The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-03-30
General Villa
JOHN REED, WAR CORRESPOND
ENT. SAYS HE is BORN MIL
ITARY LEADER
(By Robt. Mountsier.)

lBN hODls
No ordinary punitive eXpeditionary
force can ever find Francisco VIVA
unless he is betrayed! SO declares
John Reed who knows Villa better
than any other American alive. Reed
sDent five months with the Mexican
revolutionary leader, eating with him
in his home, riding with him on his
train. going with him in the saddle
on his campaigns and attending his
councils of war ~
American army officers" contin-
ued Reed, famous writer, and war
correspondent, have said again and
again that Villa is born military
leader, and that's just what he Is.
| He knows northern Mexico thorough
! " and will lead our soldiers, no mat
| ter how many we send, chase be-
fore he is taken dead or alive.
EFF he is accompanied by men who
possess the bravery of those ] saw
storm Gomez palace they will not be
afraid to attack even an overwhel-
ming force should villa think it best
for them to do so.
when the pursuit is on Villas
men will undoubtedly scatter and
come together later in the noun
tains and harass the invading troops.
1t is doubtful if Villa will risk any
, kind of open battle against we'll
f armed American troops, | should not
be surprised if he were betrayed by
, some of his officers. 1t is unlikely
that any of his peon comrades will
= betray him.
$ "Vila once told me most of the
: educated men he had known had be-
e trayed him, so he did not trust edu-
e Gated men. He was born a peon, and
for twenty-five years was a bandit
beloved by the poems.
"Hc was the Mexican Robin Hood,
Il taking cattle from the rich to feed
s the poor and raiding haciendas to put
g an end to unjust conditions prevail
i ing on them.
But Villa is not romantic, noble
V Christ-like figure. He is a rough
II frontiersman who does not spare his
IS enemies.
y villa is the best rider, shot and
dancer in northern Mexico He is
n especially fond of gambling and dane
v. ing and loves to get into the ring at
l. bull fight and try his luck.
c. "He would walk up to the infuri'
lie ated animal and with his double cape
Is slap him insolently across the face
j. and for half an hour would follow
e. the greatest sport | ever saw.
W Sometimes the sawed-off horns
to of the bull would catch Villa in the
seat of the trousers and project him
C. violently across the ring.
n II do not think his personal ambi'
III ton is very great and the manner in
IN which he accepted a medal for per
II, sonal bravery throws light on, this
mt phase of his character.
id 1.-THE ceremony took place in the
OF audience of the governors palace II
o. Chihuahua, with officers in smar1
uniforms faced with black velvet ant
tie gold. officials in full dress and on The
as gilded throne chair and under can
a opy of crimson velvet, Villa in al
IN old plain khaki uniform with severa
IT. buttons loose and his face unshaven
IS. "The orators spoke in the high
es flung extravagant periods necessar!
n to Mexican oratory, describing Vii
* las personal bravery and calling hin
W. The Friend of the Poor The Irwin
rd chile General The Inspirer of .Cour
RS age and Patriotism and The Hope 0
he the Indian Republic
"a Through it all Villa slouched Of
the throne, his mouth hanging open
nd Finally Col. Server stepped forwar'
tie with the medal. Villa put out hi
e. hands eagerly like a child for ney
pt toy. He could hardly wait to opel
To- the box and see what was inside.
IA villa looked at the medal, scratch
nd ing his head, and then the grea
4I.r IN
IN heard these from his lips:
lat "This is a hell of little thing t
mt. oivo a man for all that heroism yo
arc talking about.
villa has two wives, or, at leas
80. he had two when | was with hin
hi. one a patient, simple woman who wa
is with him during all his years of ou
He ilaWry and the other a cat-like slen
nd der girl.
or "Once I asked him il women woul
vote in the republic he planned to &c
m tablish. why, l don't think So, il
In said. startled. What do you mean
ms vote? DO you mean elect a govern
Ter ment and make laws?
he Il said | did and that wome
3D. were already doing it in the Unite
to States
"'Well, if they are doing it thol
me / don't see why they shouldn't do
las here. But women can't consider any
he thing for it's right or wrong. The
to are full of pity and softness. Why,
by woman would not give an order
er, execute traitor
red When Reed said women could b
ill more cruel than men villa put hi
statement to a test by asking youn
on Mrs. villa what should be done wit
IAN three men who had tried to destro
bridge of military value to hi
an army.
Dut Mrs. villa said "Shoot them"
ar villa chuckled delightedly and fo
n.y. days afterward went around askin
out the cooks and the chambermaid
ing whom they would like to have fo
J. president of Mexico.
10 limo To plant/cabbage now. BruC