The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-06-19
NEWS ON THE
MEXICAN SITUATION
Contributed


was pleased to ind them in much
better shape than he expected. The
water is fairly good and there is a
good sewer system but the General
wanted to improve them and had hard
work in persuading the Mexicans in
the local health office to assist him,
but after assuring them they would
be protected they consented.
Recently some American newspa-
permen gave dinner and invited
General Villa as a guest OF honor.
After much persuasion Villa consent
ed to make a short speech and give
toast. The toast was to the greatest
man in the United States, he said,
and that was President Wilson. Villa
does not pose as society man but
merely a plain soldier with a plain
soldiers habits and manners. He has
very little education, but what he has
he picked up for himself for axe so
many OF the Mexicans he had no
chance to get an education. A story
is told o. HIM going into town where
Spaniard ran a general store. Villa
went in and htted his soldiers out
with anything they needed, whether
It was boots, hats, or shirts. He is
said TO have spent an entire day in
hitting out his men, while the frighten-
ed owner sat huddled in a corner. 1 he
next day If he met any OF his men
Villa would ask if they liked their
new shoes or whatever they had re-
cciyed. Oi course they replied they
did and Villa would say: IN treat
you right as long as you stay by me
and hght, but If you try TO get away
III shoot you myself. He claimed
ne was not rObbIng the SpanIard, but
merely conhscatlng necessary sup
plies.
Lapata seems to be more feared
than any other OF the Mexican Cen
erals. Some claim if he takes Mexico
City there will be nothing but murder
robbing and burning.
Captain Anderson OF the Florida,
occupied the mansion OF General
Mas after the General had fed to the
interior. A few days later the beau
tiiul daughter OF the General came
to the house and asked permission to
enter her boudoir. The guard gave
ner key and after entering she I'M
locked drawer TO her dressing table
and revealed jewels OF great value.
She seemed surprised to ind her
apartments unoccupied and more
surprised to lind her jewels safe, but
she put them all back in the drawer
and turned the key and left the house
evidently thinking her jewels were
safer there in care of Uncle Sans
men than they would be with her.
One OF the Mexican Generals said
1t would not be natural Tor sisters to
never quarrel and surely United States
and Mexico were sisters. President
Wilson's sympathy is all with the
poorer class OF Mexicans, who have
never had an education or a chance to
improve themselves in any way The
schools keep open the year around
IN most parts OF Mexico. If they closed
in hot wather they would be closed
more often than open. They closed
week during the trouble in Vera
Cruz but the teachers were ordered
10 open them again at once.
Two children were killed during a
night at Vera Cruz, one a l6-year old
girl that had lost her father in the
night and was separated from her
mother Two Red Cross men found
her and were taking her TO a safe
place, when snipers shot at them and
the girl was instantly killed. A Span
ish boy about III years old who went
out into the street to watch the fight
ing was killed close to his own home.
Probably no other part OF the United
States has more al stake or is in a
greater danger if there is fighting with
Mexico than the Imperial Valley.
This valley is about no miles east OF
San Diego and $50 miles east OF Los
Angeles and joins Mexico
Ibis valley until about Il years ago
was simply barren desert, but by
the efforts OF man named lockwood
capitalists were interested in il and
in short time the valley was reclaim
ed. All OF the water used in the en-
tire valley is taken from the Colorado
river and taken from the river on the
Mexican side. \ single charge OF
dynamite and the intake would be
blown out and the valley would be
cut off from all water.
Already there has been considerable
trouble over the water but nothing
very serious 50 far The intake is
aeayily guarded and efforts have been
made by the valley citizens to persuade
the MeNicans to leave this intake and
the canals as neutral territory, but
no doubt the efforts will prove fruit
less
CaleNico. the border town, takes
its name from California and
Mexico This town is on one side
OF a ditch and on Uncle Sans land
but across the street is Mexicali.
While CaleNico is a clean. busy place.
the home o. fine Americans, the city
across the street is exactly the op-
positc Low dance halls and saloons
are the principal buildings while the
people are mostly Americans they
are mostly OF the booze drinking
type, Plenty OF Spaniards, Chinese,
and laps. with plenty OF Mexicans
mixed IN all, go to make up the popu-
!auon OF this little town.
Since early in January reports have
2een circulated OF various Americans