Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-04-23
MexicanS Look With Grave
Apprehension on New Move
meot and Fear Conse-
quenceS, They Say,
MERELY PRECAUTIONARY,
u. S. OFFICERS GUESS
Conditions at Durango Are
Terrible, and Rioting Is Re-
ported to Have Broken Out
in Mexico City,


lll paso, Tex, April s2.--Thc crosse
Ing OF additional American troops
Into Mexico from Columbus today
caused a feeling approaching dismay
among Mexican officials In Juarcz.
who were previously convinced that
General Pershing's expedition was on
the point OF withdrawal General Ga
vira, the Juarex commander. was
frank in his expressions OF concern.
Il do not know why additional
troops are being sent in" he said. II
Understood that the American gov-
ernmcnt was seriously considering the
withdrawal OF It's forces and thia
move puzzles me. confess II causes
me some anxiety. ns ! fear IL will have
an unfavorable effect on the Meyiean
people. who will not be able TO UNDER
stand Il any better than T."
Matter OF Protection.
American army officers here. while
refusing to express q definite opinion
on the troop movement. pointed out
that II did not necessarily mean that
the Idea Of recalling the Pershing ex-
pedition had been abandoned. one
officer offered this as Il possible ex-
planation.
we til TtuiAc tNRl " ttit <AHtttt-
can troops begin TO Withdraw, II may
excite the various bands Of Xillistas
who are still roaming about northern
Mexico and who will undoubtedly
conclude that the Americans are
leaving because they have been de-
feated. This may easily incite them
TO attacks on our line Of oommuniea-
iions which Il very poorly protected.
l.4
merely intended as guard for our
communication in the event OF With
drawal'
Withdrawal Probable.
There Is little question that the Of
flcers here generally believe that
withdrawal Is probable. Some OF
them have privately expressed the
opinion that General Pershing has
already taken the preliminary steps
in the concentration of his columns
at three or four points, a move which
will enable him to cyacunte the moro
dangerous points OF occupation with
a minimum delay after he receives
his orders from Washington.
Renewed anxiety was shown here
today over the grave economic condi-
tion In Mexico, Carranza money SUI
ed in n local brokers' office at one
and -quarter cents on the dollar.
Americans arriving from tho interior
are unanimous In their statements
that the situation Of the dc facto gov
ernment Is becoming exceedingly pre-
carious and that in every city they
passed through food riots were almost
a daily occurrence.
one American who arrived here
from Durango city described condi-
tons in that state os terrible He
said that the country people were
flocking into the city by Thousands.
there being nothing left to eat In the
bandit ravaged countryside.
Ripe for Revolt.
I'm Durango City" he said. YOU
could not get room for love or mon
sy The city has a normal popula-
lion of about $4,000 but today II must
nave double that number. There we're
eight or ten food riots in the week
hat | was there The riots were
lavage In their desperation and the
women were the worst. ! do not know
l. man In Mexico who can handle the
situation but 1t Is certain that the
people will flock TO tho standard of
my revoutionlsts who show any
strength ana capacity,
The feeling against Americans Is
unning very high and has been tre-
nendously increased by the Parrai
The Durango City papers
published lurid accounts Of what had
happened They said the "gringoes
lad murdered 900 women and child
en- but had fled like towards when
hb Mexican soldiers attacked them.
These stories We're implicitly believed
~ the poems and have caused sit
lation which u making It very dan
ferrous for an American TO remain In
he interior. ] have come out after
pending fifteen years there and /
lnow others who have spent twice
hat timo in Mexico who arc leaving.
90"
Reports reached here tonight that
erious rioting had broken out In
iexico city These reports came
rom Mexican sources and were. as
sual. Impossible 70 confirm.