Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1915-12-23
GEN. VILLA To
LEAVE MEX|C0
FOR PRIVATE LIFE
Announces He Is Through with
RevOlutiOn-It Is No Use
and Says lie Is
Whipped.

FL Paso, Texas. Dec. 19.-Followlng
council of war held at Chihuahua. at
which 1t was decided that he must re-
tire, Gen. Francisco Villa yesterday an
nounccd that he was through with the
| revolution against the Carranza govern
ment and that he was ready to leave
Mexico The war council impressed
General villa with the hopelessness of
his struggle and insisted that 1t should
end Immediately.
General villa in answer told his fol
lowers that he realized the time had
come for his retirement. and warned
his military leaders to take care of
themselves" Many of these ii is said
are preparing to make their peace with
the Carran2a government. and have al
ready asked General Ohregon to ar
range for the formal surrender of the
villa army hero. General ObreEon has
agreed. it is said that all villa troops
who surrender shall receive full guar
antees for their safety.
General villa made the following state
ment in announcing his retirement:
1T is no use. For five wears | have
fought the enemies of our great repub-
lie, and | have lost Now | am whip
ped. | have done everything which my
love of country directed me to do.
That men surrounding me were self
seeking and were traitors to the cause
of Mexican liberty ! cannot help. They
will fight no longer, for they see no
more money in sight
II lave been in the field for five years.
| have fought three dictators and have
varquishcd two-Diaz and Iucrta. Had
it not been for the traitorous alliance
with the United States | would have
Vanquished Carranza. but the great
country to the north. which professed
friendship to me, Is all powerful now
that Europe Is at war. and | can do
nothing but bow my head to superior
force
Some day | may he able to see my
! plans for peace, liberty and justice car
ricd out in Mexico. But it will he by
peaceful means and not by revolutions.
| have tried that method and II has only
resulted in bloodshcd and failure for
me
II have no plans. have planned so
much for my people and they have
turned against me lust as they turned
against the great and good Madero. I
only wish TO join my wife and family
I
from the sound OF arms and away from
have suffered during these awful five
years of boodshcd.
My youth is gone I have given I'VE
of tho hest years Of my life to the cause
thought was right. Now I am broken
| in health. in spirit. and have only enc
mics whore friends faced mo when
nj In,
won they would have remained friends
But have lost and they have left me.
Should the United States. which has
been unkind to me when 7 have done
everything to protect its nationals re-
fuse me permission to cross the border
and seek peace and quiet with my wife
and family, | shall go to some neutral
country in Europe probably Spain. for
| there | can understand tho language.
J and there, at some school, ! can begin
| over again the education which the
! CicntilCos refused me when I was a
boy. Ny family will so with me.
'lf am permitted to enter the United
States | will promise faithfully not to
start any further revolutionary move
ments and | will abide by the laws. /
am done The story of my career is
| finished and, like so many who have
! given their best for La Patra, am
| forced to leave the country | love better
| than my own life. But | will always he
| loyal to the tri-coor of the republic.
and should the cause arise. my arms
| will be AT the service of whatever politi-
cal faction is in power. More than
this | cannot say. will leave soon for
the border. I have told my men to seek
| other leaders and 7 will retire"