Omaha daily bee., 1914-02-24
UPPER MEXICO MAY SECEDE
Sentiment Grows Among Rebels This
is Solution Of Situation.
FIVE STATES ALONG BORDER
Hnerth's Army Driven out from
Northern Fart Of Mexico, hut IL
Now strengthened In the
south,


CHIHUAHUA. Mex. Feb 90. Sentiment
Is growing among certain rebel leaders
that if the attack on Torreon ia delayed
much longer, or IL the federal army sue
ceeds in holding that city, northern Mex
leo will detach itself from the rest OF tho
country and become an independent re
public.
While General Carranza. the civil head
OF the revolution, and General Villa, the
military head. disclaim any intention to
be satisfied with anything less than the
overthrow Of Huerta and the success ot
the copstitutionalist cause over the entire
country, it Is known that the plan to es-
tablish a northern republic has been Sc
riously considered by them and others.
General Villas delay in the attack on
Torreon and reports emanating from Mex
leo City that the federal garrison has
been strengthened to point where IL can
put up formidable resistance, have givea
renewed impetus to the idea OF a separa-
ton OF the north from the south and
General Carranza's coming TO chihuahua
state from the Pacific coast Is looked
upon as possibly fastening an early
adoption OF the plan.
what Leaders Think.
sunny ANhtA ttdNtAN HAbAtHH W btlltNt
that whatever the outcome OF the present
revolution the north and south will soon
be complete amalgamatc. The north.
they assert. already Is politically indie
pendent and has adopted progressive at
titude wholly at variance to conditions In
the south. where two factions-the indIf-
ferent and the adherents OF the old Diaz
regime-predominate.
be formed into separate republic, en-
braces the five states along the United
States border-Sonora Chihuahua, Goa
hula, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulpas. with
possibly the inclusion OF Sinaloa. From
practically all this territory the Huerta
army has been driven out. the chief re-
naming strongholds OF the federals be-
ing at Tampico on the east, Monterey.
Saltillo and Torreon on the south, Quay
mas on the west and Nuevo Laredo and
Pledras Negras on the north.
Mndero "a NOrthcrner.
As suggesting that the revolutionary
leaders may have To content themselves
with their victories in the north. officials
high in the rebel government point out
that one reason for the overthrow OF
President Madero was that he represented
the Ideals of the north at the seat of the
government in the south where progress
has not kept pace with the northern
states.
That by delaying his attack on Torreon,
General villa has lost some OF the pres
tige which he gained In the quick VIC
tory at Ojinaga is conceded here. A
prompt assault on Torreon, after the
Ojlnaga victory six weeks ago, some
rebel leaders say would have given Gen.
oral Villas troops great moral advantage
in routing tho federals. Instead, the
federals in Torreon, under General
Refugio Valisco, with ample train and
telegraph communication with Mexico
City. have had opportunities to fortify
their position and to overcome much of
the terror aroused among the federal
soldiers by the mere mention of Villas
name.
Villas Men Are Idle.
Most of Villas soldiers, who he says
number 1900 or more, are now and bavc
been for several weeks deployed along
the railroad south OF here, with their
base at JimeneE and Escalon. why they
have not been ordered to march on
Torreon' but have been kept idly waiting
along the railroad tracks, is a question
which none Of them are able TO explain.
The belief in Chihuahua Is that they were
sent out because General villa did not
want to maintain so many soldiers In
one city The disposition OF the rebels is
At Jimenez, under General Monclovio
Herrera, 1000; at Escalon. under General
Maxine Garcia, 1000 marching across
Durango state to Maplml Cnorth og
Torreon). under General Tomas Urbina
$500; in Durango state southwest of
Iorreon)' under General Callxto Con.
treras' 5000; in Zacatecas state (south Of
Torreon). under General Panfllo Natera.
1000; east OF Torreon. under General
Agilar' an unknown number; in Chihua.
hua City, under General AguIrre Bena
vides, 1900
The FEDERAL garrison at Torreon Is va
Hously estimated from 5000 to 1000.