The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-12-28
JUAREz N GRIP Of
REIGN OF TERROR
Half-starved and Half-clad Soldiery
Murder I'm Order to Supply
Creature Comforts.
VILLA STAR ASCENDING
Lctfcs Heavy Assessment at Torreon
But Docs Not Modest British Or
American Persons or Properties
Troops Not Paid.

Ell Paso, Tex, Dec. 27.-JuareZ liz
in the grip of a reign Of terror. Half
starved, poorly-clad Carranza soldiers
driven to desperation by starvation
and the rigors of winter in Northern
Mexico, clad only in the cotton uni
form of the tropics. are committing
depredations nightly to obtain food
and clothing.
Every night there are half a dozen
murders which are never investigated
by the authorities. The bodies gen.
orally are buried in one trench. A
warm overcoat Or suit of clothes is
worth mans life to own. Blankets
and clothing are being stolen by the
wholesale.
Troops Not Paid.
The trouble started with the arrival
OF the troops under General Murguia,
sent to relieve General Gonzales.
Since their arrival in Juarez a week
ago the troops have not been paid. A
ciVil war was narrowly averted by
the departure of General Gonzales and
his troops to assist in the defense of
Chihuahua City. Part of General
capital tomorrow.
Mayor Herrera announced today
that the lid will be taken off gambling
in Juarez December 80.
FL Paso observers are busy with
conjectures OF the possibility that
Villa will decline to sell oil to the al
lies should he seize the big oil proper
ties in Mexico. This undoubtedly
would be followed by demands upon
the United States and probably would
result in the severest test upon the
Monroe Doctrine since its adoption.
villa At Torreon.
Interesting details of the capture Of
Torreon have come to light with the
arrival of refugees from there. They
declare the town was attacked at 4
a. VI. by five thousand Villistas and
clly slight resistance was offered by
the Carranzis.as who fed soon after
the attack was started villa was not
pre- sent during the attack. but was no.
tined OF the city's fall and rode into
TIE captured city AT 6 % VI, at the
head of his army.
German methods were used bv the
''andit chief He summoned the mer-
Chants. bankers cad leading citizens
and demanded 100000 pesos He i'm
rlediatelv cnrfsone1 the town and be-
gan campaign of systematic footing
The lives and property OF British and
-Nnt rican subjects we not molesiei
San Luis Potosi Taken by Free Lance.
Later details of the capture of San
Luis Potosi. Indicated that the town
was taken by independent bandits who
notified Villa and Joined his revolu-
tionary forces, The same was true
at FL ORC. only in this case the Car
rama garrison revolted, looted the
town and then Joined villa. Americans
at El ORC fed TO Torreon. arriving
there in time to witness the capture
of the city by Nillistas, Then they
fed to San Luis Potosi. where they
ran into the same state of affairs.
There has been no definite news from
the refugees since that time
The most serious effect of the oc-
cupaton of San Luis Potosi is the
further cutting off of Mexico City
from the outside world. If recent re-
ports from the capital are true--it is
isolated fr,m Vera Cruz by General
Robes holding Oaxaca on the South
and on the north by bandits who hold
San Luis Potosi. The killing of Luis
Carrera at Torreon has been confirmed.
Details are unavailable in FL Paso,
but 1t is recalled that Villa swore to
kill him with his bare hands If he was
caught,