El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-03-06

~EN AIN AtsO OBhEGON IN pre-
pairing to evacuate Mexico City
~ and begin a general offensive
against Gen. Villa in the north. Train
loads OF troops from the coast are pass
ing through the Capital city daily on
their way to a poinc Just south Of
Queretaro, where the CarranZa forces
are concentrating. This is the inform
alton brought here by a foreigner who
Is intimate with conditions in central
Mexico and who arrived here Friday.
Mexico City is being stripped Of
practically everything that is movable
and the bankers in the city fear riot
ing and the lOOting OF TIE banks when
the evacuation order is given, accord
ing to this man All Of the govern
ment archives are being removed 10
NeracruZ and, on the train on which
the foreigner left 1or the coast was
loaded the presidential chair Of Mexico.
The train was continually sidetracked
and passed ten heavily laden military
trains 81 their way from the coast to
the capital
Conditions Couldn't Be Worse.
Conditions in Mexico could not con-
ceivably be worse" said the foreigner.
For a time the military authorities
made some pretenSe at feeding the
poor, but now they make the reply 10
all pleas for assistance that the rich
are refusing to support the cause and
that If the poor want anything. they
must go to the rich. In this way class
hatred is being engendered- Oregon
has frankly stated that be viii aband-
on the capital soon after first strip
ping il, as he wishes TO punish the
people for their friendship TO Zapata-
Nearly everyone in the capital, rich
and poor, favor the Zapatistas.
All Of the Carranza troops are well
equipped and. personally. / think that
they are going TO win out. Many i'm
partial observers hold the same belief
have no reason 10 favor them, as
my ranch has been repeatedly looted
opinion
Many Of the priests are still held
prisoners on orders OF ODregOn, though
The priests are held at the National
palace under heavy guard. Oregon
made demand on them for a large
contribution. They asked that they be
allowed to 80 into the city so that
they cunld raise the funds Obregon.
ey from the poor, refused. Then the
priests offered 70 raise the money II
one Of their number would be allowed
to leave and if they would be allowed
to distribute il TO the poor. as Oregon
had told them he intended TO do. This
offer was fatty refused.
'IiOtlng between the clericals and
anti clericals is frequent Besides the
numerous petty plots, there was one
well organized plot to kill ObreEOn- 80
was discovered and a number OF the
plotters were arrested while two es-
capped and came up on the same boat
with me.
Firing In Suburbs Continuous.
Firing in the suburbs is heard
throughout the day and night. The
Zapatisras hold points close into the
city and II is believed that they are
being given food and valuable inform
alton regarding military movements
by the people Of the city. All classes
unite IN declaring that the rule OF
Zapata Or'even villa would be far bet
ter than that Of Obregon.
II report comes from Neracruz
soon that the city is visited by a deci-
mating plague, believe it. It will be
absolutely true Sanitary conditions in
the city are frightfuL When the Am
orleans occupied the city they retained
the employees at the water plant These
were trained men who understood their
business"
Water contaminated.
AS soon as Carranza entered the
town he Immediately discharged all
OF the old employees and put green
men in their places The result was
that the plant was wrecked in a week
and has never been operated since
flith lies on the streets and there is
not sufficient water even for ordinary
household needs Smallpox has broken
out and. is killing many women and
children, weakened as they are from
lack Of proper food. The sun beats
down on rotting garbage and at any
DAY a frighful pestilance may be ex-
Dected-
Charges Open Graft.
Graft Of every kind is rampant
Carranza is not grating himself but
ne encourages it, under cover. TO hold
MS troops together. Why, they are ex-
porting confiscated grain TO ENGLAND
When the people Of the port and Mex
lco city are willing to pay almost anv
pFlce Tor II because they are starving.
, ~ IN, tne-ooat came up on there were
Lyvv heau or cattle, all COufiscated.
-hough meat ives selling at exhorbit-
ant prices in Neracruz.
Receiving Sineyys of War.
me Carr2ncIstas apparently have
plenty OF money and they are now re-
-eiElng guns, small calliber cannon
ana ammunition in large quantities
rom CUBA and South American conn
tries As lar as i know this Is the
first time any considerable supDIies
u TINS kind have ever some from any
'lner country than the United States.
Villa Gives Up Attack.
Fllla attack on ManZauillO has bean
practically abandoned and the CarraD7s ]
-oIGes are now in control Of the rail- /
Oao between that city and Colima and !
ere advancing north. according In adj
Llces received here by Carranza AGENTS 4
/ Glowing the capture or Guadalafara
y ma sent a strong force south ia or
Ter 10 capture the seaport He is also
eporIed to have used a merchant ves-
81 armed with q number Of three inch
stAIon, IN the attack. The withdrawal
Il VIVA troops has been ordered in