Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-02


Chihuahua state. which is reported 10
have been evacuated by the federals
because of threatened starvation Of its
:;a.voo population.
Pointing out that of the important
federal strongholds in the north only
Monterey and Guaymas remained Gen.
Villa said Chihuahua would be made
the base of aggressive activities south
ward
Pursuit of the Federals.
Just when forces will he sent TO pur-
sue Gen. Salvador Mercado. Huerta's mil
itary governor. who is reported to Is
fleeing to the United States border 1t
Ojinaga. with a.ODO famshed soldiers, and
Gems Orozco and salazar. said t. have
taken to the mountains. Villa declined to
say definitely. but said the rebel advance
toward Mexico City would continue
bris,lly.
With $500 rebels and sixteen field pieces
advanced as far as Carrizal. ninety miles
south of Juarez on the way to Chihuahua.
Villa Will remain here to communicate
with Gen. CarranZa before he personally
proceeds south. At Chihuahua he ex-
poets to join Gen. Chao and other rebel
leaders and with a combined force Of
5000 proceed toward Zacatecas. the first
important city south of Torreon. Other
rebel forces. Villa said. TO proceed
along the west coast toward Guadaiajara.
According to late reports. which Villa
, said he received by coursers. who travel
ed overland 100 miles to Villa Ahumada.
where the telegraph line has been con
| nected with JuareL. the desertion OF
| Chihuahua by the federals was brought
about by the pressure of citizens.
Feared Wholesale Slaughter.
| The people, II was said protested that
| if the federal garrison resisted the fight
ing would result in the wholesale killing
of non-combatants. that the poor were
half starved and that the wealthy resi-
dents could not expect mercy at the
hands of the invaders.
Gen. Mercado is said to have decided
| on flight to the American border. so that
he could communicate with Provisional
President Huerta Communication be-
! tween chihuahua and Mexico city has
been impossible for weeks.
| Besides being the capital Of the state.
Chihuahua. with a population normally OF
- 0GO. is the metropolis of northern
Mexico. Neither in the Madero revolu-
tiop nor i'm the present uprising has
Chihuahua been taken from the federals.
Its garrison and the commanding posi-
tions for sharpshooters and macli'.e
guns. afforded by the cathedral aud pub
lie buildings heretofore had presented 4
Formidable barrier to invaders Had the
rebels reached the city and the federais
resisted it Was believed a light in tae
city would have resulted in great loss OF
life and property.
Conditions in the city were said to be
such that life there MAS no longer on
durable. The Spanish ,tiaduct which
conveyed water from she mountains
was reported to have been destroyed
and the food supply exhausted.
Villa Confscates Supplies.
Five hundred thousand dollars worth
of provisions and clothing and 100000
from the Banco of Minerp were con-
tiscated in Juarez by Villa to support
the rebels. The property Was taken
through the refusal of merchants TO
accept paper money issued by the
rebels. The storekeepers, most Of
them Spanish. appealed to United
states Consul Edwards and later
closed their shops and handed over
the KEYS TO the consul
Consul Edwards later returned tho
KEYS to the owners. saying he could not
guarantee the safety of the property
Meantime. tho places were forced open
and the goods and money taken. "
MAS said the properties We're insured
in an English company against lootinS-