The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-08-07
MANY THOUSANDS IN
MEXICO VERGlNG ON
ACTUAL STARVATION
Railure TO Plant Crops Adds to
General Demoralized Con-
dition of Nation.
wAR TAKING AWFUL TOLL.
Without Work and Money and an
Ever Growing Public Debt and
Country in Thross Of Re.
voIt, Chaos Rules.

krn 49, .#
Mexdco CITY. Special: Mexico Is get
afng hungry. and early in July il was
sayfdenf that this condition would De
mach worse before relief could
he had. FAILURE to plant crops in thou
aaIda OF fields formerly cultivated, the
Increasing number OF idle men due 70
the closing down OF numerous indus
trial concerns, and the indirect siege
instituted against scores OF cities nave
resulted In reducing to deplorapIe
rondttion regions where a great ma
torfty OF the population asked only TO
be permitted to work,
Lack OF money resulting from lack
pf work has had its effect in increasing
the prices, but the most direct Y
has been the cutting of h railroads.
Ia ali parts OF the country.
The fall or Durango revealed that
the people OF that town had been pay
Ing fabulous sums for certain Ordinary
commodities and that meat was an un-
pbkainaple luxury. Torreon for a time
WAS IN a situation almost as bad. Re-
sorts from Chihuahua were that one
egg was bringing a peso and that eight
pesoe were paid for a 1ilo, or two and
two-fifths pounds, OF sugar. Condi-
lions Ia Saltillo and Monterey became
serious Notwithstanding that the gov
eminent was able most OF the time 10
keep open the line from Tampico. In
all towns the neighboring country 10
depended upon to supply a large part
OF the food supply, hut even where
railroads were kept open marauding
bands OF rebels made IL their businesa
70 prevent the entry of supplies from
this neighboring truck farms brought
in on the backs of Indians or In carts,
sche effect OF these tactics has been
kecniy felt in the capital itself, where
prices have more than doubled In the
past year.
Failure 10 plant crops has not YET
had its full direct effect. The sea-
son for the maturing Of most crops
has not come, but when IL does, II ia
inevitable that the country will find
itself forced to buy abroad, and money
is scnrca, In previous revolutions the
planting has not been so seriously him
def@&. but since this Is the most wide
spread 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 marking a map realized early in
July that the most simple means was
not to block In with black those regions
held by the rebels, but to block In the
portions where the governments con-
troll was unquestioned. IL was much
more, simple and required much less
time.
Keen expectations OF success were
created by the determined efforts "a
reope the railroad from the capital to
Laredo, but In spite OF some success
attained the rebel movement continued
to grow and the government was forced
to concede the nervousness OF the sit
nation in the extreme south IN the
states OF Campeche and Tabasco, as
well as In the north while the rebels
operating in Vera Cruz along the coast
nne between Vera Cruz and Tamplco
forced the attention of the war depart
nent. s..
From time to time marked progress
the campaign against the Z9patistas
waS announced. and undoubtedly thou
sands were brought from that district
Ind sent into the army, exiled to Quin-
TANGO Roo or shot. But the Zapatistas
continued active, carrying the warfare
characterized by fire and loot into
aeighbortng states and even into the
federal district. That bands were OPP
Grating In rifleshot of Tlalpam or San
Angel ceased to excite interest on San
francisco street.
AS an example of the nervousness
geit 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
rear conferred the title OF q commits
stCied officer, and whose title was
ased with quotation marks in the news
papers OF the capital, have come into
heir own. They were taken into the
army with the anne rank, but in a
division styled Irregular militia" The
army had become topheayy with classi-
ucatiOns, and President Huerta has is
faed a decree converting all affiliated
bodies into the regular establishment.
K was announced that hereafter GEN
tral Orozco and General Salazar and
General Campo M all other holders
BE titles should be generals or such as
their rank might entitle in the regular
trIny. H..
In connection with his program for
apbuilding the army, Huerta has or
tered a number pof changes that have
created comment. soma OF which is not
altogether favorable. One OF these was
he order TO purchase Iances with which
portion of the cavalry will be
bQuipped instead OF with sabres. The
sMct that the British used them with
some success in South Africa Is said
10 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 alons
the line Of the National railway car
He'd about so cars. When the order
reached the war department to use
more automobiles there was no time
20 deal with factories, and agents OF
the department went on the streets
buying where they could from private
individuals. 1T was Huerta's idea tc
pse the cars not so much for the rapid
transportation of officers but for the
speedy movement OF reserves from the
IL.