Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-08-17

Ten steps away with lHei Tines "SoS"
their knees sat a score OF his leiio"s 81
arms, composing the firing squad that
was assigned to the task OF ms eAecu-
ton A soft morning breeze store IN
among the broken foothills OF cactus
clad Coahuila and waited away the smok.
from the cigarettes of the silent tnlrteen
A clatter of hoofs broke the silence ana
pulled the group to it's feet. Inc mes
senger reined his horse upon It's naunches
and nassed to the non-commissioned Of
Hcer in charge the single command, La
muerte."
II was the death sentence of Carlos
Piza again confirmed.
Five minutes later twelve rifles spoke
and there was one less wild young Mex.
lean careering vahantiy out soIie~ llal
irresponsibly about the plains tnat nave
known the sway of Montezuma, the con-
quest of Cortez. the romantic reign OF
Maximillian and the iron hand OF Diaz.
The death of PiZa was at the order
of Don Vesustiano Carranza, the man
who is striving TO rise out of the chaos
of the south as the one dominating
figure beyond the Rio Granoe Inc CIT
cumstances that led up 10 TINS eAecu-
ton throw a strong light upon the man
ner of man who hopes soon 10 De al
recting the war-ridden republic on our
borders.
\ X
Piza was young mountalneer VINO hdu
Joined the constitutionalist forces some
weeks after the gauntlet had peeh
thrown down to the Huerta government.
Throughout the weeks that followed ne
had shown unceasing activity, and. with
his little band of personal followers. he
had harassed the enemy constantly as
81 he
widened. His work was satisfactory to
his chief, except for the fact that Piza
was a bit of bandit at heart, and was
loath to leave any village or ranchero
without bearing away everything OF
value that could be eXtorted
While CarranZa has not been ioatn
to assess large sums of money against
wealthy sympathizers with Huerta ana
Dfaz. and make sure of their collec-
ton, he has sought to Tree M, is ra anS
orders had been issued against lootlns
and extortion
So. when it was found that young Piza
had brought in 500 pesos that he had ex-
dered to return it. This, it was found,
he had failed to do. Here was direct
disobedience. Further, Piza had grum,
suggested to his followers that they
take to the brush and brigandage TINS
conduct meant death to discipline.
Whereupon Gen. Carranza ordered that
his young follower be shot. All appeals
were as naught, and the execution fol-
lowed as here set forth. WhereupOn the
revolutionary chieftain wrote a most
sympathetic letter to the motner OF the
great grief at the misfortune
Francisco Del Vale has recently re-
turned from Mexico, where he has
Travelled from one end of the re-
public to the other. apparently on a
mission for the State Department. He
is a Californian by birth, but Mexican
by descent. 1t is said that he Is
friend of Secretary Bryan and has
made exhaustive reports to the State
Department.
The mysterious supposed emissary
had called on various revolutionary
leaders in Sonora and Chihuahua and
had been warmly received and the
questions having to do with stabilizing
Mexico had been freely discussed. But
in the silent. substantial, near-sighted
old chief of them all, the investigator
met more reserve and caution.
Del Vale was told by secretary
that CarranEa would receive him, but
that politics were not to be discussed.
The mere formalities had passed be-
tween the Two men WHeu Dtl dllc
stated that he believed he could sug-
gest a method of bringing about peace.
Carranza reminded him Of the caution
that had been issued by the secretary
and dismissed him. The American
pacifier never got any further. with
his peace plan.
Don Vesustiano Carranza was gov
ernor of the state Of Coahuila in Feb
ruary last, when Madero and Sanchez
met their tragic deaths and Huerta
was proclaimed president. His defy was
immediate. While the belief went
abroad that death would be dealt out
to all who opposed the government and
that Huerta would become the Nero of
modern times. the sturdy figure to the
north raised the flag of revolution and
burned his bridges behind him. His
action was immediate and without
qualification.
1t was from Monclova in Coahuila,
that the declaration of the constitu-
tionalists was issued. Gov. Carranza
again showed the sterner qualities of
leadership when he proclaimed his rea-
sons for renouncing the new govern
ment and the principles upon which
he would make his fight. He maintain
ed that he was the regularly elected