Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-05-01
WHY REBEL VILLA
HAS HUERTA HATE
Dictator Once Had Opponent
Before the Firing Squad
Ready for Execution.

Carranza and villa over the American
invasion OF Mexico. CarranSa was
quick to resent It and issued note
which amounted 10 a warning to TINS
government TO withdraw from vera
Cruz villa Immediately made
statement in which he assured the
United States that he had no inten-
ton OF making n campaign against
this government in northern Mexico
The Carranza statement Indicated
that the United States might force
him to make common cause with
Huerta against the invader The VITA
statement showed that Villa was GER
tain there could be no cooperation
between the constitutionalists and
the Huertistas. Since then there nave
been Other evidences OF a sharp dif-
ference OF views between Carranza
and his general
Washington has been casting about
for some explanation and II came
through information obtained Thurs
day. in regard 20 the fierce personal
enrnfty between Victoriano Huerta and
Pancho Villa
Those who know intimately what
passed between them two years ago
two ever will make common cause.
villa. with his bandits at that time,
formed part of the federal army com
rnanded by Huerta sent north by
Madero to put down the new revolu-
ton under Pasqual Orozco, who had
nut him in the presidential chair. The
event is wildly recalled by witnesses
and others who were in the Mexican
capital at the time
There was great excitement in the
Citv of Mexico on the night of June
(. 1912. when the Alameda and San
Francisco street rang with cries OF
extras telling of an attempted mutfny
by Pancho Villa against his COM
mander in chief, General Huerta, and
OF the latter's order to have Villa sum-
marilv shot before the entire forces
drawn up at the headquarters near
Jfmine,:. TO witness the manner in
which characterization by a prominent
chief was to be punished. The City or
Mexico was amazed TO hear that the
man who had faced death hundred
times in battle weakened before the
firing squad, fell on his knees and
whimpered, Pardon, mi general,
pardon
What had happened? The official
version differed considerably from
what the witnesses say. According TO
these. Pancho Villa had asked per-
mission to attack a certain town In
the vicinity OF Jiminez. Huerta re-
fused. telling him gruffly that he
would have no more lOotlng and raw
ishing. Villa then punched Huerta's
nose and Huerta ordered Villa shot
at daybreak But fate interceded in
the form OF two MaderO boys, Raouel
and Emilio, who were at headquarters.
These two Afaderos. for reasons OF
their own. stepped in as Villa was
begging for his life and forced the
cornmander-in-chief to send him to
the capital for trial. That the Maderos
had IL in their power so to force
Huerta was accepted as q matter OF
course in the City of Mexico, since
the entire republic virtually was run
by the presidents brothers. uncles,
nephews, cousins and other relatives
of innumerable degrees
The case, If memory serves right,
was further aggravated by sharp COM
plants lodged by Ambassador Wilson
against Villas recent looting of the
big American cotton estates at Tia
hualiIo. With the same train that
brought Villa to the capital TO be
locked up in the military prison of
Santiago, there came also the resig-
nation of General Huerta, deeply
wounded in his pride and prestige by
the Madero relatives
The official version given out IN
bulletin by the then minister of war.
General Angel Garcia Pena, was quite
different II consisted OF two reports
sent in by General Huerta, one from
Jiminez. where it had happened, and
the other from Santa Rosalia, the next
stop to the north. There was no blow,
10 meddiing by the MaderoS, no resig-
nation-simply case of gross insub-
ordination Villa had been ordered
TO make restitution of some S2Oo, 700,
Mexican money, horses and other
property he and his men had got by
Iooting the town of Parral-"every-
thing, absolutely everything they
could lay their hands on''-and in re-
ply villa had ordered his cut-throats
TO arm at once and resist any com
mand coming from Huerta-
Huerta's two reports are available
here They contain statements that
are Of particularly curious interest at
THIS tlne- In the uTsL place LHey Gull
firm the fact that Villa played the
coward and begged hard for his life.
Why Huerta, who has never known
mercy. spared him Is not explained.
Latin Americans smile and quote the
slogan of the other side, Manifest
destiny" Did Huerta in sparing Villa
unwittingly save his own sayiorf
What does Huerta think OF villa?
In his report he says that while "he
personally esteemed Villa as an ex-
ceedingfy valuable fighting man." he
regards this individual as little diff
fereut from a professional bandit"
and odds, He never knows how TO be
a soldier and submit TO orders, and in
his cunning always isolated himself
from the division"
VERY curious, in the light of de-