The Detroit times., 1914-04-27
DETROITER HAS
SCARS INFLICTED
BY MEXICANS
alexander Pietz Was Wounded
BY "Snipers" While He Lived
in Cananea
STUDIED CONDITIONS
THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Says Man Of Great Courage Is
Needed to Bring Peace to
Land

Bearing two wounds inflicted by
"snipers" in Cananea, Mexico where
he was mechanical engineer for a
mining company, Alexander Pletz, a
tool designer for the Packard Auto.
mobile Co., drew viva word picture
for Times readers OF the typical Mex
lean who makes up the rebel ranks
and who Is fighting against the fed
erals. led by Dictator" Huerta, whose
offensive attitude led 10 the landing
of United States marine at Vera Cruz.
Mr.. Pletz lived IN Cananea up 10
last November. He was there two
years and hadSabundant opportunity
TO study the lHes and customs OF the
Mexican people. He was In the City
OF Mexico only two weeks before
President Madero met a tragic death,
his alleged assassination being charg-
ed against the regime OF which Gen.
Huerta is at the head.
II was In Portocieo, ~ miles from
Cananea on q surveying trip" said
Mr.. Pletz. while | was walking half
mile from the former camp bull
let, fred from ambush, hit some tim
Der supporting a fume, detected and
struck me In the abdomen. My OBJ
aerYatiCns convinced me that the bull
let came from stage coach which
was carrying about six Mexicans.
THIS MAS, Sept, .1s,- the .anISgRE9syy-
OF Maximiiian's deaSa. gSSsS H.: ,A4.,s,
later, after the coach had rounded n
Peak, ard was down the trail little
further, ] was struck second time
in the other side OF the abdomen.
Luckily, this bullet struck some tim.
Der also and had lost it's force to
great extent when II hit me. Both
bullets left painful, but not serious
wounds. | cut across the mountain
ndreached Portocieo before the stage
coach, made an immediate. inyestfga-
ton with view TO placing the re-
rpdhsibility for the shooting and
swearing TO a warrant, but ! could not
gather any damaging evidence and,
rather than stir up any racial feeling.
let the matter drop because Mexicans
on the anniversary OF Maximilian's
death, usually drink heavily and take
plehSure In engaging In acts OF law
lessness. The incident however, Illus
tratts the general habits OF the Mex
icahs-so far as courage Is concerned.
lie will shoot from ambush, or even
stegf1 his way up behind and stab a
person In the back, but he has not
thd courage to engage in a fight In
thd ppen.
'f1he trouble that has turned Mex.
leo into a battle-searred nation" con.
tinued Mr. Pletz, Ifs due, in large
degree. TO law enacted by the upper
class and which have for their aim
the protection OF this strata OF society
against the rights OF the poorer class.
The native Mexican-who represents
the poorer class, is found in northern
Mexico, while the people In southern
Mexico are composed to large ex-
tent of Spanihrds who compose the
upper strata of society. Gen. Huerta,
who was commander of the federal
troops when Francisco Madero was
fighting them, is essentially an ex-
ponent OF everything that is proposed
by the upper class. Madero. who
started his fight for the rights OF the
people of northern Mexico while he
was resident OF that part OF the
country. am sure. was sincere In HIS
struggles TO effect change whereby
liberal laws would be passed looking
TO the protection OF the lower class.
He was progressive--in fact, so much
30 that his ideas and his efforts came
IN conflict with the coterie in the City
OF Mexico and believe the reports
that this proved his undoing, are
true. Gen. Huerta. standing for the
rights OF the upper class, and putting
forth little effort to solidify the ma.
tim into harmonious whole through
new and more liberal laws, will never
wiz the support or the whole people
and cannot expect to continue as pres
- rINa. a.. A.
iem is too gieep.rooted. The lower
class has been brooding too long and
a determined that the old order OF
things shall change; that Mexico be-
longs To the whole people and that no