The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-12-01
VILLA TO SOLVE
MEXICAN AFFAIR
FRIEND ASSERTS
Dr. ChenOweth, Former Res
ident of Richmond, Relates
Experiences as Visitor of
General.
~. S. TO GIVE HELP
Border Citizens Say Rebel
Leader Obtains Supplies
Without TrOuble-Learned
Tactics in Philadelphia.


Mexico will solve its own problem
Through the agency of one Pancho
Villa, aided and abetted by the United
States government, in the opinion OF
DR.. Leslie Chenoweth Of Fort Stock
ton. Tex, small town on the Rio
Grand river, close to the scenes Of
much of the hardest fighting in north
ern Mexico the last two years. DR..
Chenoweth formerly lived in Rich
mond and is now in this city visiting
relatives.
"Villa Is the strong man Of Mexico"
Hs finally restored in the war-torn re-
public either he will be the president
or some one selected by him will fill
that office. The probabilities are he
will decline the office himself, be-
cause he frankly states he does not
believe he is qualified to perform it's
duties Villa is soldier and a splen-
did one.
some months ago that Villa had served
in the American army" continued Dr.
Chenoweth. Not much credence was
given this report, but it is absolutely
true. ! know Villa personally, and
had an offer from him to serve on his
medical staff, but declined. Villa, who
is a Mexican of the peon type, not a
negro as some believe, enlisted In an
American cavalry regiment and served
In the Philippine insurrection.
ut was In the American army that
he learned the tactics which he has
employed so successfully since he has
risen to power. Villa likes Americans.
and as a matter Of fact, practically all
the gunners in his artillery are ex-
soldiers Of the United States army.
He secures them after their enlistment
in the American army expires, or, in
some cases, he buys their way out OF
the American army. He pays them all
big money Nearly all of his medical
staff officers are Americans"
Dr. Chenoweth tells interestingly of
q night battle he witnessed while at
Preside, Tex. 1t occurred across the
river at Presidio del Norte. Villa at
tackled the town, driving the Huerta
troops across the riven to American
soil. He says it was wonderful
spectacle.
Visit Field Of Battle.
"The day after the fight another
American and | went to Presdio del
Norte and called upon Villa at his
headquarters. He received us as he
always receives Americans, courteous
lv but somewhat brusquely. We told
him we wanted to visit the scenes Of
the fighting the previous day, speaking
to him in Spanish, in which tongue
you have to address him, although he
can speak English fluently. He grant
ed our request promptly, and detailed
an aid to act as our guide, telling him
to be sure and bring us back to head
quarters before we crossed the river
again. He wanted to know that we
were well treated before we returped.
We saw the battlefield, the field hos
pital and many interesting sights.
When we returned to headquarters he
said he hoped we had enjoyed our
selves, and then, boyishly, told us to
take any souvenirs back to Preside
we wanted. We picked number of
things but the Mexican bridge guard
helped himself to the souvenir |
priZed the most, a SiX-shOOter, which
unfortunately, protruded from rhe top
of one of my boots. Later Villa offered
me a place on his medical staff I
told him I was dentist, and he said
that was what he wanted, because
most of his men were shot about the
head"
Villa Surrounds City.
DR.. Chenoweth then told an amusing
Incident concerning the recent "Deace'
conference between the Mexican lead
ers at Guas Calientes. He said press
dispatches announced that Villa had
attended this conference with body
guard Of one thousand men. "As a
matter of fact" Or. Chenoweth con-
tinued, "Villa loaded 10000 men on
trains made one Of his famous sWoops
and when the conference opened he
had the town surrounded by an entire
army, infantry, cavalry and artillery.
Then he dictated the peace terms.
Fighting has begun again. but Villa
will have his way and he will dispose
of all the opposing leaders one by
one"
It is no secret along the Texas bor-
der that Villa has the support of
11ncle Sam. and. Or, Chenoweth says.
there never has been a time when
Villa could not get all the supplies he
wanted from the United States.