The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1916-08-02
ClRalull IS DEFIANT,
WILL KNOCK HIS FOES ON HEAD
! SINGLY OR UNITED, SAYS
FIRST CHIEF.
Has Eye on Presidency and Declares
He Has Same Right to be Candidate
as Any Other Mexican.


Mexico City, July 26.-Gen. Car.
rama, in an interview with the cor
respondent of the Associated Press to.
day, discussed the conference to be
held between the delegates represent
ing Mexico and those of the United
States for the purpose of reaching an
agreement relative to the withdrawal
OF the American troops now in Mex
ixco and patroliing the frontier In
such manner as to prevent further
border raids. ~;
Late papers from the United
States" said Gen. Carranza. declare
that my government is threatened on
the north by an army Of is, 900 men
led by Villa, who is threatening the
city Of Torreon. On the south, they
say. am to be attacked by an armed
force led by reactionaries and cleri-
Gals. with plenty Of money and men.
Well, all I can say is let them come
and l will knock them on the head,
singly or united, as I have done be.
fore.
~"As a matter Of fact, you know per-
fectly well that Villa is followed by q
few ill-fed. miserable bandits, and the
reputed army Of the south 10 a. myth.
But. even IL these two imaginary ar,
mics have existence in fact. have
every confidence that my own soldiers
will take care Of them, as they did In
the time of Huerta, when r started
without men and money and drove the
dictator from power. You may rs-
member also that Villa with his great
amy crumbled up and melted away
before our attacks, and any other up,
risings will be handled by me In q
like manner.
What is bothering us at the present
time is the presence Ut American
troops on Mexican soil. This is him
dering our work of reconstruction ana
pacification. because 1t gives encoura
|agement to the lawless elements OF
our population. It is to obviate this
that the coming conferences will be
held.
Il cannot speak in detail OF this
conference until my government re,
ceives the reply of the United States
to the note sent on July IL last sus-
gesting that such meeting be held
will this conference be limited to
the question Of the withdrawal OF the
American troops?" Gen. Carranza was
asked. 7s
That is a question which cam
not answer definitely at this time"
replied the first CHIEF. "But you can
be assured that the withdrawal OF
the troops and the vigilance Of the
border are the points of prime inter-
est for the Mexican government"
When asked as 10 Mexico's proposal
regarding the protection of the bor-
der. Gen. Carranza said that an ef-
fective patrol on either side Of the
line by the respective troops Of the
two countries would solve the ques,
ton. 1t is understood that details ot
this plan already have been drawn
up and will be presented at the con.
ference. which is to be held early
next month.
Gen. Carranza was asked IL he
would be a candidate for the presi-
dcncy. He paused before replying and
then said smilingly:
Il cannot answer that question at
this time. but legally I have the
same right to be a candidate as any
other citizen of Mexico"
Gen. Carranza said that he did not
wish to consider the question OF q
foreign loan at this time, but he
could say that the economic situation
of Mexico was slowly. but steadily, i'm
proving, that the crops this year
promised 70 be among the best Of
the last decade and that altogether
conditions warranted optimism.
I'VE have enemies" he said, ''the
reactionaries and clericals in the Unit.
ed States and in this country who are
working to destroy us, but We are