The Washington herald., 1914-09-28

visional president from civil life. Car
rama intends 10 become a candidate in
the regular election.
VIII Murder No More.
While representatives OF the Constitu-
tiOnalists here are hopeful that some
compromise might be affected with villa,
the belief among Washington officials Is
that Villa has started out to eliminate
Carranza as a factor in the present stu
alton, and that he will not stay his hand
now until he has established himself in
Mexico City.
Another bit of news that reached the
State Department yesterday confirms the
impression that Villa has learned his les
son and that he now has sufficient self
control and political aCumen TO refrain
from committing further acts such as the
murder of Benton. the British ranch
man. The information was to the effect
that Gen. Obregon. the seizure Of whom
by Villa brought about the present break
with Carranza, has arrived in IIexIco
City. Villa, according to CaTTanZa,
threatened to shoot Obregon unless GER
tain concessions were made by Car
rama in regard y affairs in the state OF
Sonora. CarranZa made these conces-
sions and Villa has promptly eliminated
any ground for protest that Carranza
might have on the score of the treatment
Of 0bregon.
Nntrra Caused First Fight.
The desertion by Gen. Natera leaves
Carranza with only two of his four gem
erals. The two still standing by him are
Pubic Gonzales, who is head of the East
ern Division, and Gen. Obregon, who is
head OF the Western Division. Villa, him
self. was head of the Northern Division
Of the army.
Natera was the cause OF the FIRST break
that occurred between Carranza and his
chief military leader. The history OF his
activity is an interesting sidelight on
Mexican revolutions. Carranza was jeal-
Gus Of the remarkable success Villa was
achieving on his sweep from the north
toward Mexico City and in order to rob
him of the personal glory Of entering
Mexico City, he made Natera the major
general of the central division. This
meant that Villa, as he went south, would
be outranked by Natera and would be
obliged TO serve under him.
The appointment OF Natera in charge
of the central division resulted in Ma
tera's futile attack to take Zacatecas
from the federals. Villa declined to serve
as a subordinate and Carranza refused
TO supply him with trains to transport
his troops and ammunition. Villa, later,
stormed Zacatecas and took II after
three days of fighting.
Carrnnza Hemmed In.
Now Carranza finds the general. who
was elevated in order to check Villas
growing popularity, taking sides with his
enemy.
Just how many troops Natera has is
not known here. ConstitutionalIst repre-
sentatives contend Villas forces are not
as large as has been represented. They
say that the military census taken ten
days ago showed that Villa had only Pa
600 soldiers, and that Carranza and all
the other generals had 10000.
With Villa and Natera in the field
against him, and with Zapata- the bandit
leader, also in arms, and with Gen. H
ARuiIar, the former federal commander,
with a body Of Huerta's old troops near
Vera Cruz siding with Villa, the days
Of the first chiefs rule in Mexico City
seer, TO be numbered. In fact, without
an important battle. Carranza now finds
himself almost as closely circumscribed
as was Huerta in the closing days OF his
administration.