Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1915-07-06
MYTHICAL CHIEF
DIRECTS WAR OF
YAQU| INDIANS
YAOUlS HAVE DECLARED WAR ON u.
S., BUT INFORMATION is LACK
ING AS TO PROCESS.
TRIBE RETAINS POLITICAL ORGAMl-
ZATION, WITH SUPREME CHIEF
IN THE HILLS.

N&ftf 80 'htf -
laqui Indians of Sonora are said 10
have declared war on the United States
al least so far as American settlers
are conccrned-and United States war
ships have been dispatched Ia cope with
the istuation-informatiom as To the
process by which this declaration of
war was made il still lacking. II il
known that the tribe retains u political
organization. What appears 10 b. an
almost mythical supreme chief rcigns in
the hills above their valley and j. said
Ia direct the actions of the minor chiefs
who have taken groups of the tribe into
the Mexican warfare.
The Associated Press correspondent
during Il recent trip 10 the west coast
with Carranza learned this and a mum
her of other interesting things concern
ing the laquis. about whom little true
material has hitherto been published.
Although they have been in almost
constant warfare since. the organization
of the Mexican nation. the laquiS never
have lSTn fully conquered or won over
la European civilization. But their
struggle against the advance. of ivili
cation did not a>>umc threatening pro
portions until the recent evolutionary
activities gave them modrcn war mum
tionS and military training. Previously
this most warlikc Mexican Indian had
confined himself - guerilla fighting.
The arming of the laquiS to take part
~ McAlco> domestic quarrel made pos
>ible their more extensive military
movements threatening. not only tn
American roloni>t> in the Naqui val
lev about the Guavama>. but the SOY
erei2nty of the Mexican race along The
rich portion of the west coast
The laqui region lies u few miles in
land from the important California
gulf port city at GuaNamaS. The in
dians wears ago lost most If their rich
agricultural lands in The valley. Their
>tronghold> are in the hill, country.
from which stron. positions they make
frequent raids on the Mexican settlers
III the valley below. II only has been
recently hat their assaults were iii
rccted against The American settlers in
the valley. who had given the Indians
profitable employment a. laborer>.
The laqul was not considered an -
pccially nciehbor until the advent of
the 'oIStitutionali>i revolution. With
the separation Of the '%arranz, aud
VILLA factions a struggle hc.au between
those two parties ia son "a state. The
indians already had been armed and -,
listed a>~irooI,s in the Constitutional
I>t army. dom. the bulk Of The ,lcSp"r
ate fighting IN the contests for the
towns along the .hrizouh Son 'ra hnr
der. These Indians were considered
'Pa"Iiico or peaceful Indians. I;ht On
opportunc occasions the, demanded the
return of their tribal lands. and nmI,
would remain IN The re-, LUTON |>cr,icr
after securing promises from the fac
ti"nal leaders. For more than a wear.
however. IL has hccoInc evident that the
supposedly Friendly laIui was working
In conjunction with his wilder brother
who had remained ia The hills. Arms
ami ammunition ia Large quantities ei,-
en- T. the Indian> enlisted in the ConSti
nationalist army were Struggled on The
backs Of The Indian runners into the
mountain pa>>>r> and there were hidden.
The enlisted Indians would return aft
CT an insignificant >kirmiSh and demand
more ammunition. Their Mexican oni
GERS did not dare to refuse il. !
The situation became more >rrinn>
when lose Maria Mayturrna. The Villa
governor If the state. brought the Yauui
troops into northern sonora. Previously
the, had been used only against Hurr
1o> federal troops about GnavamaS.
Maytorcna'> laquiN took parr in the
attacks "n th" tIrranza garri>on> At
N"galc>. Nae" and 'ananra. In former
wears under piIz administration these
Indians had been driven into southern
sonora continued fighting along the
ARIZONA border in which they met the
federal "ruralc>" Mcvico'> rural poIicr.
which was considered the most efficient
h.hlih. arm of the former dictator.
y" f"rccfnl exilin- into southern Mex
lro u large numbers Of Naqui men had
TAILED [" break the warlikc spirit nf the
race.