Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-30
SAYS HUERTA WILL
FIGHT TO Finish
War Correspondent Describes
Mexican Dictator as a Man
of Iron Will.
MORE INDIAN THAN SPANISH
Perhaps the Strongest Man in the Re-
public, Though Not Military GEN.
ius-WIlIing TO Take Gamblers
Desperate Chance.


BY N. c. ADOSSIDES,
War Correspondent in Mexico and Stu
dent of Conditions There.
During my stay in Mexico Victori-
ano Huerta was the head of Madero's
federal army, and so exceedingly hos
tile to the representative of the press
was he that he issued orders for the
arrest of many and used means at his
command to hamper the efforts of
others
One correspondent, Gerald Brandon,
was imprisoned and sentenced to
death, but was released.
At forreon, where I first met him,
the commander-in-chief's quarters at
the Hotel Francia were two doors
away from my room; I dined at his
table and, unwelcome guest that I was,
found him exceedingly suave and po-
lite.
1 saw him so intoxicated that Off
GERS had to assist him to his apart
ments, and sober, reticent and frigid,
saw him in the brotherIy embrace of
Pancho Villa, praising him for his
fidelity.
I once asked highly educated Mex
lean officer if Huerta were a really
able military man. do you know"
he answered me, "the French proverb,
Dams le royaume des aveugles e
borgne est lie roi?' In the kingdom of
the blind the one-eyed man is the
king. Well,'' he continued, eve have
no great strategist nor great military
genius in Mexico Victoriano Huerta
is, however, the best officer in our
army; he is a man of great tenacity
and strength of character, and he pos
sesses the qualifications necessary to
a successful dictator"
Something Like Diaz.
Huerta is much the same type as
Poririo Diaz, more Indian than Span
ish in blood, appearance and traits.
Educated in the military academy of
Chapultepec and having no influence
at his back, he advanced slowly to
the foremost rank of Madero's revolu-
tionary army. In that capacity he
shone, undoubtedly, for he could ia
spire his forces with confidence and
fighting spirit.
And now when he is provisional
president Of the Mexican republic it
would be unfair to consider him as
puppet and fgurehead. He is perhaps
the strongest man in that republic and
man who will strain every nerve to
retain his position and sordify his
achievements. He Is a man with
keen sense for crisis, and he is a
clever manipulation Of possibilities.
With the vision of his crushed ar
mics and his own power depleted by
the successful constitutionalists in the
North, hampered by the nonrecogni-
ton Of this country, he is the kind of
man to take gamblers desperate
chance.
He Sees his own salvation in war
with the United States. He hopes to
behold his present enemies, the con-
stitutionalists, rallying to preserve.the
national honor. With the united fac
tons he hopes to resist the hated
"Gringo."
He hopes for the time when there
will no longer be federals and consti-
tutionalists, but Mexicans defending
Mexico and Huerta.
1t almost seems that he is more
afraid of Villas victorious army than
of an imminent blow from the exas-
perated American nation.
Thinks Victory viii Be Easy.
Chicago-Coming direct from Tam.
pico, the scene of the insult to the
American flag, Don B. White, a
wealthy oil operator, who has lived in
Mexico for twenty years, arrived in
Chicago. Mr.. White knows personally
both Victoriano Huerta and Zapata,
the rebel terrorizing the south of the
devastated country, He talked graph
icaIly of conditions in Mexico and the
possible outcome of the war.
eff the United States acts quickly
and sends a large army down there at
once,' said Mr.. White, then the war
won't last long, because they will lay
down their arms with fear. But there
must be decisive action and it must
be done quickly.
"HuertaI know him personally.
He can't possibly raise more than
5000 real soldiers and to conquer him
would require scarcely more than mere
toying.
But the hardest fight the United
States army will have will be in the
state of Morales, which is controlled
by Zapata zapata is the Aguinaldo
of Mexico. British, ignorant and in
human, he is an Indian about thirty