Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-12-20
FALL or VILLA AS
SUDDEN AS HIS RISE
Scarcely Three Years Time Covers
Adventurous Career Of Revo-
lutionist.
MILITARY GENIUS OF MEXICO

Ell PASo. Tex, Dec. 1s.--Doreteo
Orange was born in 1868 in Las
Nieves. in the state OF Durango. As
youth he ventured into the noun
tains Of Chihuahua and collected a
rowing band to whom he became
known as Pancho and Francisco
villa.
During the outbreak OF Madero
against Porfirio Dias, villa emerged
! from the mountains and foresook the
bandit life credited to him. His rise
to military power and his descent
from the pinnacle OF revolutionary
fame dates back scarcely three years
ago, when he crossed the Rio Grande
with only a handful of companions,
six borrowed" horses and 81 In
money, and q meager supply of
coffee and beans.
Less than year after his entering the
army OF Madero he became the leader OF
well-equipped army Of nearly 10000
men. His fearIessness in battle and his
acknowledged ability as a disciplinarian
won for him his title. At one time. AZ
head Of the Carranza army, more than
half OF Mexico was under his control.
HATED the spaniards.
With Indian blood In his veins he waI
hater OF the Spanlard. He also was ar
enemy OF alcohol and tobacco. Popular
with his men. his strength grew. and al
the time OF Huerta's downfall Villa wa
the greatest military genius In Mexico
He was then credited with presidential
aspirations.
Trouble rose The first signs OF dis
content came just previous TO the Agus
Calientes convention. more than a yea
ago. ordered for the purpose of outlining
the policies of the administration, o.
which Carranza then was the nomina
head. carranza advisers criticised thu
method Of selecting delegates to the con
vention. Stormy scenes were enacted
The policies adopted gave evidence OF tn
rupture that quickly followed. Genera
Villa, with General Emillano Zapata
whose faction was said to have been In
corporated, formed what was called tn
'conventionist" government. Carranzi
adhered to the term "constitutlonalist."
Generals and Lesser leaders chose side
and aligned their men accordingly. Will
then retreated northward, after ono
having set foot at least in the suburb
Of Mexico City, and began the stTuggl
to maintain his army. Acts of vlolenc
followed closely upon each other; town
were looted; foreigners prosecuted
bridges and other property destroyed. ant
demands made upon wealthy mining mel
and mercantile businesses for money.
Not the Array of OLD.
Villas army then was not the army
that stood with him at the height of hi
triumphs chickering's In the commands
OF several OF his generals became alarm
ing. General Medina, who once led hi
advance forces. was murdered. Loo
estimated at millions stored on the Medlni
ranch was said to have been the cause
The next OF Villas strong supporters L
disappear was Colonel Fierro, nickname
tho Butcher" Fierro It was who wa
said 20 have caused the death of Medina
and also that OF william Benton, a British
subject. whose death in Juarez about tw,
years ago has never satisfactorily beer
explained
Other OF Villas commanders and mem
bers Of his provisional cabinet crosse,
into the United States and many Of hi
troops received immunity from CarranzI
upon their surrender. The recent recog
milton by the United States and othe
powers OF the de facto government o
Carrenza, Villa felt sorely. and evidence
OF the end OF bitter but unequal figh
were soon made manifest.