El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-03
NO LONGER
BOASTS OF
VICTORIES
Foreigners in Mexico City
Are in Doubt When to
Make Their Escape.
RICH MEXICANS IN
NEED OF READY CASH
Are Pawning Their JeWelry
and Taking Any Price
They Can Get For It.

r EXICO CITY, Mex, Jan 5.-Ine
MI Huerta administration has
lately come to be frankly on
the defense. A month ago all the talk
was Of successful expeditions against
the rebels. and almost daily glory
won BY Huerta's arms. It was almost
reasonable to hint that the rebels
were making Roadway, but lately
friends Of the government, and it has
some vet, talk more Of the presidents
chances for holding back the rebels
than of making progress against them
Those who have followed develop
ments will not be surprised, however
if the swinging forward movement OF
determination to hold their hard
earned positions, and if Huerta is able
to hold out for many months
Foreigners in Doubt.
Foreigners, and few MeXicsns, are
gambling their judgment against ac-
up their minds just when to get out
they would leave the capital before
the final clash, but a great majority
of those vet left here cannot very well
they have by abandoning it indefi-
nitely and so are taking their chances
Others are working hard on the de-
fence committees. realizing that they
the foreign compound when trouble
starts.
1t is realized that Carranza can
bring about the city tens OF thousand
giOns outside the federal district; that
the Zaparisras viii join with him and
that thousands for whom he has no
arms and who are ever ready to iOin
the successful leader, will hasten to
join him without the city and unite
with his followers for possible loot :
within.
But Mexico CITY would be able to
Withstand a siege probably for a lopg
time. Stored in one place and another
there is an abundance Of food stuffs;
within the district the defending
army should control and cutting the
light and water lines viii not be a
vital blow. There once was a time
when we didn't have electric lights
said Huerta one day, and so far as
the water is concerned, there are dOz-
ems Of artesian wells within the city,
and almost at any point the waters OF
the old lake can be tapped at from SIX
70 ten feet underground Cutting or
the water supply would undoubtedly
bring about such a state Of bad sanI-
tatiOn that disease inevitably would
follow, but many weeks might elapse
before this condition became vitality
serious.
Rich sen TheIr JevFeIry.
The impecunious state into which
many Of the old wealthy families or
Mexico have fallen is responsible for
a new line of business among many
small Spanish merchants. I'VE buy
jeH-elry," is a sign to be seen in many
stores, and the growth OF this business
indicates that many persons are real
izing cash on their family Jewels
Pawn shops throughout the land are
also reaping a rich harvest in interest
for money loaned on jeWelry and other
articles sent in by the aged servants
Of families who never until now have
known what it meant to be in want
of money. Not all these families ara
poor as reckoned by the financial
agencies. Some vet are mfllionaires.
Some retain enormous holdings OF
land and houses, but there is none to
buy.
One man. an American. recently Of
fered for sale $4,000 acres Of unIm-
proved but rich tropical land for TO-
900 pesos He could not sell it Two
years ago he refused three pesos an
acre