The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-07

~ HE man who saved the population Uf Mex.
leo city from starvation and put the city
i again In touch with the outer world Is
Gen. Pablo Gonzales, commander in chief
of the eastern division Of the Constitutionalist
army. For six months the city had been isolated
and practically cut Of from all communication
with the rest Of the world. Even the diplo-
matte representatives found 1t extremely diff
cult to communicate with their Governments,
while the rest Of the Inhabitants lived like the
unfortunates Of a city besieged and surrounded
by n hostile enemy.
During all this time the ancient Aztec capital
had been In the hands Of the Nilla-ZaJmta fac
ton and judging from the lmcitity Of the Car
rr,Ilza forces II loOkSl as though II would remain
In their possession forever. Moreover. no at.
irinrtS had leen made during all those months
{" re,1pture the city from them. In the mean
time ten. RWlue Gonzales CARA had been ap-
pointed President ~ the convention forces.
and while his authority met with the support
~ the people he was powerlesS to free the city
from the iron ring ~ the Carranza soldiers.
Su~n tragic days began to dawn upon the un-
hnll" Inhabitants II that unfortunate city. Food
began to grow scarce. no supplies Of any sort
were coming In and the most necessary products
II every day life were lacking. The people.
poor and rich alike. were facing actual starva.
ton. Many Of them had gone for days without
ten. Gomez and sugar. Fish was a luxury not
even the richest could afford. meat was almost
rs valuable as gold. while the great majority
II the p"pulace were In actual want Of bread.
More than one case of starvation was reported.
No other place I'm the unfortunate republic
suffered M much on account Of the social up
heaval as did Mexico city. II was the only
city which saw real battle. real bloOdshed,
within Its magnificent streets. From the begin
ming Of the revolt against Gen. Diaz up till the
present moment II has been the objective point.
the goal. Of all the cOntending factions. One
army after another marched in and out, leaving
ruin and desOlatiOn In Its wake. Upon the walls
II many Of the most beautiful homes the sad
tale IL written In bullets that went astray. Many
residences In the heart Of the city are perforated
with shot and shell. while on the outskirts the
palatial city reminds one Of the tragedy Of shat
tered Belgium.
In the latter part II July, when the cries for
help Of suffering inhabitants Of Mexico city
reached the ears Of the United States. Gen. Con
zales started on his campaign to recapture the
city from the convention forces and thus bring
aid to the starving population. He had an army
of $4,000 men. hut neither Gen. Zapata nor
President Rogue Gonzales Cara would surren-
der the city. as was demanded Of them. Again.
for the fifth time. Mexico city was bombarded
and its picturesque suburbs laid waste by the
fire of cannon.
Under such tragic conditions Gen. Gonzales
entered the hunger stricken city. Now he is
the master and ruler Of Mexico city and the
Federal district. the heart and seat Of the re-
public. Next To the First Chief, Gen. Carranza,
he Is the greatest authority In the capital.
Just what the people may expect from his
rule and domination has been told by him to
the writer Of this article. For the first time
he frankly expressed himself on the many Diff
cult problems which confront him In making
peace and s~ulSluing the various hostile clements
" Mexico city. He told me Of the methods he
intends to pursue In his effort to gain the sup
lOrt and confidence of the Mexican as well as
the foreign population. He realized the tire
NQendons task he had undertaken and seemed