Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-06-21
NEX|CANS FIGHT
!. ONLY FOR LOVE
Of THE WAR GAME
Cannon Soldiers Know Moth
ing of Object of Revolution
and Are Battling Solely for
my Chief" Says Gibbon'

III paso, TEX. June 19.--"What mr.,
yoi fighting f0r?"
aeIt almost any Mexican soldier thet
onnstior and he will answer. M
,efe I" meaning my chief" Many of
!So men in the ranks do not know the
sa,ne of their colonel or the general
commanding their "brigada."
The answer fairly typlfies the men.
al attitude Of the common soldier in
mo Villista army as | found 1t after
trnr months of loving among them
others who have gained the camara-
derie Of the various revolutionary
nortIes have told me that the same
dIspositOn prevails among them
War Personal Conflict.
The military or diplomatic analyst
need proceed no further than an in
,sstigation of this morale To arrive al
the conclusion that the present war
IN Mexico IL personal conflict With
out national policy. The fighters
carry the names Of their leaders one
seldom hears the terms convention
alisto or "constitutonallst." The sol
dlers are "Villistas" or Carranzis-
,as.e 'Obregonistas" or "Zapatstas.'
Tho liberty program of the revolution
los won. The old, oppressive regime
of Diaz has been overthrown. The
@neople" are in power now, but the
establishment of civil government
k prevented by the differences among
the leaders.
That is the hopeless situation that
makes thinking Mexicans look for
ward to the time when the United
states will make an effort to put the
10. 10 -
these persons realize that none of the
present factions is strong enough TO
dominate. Ii has been the record Of
the revolution so far that as soon as
one faction reaches degree of
strength approaching domination
there is sudden split ana new rev
Oluti0n Is on.
Only Warfare in Prospect.
Mexicans who attempt to analyzc
the situation with regard to a further
development in which intervention
viii not figure believe the success OF
the Carranzista faction will result in
Oregon deserving his present chief
and starting an Independent revolu-
ton on his own behalf
The success of the Villa cause will
he marked by other disgressions tend.
state. If These factons continue
fighting and either adjust their diff
ferenccs or eliminate one or the other
the remaining faction will have YET
to contend with Zapata.
Change Religion In Ranks,
At Leon the case with which por-
lions of both armies would desert
from one side to the other indicated
tbef At "a, !, col
der is concerned the fight is for the
fighting only. | have seen one OF
Obregon's colonies and 800 men leave
their trenches at night and so over
10 villa. The next day these men
would occupy places on Villas firina
line and pour lead into the trenches
occupied by their comrades Of the day
before These assertions are not
looked upon as they would he In any
other army. They are simply called
Changing religion" and it is taken
for granted that anybody has that
right.
If one rides on an inspection tour of
the small building on deserted farms
In the rear of either army he will find
rifles and ammunition belts and pieces
CT khaki clothing in most of the huts.
who can get through the lines better
when dressed rs poems than when car
Tying rifle and cartridges.
Disease Cripp,es Army.
The physical condition of the Mex
lean soldier Is poor The Mexican
army has a higher percentage of dis
ease-infected men than any other
! have heard the percentage stated as
high as 95 The army carries with il
horde of women.
The vitality of the men has been
Weakened through disease, dissipation,
Poor food and exposure. No Mexican
commander would contemplate a
march of any considerable distance
Tor his infantry, for the reason that
lew Of the men are in condition to
walk When Villas fighting line was
located six miles east. of Leon two
weeks ago the infantry was never
marched ever this small distance. 1t
was necessary to transport them to
The line in box cars.
Prefer Services of Herb Doctors.
The Mexican soldier, obsessed with
ms old Indian supersttions and be-
hels In herbs, often prefers native
treatment 10 the attention of the mod
tln medical men. Men and women
allke try to cure various ills by stick
ing wet leaves of certain plants to
lhelr temples. The officers of Villas
sanitary service have great difficulty
N overcoming the Influence Of the
herb doctors.--Copyright; 1915.