Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-27
VILLA PREPARING
TO OFFER BATTLE
TO HIS PURSUERS
CONTINUED from First PageD

very Industrious. The country in
which they live is one of the widest on
earth. The peaks of the Sierras rise
in a confused tumble. with no roads
and only the vaguest trails well as !
know the country. I never ventured
far from the trail from my ranch to
the railroad without an Indian GUIDE.
The mountains are all of volcanic
origin and devoid of any vegetation.
Here and there there are little valleys
in which the Tarahumares farm, but
they are hidden away at the entrance
wander in the wastes until he died of
exhaustion and thirst before he found
one.
LAS an indication of the honesty of
the Tarahumares, l might mention that
no bullion train ever leaves the Guer-
zero region without a Tarahumare
guard The mining men viii trust no
others They rely on the honor of the
Tarahumares and their faith has never
been betrayed
Are Relentless as Enemies.
But there is another side to these
Indians To the man who Injuries or
betrays them they are the most saw
age and relentless of foes. They will
fight like fiends. and have the most ex-
traordnary powers of endurance and
when their passions are aroused are
devils in their cruelty.
1T is among these people among whom
his early days as bandit We're passed
that Villa hopes to take refuge. He is
said to have many friends among them
because at the outset OF his career he
enacted Robin Hood role, only rob-
bling the rich and posing as the friend
of the poor peon with whom he divld-
ed his spoils.'
The ominous news that has reached
the border since pursuit of the bandits
began was that contained in a dispatch
from the front yesterday which stated
that half the Carranza garrison at
Namiquipa had disappeared and that 1t
was expected that some of them at
least also have joined Villa" The fact
that this news was passed by the CEN
sor was regarded as significant here,
where every report from the interior OF
Mexico has agreed that there was dis
affection among the 'arranZa troops
1t is pointed out here that there are
very good reasons why the men in the
ranks. at least. should desert the
standard of Gen. Carranza. They re-
ceive only about 10 cents a day and
are reported to be in sore need of food
and equipment. The first chief has
given strict orders against looting,
which are said generally to be obeyed.
Against these villa not only permits
but encourages his followers to loot
Situation in Durango.
Apart from the immediate pursuit of
Villa interest again centered today in
the situation in Durango and Coahuila.
There seems little doubt that the Villa
forces have made considerable Roadway
in both Of these states.
The flight of American women and
children from the cities of Durango
and Torreon has given fresh emphasis
IN stories reaching here that Canuto
Reeves. Villas chief in Coahuila, is Sc
riousIy menacing Torreon, and that he
has had large accessions recently to
his forces from the ranks of the Car
There is not the slightest sign
~ trouble either in Ell Paso or in
.Juarez. at least as far as surface in
dications 60 The elaborate precau-
tons taken by the military and civil
authorities to guard the town and the
frenueut arrests of Mexicans on the
now familiar charge of suspicious per
sons" supply, however, plenty or 1000
Tor the gossip of many who insist that
the authorities have information OF
dangerous underlying conditions which
are unknown to the general public.