Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1916-03-21
VILLA AND CARRANZA.

VILLA AND CARRANZA.
Boone News-Republican: c. w.
Howard, who has spent some time
in Mexico and is quite familiar with
Mexican people and customs, has
taken up work with the Northwest
ern railway company here. Mr..
Howard was in Juarez at the time
the town was taken by the Villa
forces some time ago.
Mr.. Howard came into the News
Republican Office recently and was
interviewed by reporter. He stat
ed that he was personal friend OF
John Villa, brother of the outlaw
chief. In speaking of the Mexicans
he said, "a Mexican is your friend
as long as you are facing him, but
he is revengeful. If CArranza is al
lowed the privilege of pursuing Viii
la into this country, outbreaks will
follow.
"If the border patrols are not
watchful there will be bloodshed and
raids all through the country by
Carranza soldiers. In short, Carran-
"a is Just as dangerous to the United
States as Villa"
"Carranza," he said, twas once an
officer in Villas army. Villas sis
ter was raped and Villa killed the
man who was guilty, and was de-
clared an OUTLAW. Carranza, seeing
a chance to gain fame and power for
himself, turned against his chief. II
he will do that with his own coun-
tryman, what can the United States
expect?"
'.Are the common people of Mexi.
co in favor of Villa or Carranza," he
was asked. SIG h,
Many do not care for carranza-
for that matter, many do not care
for Villa. The poems, or the Mex.
lean common people, have very lit
tie mind of their own. If one accom-
plishes something they think he Is 9
great man and all follow him, but il
another man does something greater
they will desert their former leader
and go to him. Villa had 5000 men
with him a short time ago. If he
should make big capture it is more
than likely that the Carranza forces
would flock to his standard. They
believe in being on the side with
the greatest numbers.
How long should it take the
United States to capture Villa?"
"That depends upon how they go
at it. Mexican people do not fight in
the open but hide behind every pos
|sible cover. If the United States sur
rounds the country, covering every
loop hole and then closes in, it should
not take a great while"
He thinks that the Texas rangers
should be allowed to head the pur-
suit as they know the Mexicans and
the country and would know more
about how the fight should be car
ried on.
He said that many educated Mex
leans did not think that Villa want
ed to be president, but wanted to
put the country in the hands of the
Mexican people.
villa is not bloodthirsty," he
said; many OF the crimes with
which he is charged were committed
by others. ] don't think he ever
said, Death to all Americans!
do you think he led the raid on
Columbus, New Mexico?"
Il do not. / think that was led by
Guerillas. Villa is too broad minded
to attempt war on the United States.
Gould Carranza run the govern
ment with Villa out of the way
was the next question.
sI don't think he could. There
would be other revolutions, Diaz, a
nephew of the first president, has
already started an uprising. Carran-
"a never did much, while Villa did
much for the Mexican people and
would have done still more if he had
had a chance.
eff Villa is captured by the Amer
leans and given fair trial and the
court takes the time to sift his deeds,
| expect them to find that he is more
of man than Carranza and has not
committed the crimes with which
he is charged
WOMEN IN DIRE NECESSITY.
The Commission for Relief in Bel
GUM announces that more than fifty.
governors and mayors throughout
he country last week issued official