooting at the ram
part parts 1i,,a ct Mexico City within 2 MONTH %
when the people in the capital realise
that we have captured almost all the
north ana are In sight Of the city's
gates. they will voice their feelings
which they are now afraid to do. and
will clamor for. the downfall Of the
usurper. A mob in the capital can
oust Huerta in q day"
Waits to Hear from Carransa.
With $500 rebels and 1e na1a
pieces advanced as far as CarrisaI. 90
miles south OF Juarez, on the wav 70
Chihuahua, Villa will remain here
until he communicates with Carrausa
before he personally proceeds south.
At Chihuahua he expects to Join Gem
eral Chao and other rebel leaders and
NuYif b -
ceed toward Zacatecas, the first i'm.
portant city south Of Torreon.
Other rebel forces, Villa said, are 10
proceed up the west coast toward
Guadalajara. According to late re-
ports which Villa said he received by
couriers who Travelled overland 130
miles to Villa Ahumada, where the
telegraph line had been connected
with Juarez. the desertion of Chfhua-
hua by the federa1s was brought about
by the pressure Of tho citizens. The
people, 1t was said, protested that II
the federal garrison resisted. the
lighting would result in the wholesale
killing of noncombatants, that the
poor were half starved and that the
wealthy residents could not expect
mercy at the hands Of the iuvadera.
General Mercado is said to have de-
cided on flight to the American border
SO that he could communicate WITH,
President Huerta. Communication
between Chihuahua and Mexico City
has been impossible for weeks
Evacuation Of Chihuahus.
Juarez. Mexico. Dec. 2.-Rather than
endure starvation. the federal troops
have evacuated Chihuahua, which has
peen under siege for weeks. according
to advices received by General Fran
cisco Villa, the rebel leader. The evacu-
alton leaves the city open to possession
by the rebels.
The report received by Villa was that
Salvador Mercado. military governor Of
the state. with 1000 federal troops had
left on foot for Ojinaga, on the United
States border, near Maria, Tex. that
General Jose Ynez Salaxar and Pascual
Orozco. with more than 1000 federalo,
had retreated to the mountains west
of the city and that hundreds OF
civilians. including women and children.
had started to walk to the United
States border.
Besides being the capital of the state.
Chihuahua, with a population normally
Of $1,000. is the metropolis Of northern
Mexico. Neither in the Madero revo-
luton nor in the present uprisine 80
Chihuahua been taken from the fed
erals. Its garrison and the commando
Ing position for sharpshooters and
machine guns afforded by the cathedral
and public buildings. heretofore had
presented a formidable barrier to In
vaders. Had the rebels reached the
city and the federals resisted. Il would
have resulted in great loss Of lffo and
property.
Water Cut on.
Conditions in the city were said to
be such that life there was no LONGER
cndurable. The Spanish viaduct, which
conveyed waters from the mountains.
was reported to have been de2trovod
and the food supply exhausted.
General Villa telegraphed details Of
the evacuation to General Carranxa a.
Hermosillo. stating that the proposed
advance of the rebels southwark 10
Mexico City would now be expedited
The possession Of the city. he said.
would make rebel territory Of the
country straight through to Zacateces
and operations would begin about that
city and Aguas Calietes.
ppIln nlcT M WAITED