The Elbert County tribune., 1913-12-19
DICTATOR VILLA
SEXES MILLIONS
Ex-RANpIT REBEL CHIEF ExPELs
sPANIARDs; THREATENS
FOREIGN coNsuLs.
DEFEATED REBELS FLEE
TAKE ALL LOCOMOTIVES, WHILE
FEDERALs RETAIN TAMPIco.
HUERTA HAS MILLION MEN.

western Newspaper Union News Service
| Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. 15.-Americans
Germans and Spaniards who arrived
from Chihuahua. Mex, report that
Francisco villa, the rebel leader, had
constituted himself dictator and re-
fused to heed the requests of repre-
senattives of foreign governments, in
! cluding United States Consul Letcher
They asserted that Villa has seized
| s5,000,000 worth of property belonging
to foreigners: had put to death about
twenty Mexican civilians including
Sergeio Sanchez, lawyer and former
state official. and had commanded the
American, German and British consuls
to obey rebel orders.
The happenings in Chihuahua since
villa occupied the city on its evacua-
tion by the refugees. who numbered
1000 were:
Villa seized a large department
store valued at s1,500,O0O and owned
by French. German, English and
Spanish interests, but chiefly by Span
ish, and placed in command of the
store General Chao, rebel leader;
he seized brewery, clothing factory
and all the grocery and other stores
owned by Spaniards. valued at $780,
000 he called meeting of merchants
of all nationalities and told them they
must pay him large sums of money.
aggregating several million dollars, to
support the revolution; he gave orders
that the so-called constitutionalist
money should be accepted as cur
rency.
Villas expulsion of citizens of Spain,
all of whom were progressive mer
chants. was on pain of death. He at
first informed them they must be out
of the country within five days, but
later, after an appeal by Harry SEQ
bell, the British vice consul, he ex-
tended the time to ten days.
None of the Spaniards was allowed
to take away anything except their
personal effects and they were told
never to return.
The capture and Imprisonment of
Luis Terrazas, Jr., son of the worlds
richest land owner, was after Terra
zas had sought refuge in the British
vice consulate, and after the rebels, in
formed Scobell they would break down
the British vice consulate unless Ter
razas was released.
Marion Letcher, the United States
consul, was asked by the foreigners to
protect them. Mr.. Letcher attempted to
send cipher message to the State De-
partment but was informed by villa
that no cipher messages would be per-
mitted on the rebel telegraph. Villa
then informed the foreign consuls in
body that they would have to obey
rebel orders.
Can Raise Million Men," Says Huerta.
Mexico City.-Replying to letter
sent him BY the correspondent of the
Frankfurter Zeitung. President Huerta
said that IL it should become necessary
he could put into service Immediately
more than 100000 armed men.
Mexico City. Dec. 13.--Rear Admiral
Fletcher. commander of the American
naval forces in Mexican waters, or
dered both rebels and federals fight
ing at Tcmpico to cease firing, threat
ening to open upon them with the
guns of the gunboat Wheeling if his
order was not obeyed.
ioOti SiucS toAlpileu Will t0e OTueT.
This information is contained in
dispatch received by Sir Lionel Car
dR, The British ambassador, from
Rear Admiral Sir Christopher Grad
dock of the British cruiser Berwick
which is lying off Tampico.
The federals hold the center of the
town of Tampico and the waterfront.
Rear Admiral Fletcher has ordered
foreigners to take refuge on board
ships or to congregate on the water
front. where they will be under the |
protection of his guns,
How many rebels were engaged in |
the attack on Tampico is not def
nitely known, but it is estimated that |
their number was at least twice that of |
the federals. Their operations indi- |
Gated that they expected more men
from Victoria. capital of the state of |
Tamaulipas. which lies half way be- |
tween Tampico and Monterey.
The rctels hold the area between |
Tampico proper and the coast, includ-
ing Dona Cecilia and Arbol Grande |
suburbs. where are located the storage |
oil tanks of the Waters-Pierce compa-
ny, the Cowdray interests and the HUI
asrea company. The Waters Pierce re-
finery is at Arbol Grande Lord Cow
dray also has a refinery there, but it
is not yet in operation.
Woman Poisons setf