The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1914-02-11
Rebels Will Wait Until They
Have Supplied Themselves
With Arms and Ammu-
milton,

! Mexico City, Feb. S.-President Huerta
in the past week has succeeded, without
much fighting, in reopening lines of COM
~nunication in Tampico and Laredo and
between Saltillo and Torreon. This ap-
parent advantage is explained to some ex-
tent by the fact that the rebels have re-
ceived instructions to cease operating in
small bands in those districts and join the
concentration movements near TOrreon
and about Tampico.
Indications are that there will be a lull
i military operations until the rebels
have supplied themselves with additional
arms and ammunication and that when
Gems. Carranza and Villa and other rebel
leaders have completed their precautions
for an advance several important engage
ments will be fought.
In the isthmus Of ~Tehauntepec and in
regions adjoining the capital numerous
rebel organizations are operating. Per-
haps the most dangerous rebel operation
comparatively close to the capital is that
directed by Gen. Juan Franciso Lucas,
popularity called The Patriarch OF the
Sierra Indians"
INDIANS ARE STRONG.
. These Indians control q large area for
the most part in the State Of Pueblo. They
are we'll equipped and have received among
them a force Of about 500 northern rebels,
who serve to connect their movement with
that of Gen. Carranza.
President Huerta has 5000 men at Tor
reon and 1000 at Monterey. At Tamplco
the federal garrison is approximately
1000, and always there remain the gun
boats at Vera Cruz to reinforce.
President Huerta will continue to sei.d
troops to Torreon until the total force
there is at least 10000.
Military men profess to doubt whether
The rebels can take TorreOn, even after
they obtain ammunition.
President Huerta's calm attitude after
the lifting of the embargo on arms seems
to have gained him some sympathy, and
in local financial centres it is believed he
has slightly more favorable prospects OF
OBJ aiming money. Even without foreign
assistance he will be abb to extract from
! local sources many millions.
Owners of haciendas adjoining the State
Of Mexico have been notified that they
will be expect to loan the government
money on their land and it would cause
no surprise if special taxes were imposed
on all property in the capital n other
cities wIIic Huerta still controls.
ALONG " LINES.
The opinion is held here that rebels in
the north will direct their energies along
two lines of campaign-one looking to the
capture of TOrreon, Zacatecas, Angus Cal
icntcs and other towns, in their path to
the ~capital, anG the other to The capture
Of Tampico.
With Monterey and San Luis Potosi rs
secondary detectives, tho moral elect or
the capture of Torreon would be great,
but military men point out that the stra-
getic yalue of Tampico would be still
greater. as it is the source of the fuel sup
ply.
Those who have watrhe Developments
believe the task OF isolating the capital
from food supply districts probably will
be entrusted to small bands now operat-
ing in all of those districts. Rebels SYM
pathizcrs here say that within two months
federals will be cutting the railroads to
keen the rebel forces out of the capital.