The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-06-30
YAQUI INDIANS
 ARE TERROR OF MEXICO TOWNS
Renewed Activities of Say ages in Sonora District
 Frightened People.

Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, June 29. I-Reports from outlying districts indi- cate renewed activity on the part of
 the Yaquf Indians. This has been an ticipated by those familiar with condi- ticns in Sonora because the campaign
 inaugurated by the de facto govern ment in January for the purpose of Irjdding the country of the Yaquis has not yet been a success.
 Approximately 1000 troops were l mobilized under General Dieguez to drive the Indians from their strong holds in the Bacatetebe Mountains but 1 the soldiers were poorly equipped for the undertaking. They lacked disci- pline, organization and spirit and all though the Mexican Government may have desired an aggressive campaign the local leaders and men had no in tention of taking the offensive against the savages whose fighting ability is we'll known throughout the Republic. Like the Apache tribes of Arizona, the Yaquis have committed the most 1end- ish atrocities. For this reason the troops fear to operate against the war riors.
 The strength of the Indians is not accurately known, but is estimated as being about ten thousand of which approximately four thousand are well armed fighting men, This force gen. orally operates in bands of fifty to one hundred or more which make swift and unexpected raids upon outlying ranches and villages during the har- vest season and at other times if their food supply happens to run low as is the case at the present time. Spies are maintained throughout the farm ing districts who keep the tribe well informed and assist in the raids.
 The Indians dress as do the peons with shirt and trousers of faded blue denim or khaki, usually the latter it is more easily procurab1e, for many Yaquis have served in the revolution ary armies. A large straw hat, not unlike that worn by northern farmers, with brim turned down, protects them from the sun and concea1s their iden- tity when necessary; and their feet are protected from the rough country by leather sandals = guara chos, as they are called.
 This similarity of garb makes it diff f1cult even for Mexicans to distinguish parties of Indians from troops of the de facto government and as result bands have been able to enter towns before their identity was discovered. For example, the town of Sauz, Sono- Ia, was raided last year. The inhabi- tants saw the mounted body approach ing with trumpets fourishing and drums ruffIing, but it was thought that an expected detachment of troops was arriving. Not until the Indians
 
 ized what had happened. Men, wo- | men and children were forced out of their homes and driven to- the town plaza where all were stripped. Terri l fled and helpless they stood while the
 savages packed the clothing, footed the houses, gathered in the horses and
 mules, and rode off unmolested with four of the young girls.
 The Mexican wife and family of an American, John Lehr, were carried off
 by the Indians during raid upon the l town of Suaque Grande during Novem-
 Der of last year after the seventeen
 year old son had been killed, but these | captives were released last month when the Indians were forced to aban- don one of their many water holes up-
 on, the unexpected approach of a vast | ly superior force of Mexican troops. l Want of food and clothing causes | the Indians to make their forays and
 for this reason the productive lands of
 the American settlement south of the Yaqui River have been subjected to many costly incursions which have laid
 waste most of that region and forced 1 the majority of the settlers to abandon their farms and return, in many cases penniless, to the United Stataes. | Late information indicates that the
 Indians are now operating to the lnorthward in the vicinity of Ortiz, a
 small town on the Southern Pacific
 Railroad, thirty miles north of. Quay mas