The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-01-05
MEXICO news LETTER

Mexico City. IAN. 5.-The Huerta adj
1nlnlstration has lately come to be
frankly on the defensive. A month ago
all the talk was OF successful exnedi-
tlons against the rebels, and almost
daily glory won by Huerta's arms. 1t
was almost reasonable to hint that the
reoeis were making Roadway, but late
ly even friends of the government. and
1t has some Yet, talk more of the pres
ldents chances for holding back the
rebels thar Of making any progress
against them.
Those who have followed develop-
ments will not be surprised hovevar
If the swinging forward movement of
the reoels slows down to a logged de-
termination to hold their hard earned
positions, and If Huerta is able to hold
OUT Tor many ont
Foreigners, and a few Mexicans ara
gambling their Judgment against ac-
cufnulating facts. If they could make
up their minds just when to get out
eney would leave the capital before the
those yet left here cannot very we'll
sacrit1ce what business and propertv
they have by abandoning it indefinitely
ana SO they are taking their chances.
S G1mers are working hard on the de-
tense committees, realizing that they
obabl will be among those within
the foreign compound when trouble
starts. O
It is realized that Carranza can
prlng about the city tens of thousand
OF followers once he cleans up the
regions outside the federal district:
that the Zapatistas will join with him
ana mat thousands for whom he has
no arms and who ever are ready to
Join the successful leader, will hasten
to join him without the city and unite
WIN mis- followers for possible loot
Wlthln. But Mexico City would be
able to withstand a siege probably for
a long time. Stored in one place and
another there is an abundance of food
SUITS there are numerous small gar
dens within the district the defending.
army should control, and cutting the
vital blow. There once was a time
when We didn't have electric lights"
SAID Huerta n day, and so far as the
water is concerned, there are dozens of
artesian wells within the city, ana al
most at any point the waters OF the
old lake can be tapped at from six to
ten feet underground. Cutting off the
water supply would undoubtedly bring
ABOUT such a state of bad sanitation
that disease inevitably would follow,
but many weeks might elapse before
this condition became vitality serious.
Mexico City, Jan. 3.-The impecun-
ious state into which many of the old
wealthy families of Mexico have fallen
is responsible for a new line Of bust
ness among many small Spanish mer-
chants. w buy jewelry" Is a sign to
be seen in many stores, and the growth
of this business indicates tina many
persons are realizing cas- on their
family jewels.
Pawn shops throughout the land also
are reaping a rich harvest in interest
for money loaned on iewelry and other
articles sent in by the aged servants
of families who never until now have
known what it meant to be In want OF
money. Not all these families are poor
as reckoned by the financial agencies.
Some. yet are m~illionaires. Some retain
enormous holdings of Ian and houses,
but there is one to. buy. ~
One man, an American, recently Of
proved but rich tropical land for TO-
600 pesos. He could not sell it. Two
years ago he refused three pesos an
acre. = 49,