South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-17
LARGE FORTUNES
ARE CONF ISCATED
BY REBEL LEADER
Louis Terraces, Enrique and
Juan CreeI Lose Property as
They Are Held as Aid to the
Huerta Government.

JUAREZ. Mexico. Dec. 17.-All the
property OF Luis Terrazas. sr.. En-
rique Creel and Juan Creel. including
banks mines. vast areas OF land,
thousands OF head Of cattle. homes
and personal effects. were ordered
conhscated to. the rebels in an official
decree issued by Gen. Francisco
Villa Tuesday
AR. Terrazas. now refugee in the
United States, is one of the richest
men in Mexico. His holdings of about
two-thirds OF the state OF Chihuahua,
is said to place him among the most
extensive land holders Of the world.
The combined estate of the Terrazas
and the Creel brothers. his nephews,
is valued at many millions of dollars.
Enrique CTeel was formerly ambassa-
dor from Mexico 10 the United States.
Gen. Villas decree issued at Chi
huahua, was sent TO Juarez and given
out officially. 1t was intended as
notice that should the revolution sue
ceed neither the TerraZas nor the
Creei families viii be allowed any in
demnity for their losses.
All Contracts Void.
The decree accuses the Creels and
the Terrazas families Of withhold
ing taxation and of fOmenting the
treachery Of Orozco and Huerta", and
states that the property shall be given
10 the widows and orphans caused by
blOOdshed among the Mexicans All
contracts made with the Creels and
Terrazases since Feb. is, 1913, are
declared void
Lius Terrazas. jr.. eldest son of the
land owner. is held a prisoner at
-
propriated 20 their use as much Of the
movable property as they could seize.
Efforts were made by rebel leaders
working directly with Gen. Villa
Tuesday To effect some sort of a set
Element in regard to the property of
the expelled Spaniards. IL was that
a proposal should be made to invoice
all the property in the Spanish stores
and shops and to allow the claims TO
rest against the rebel government.
Gen. Villa replied he was willing to
pay for the property in sO-called con-
stitutiOnalist money which the Span
iards before their departure declared
10 be worthless.
More Refugees Arrive.
Two hundred more refugees. in
GLIDING Americans and Spaniards,
reached FL PasO from Chihuahua
Tuesday. Among the arrivals was
Mrs. Marion Letcher. wife of the
United States consul at Chihuahua.
Mrs. Letcher said if the consul had
been prevented by Villa from send
ing cipher messages to Washington,
as had been reported by refugees, she
had not heard of il.
Threatened with IN attack at
chihuahua by. federals reported to
have advanced northward from Tor
reOn, Gen. Villa Tuesday despatched
1000 rebels as an advance guard to
head off the advancing troops.
The decision of the federal troops to
show aggressive action was believed
10 have resulted from the facts that
the rebels had To scatter their forces
in following Gen. Mercadas retreat to
Ojinaga on the border. Villa has
about 5000 soldiers in the vicinity Of
Ojinaga, and 1900 in Juarez. which
leaves him less than 5000 in Chi
huahua.
With TorreOn. an important rail-
road center directly south OF Villas
present position. the federals have
a base from which the rebels believe
movement toward Chihuahua has
been begun.