El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-07-03
CARRANZA FAILS
To CURB YAQUIS
Troops Sent Against In
dians Poorly Equipped
and Lack Discipline.

C5uavrnas- Sonora. Mexico, July g.
Reports from outlying districts indi-
cate renewed activity on the part OF
the Taaui indians. This has been anti
cipsted By those familiar with condi-
tons in sonora because the campaign
ipauEursted by the de factO govern
rnent in January for the purpose or
Kidding the country OF the Yaquis, has
not been a success
Approximately 1000 troops were
r,obiIized under Gen. Dieguez to drive
the Indians from their strongholds in
the Bacatetebe mountains. but the
soldiers we're poorly equipped for the
undertaking. They lacked discipline
oreanfza ton and spirit, and although
the Mexican government may have de-
sired an aggressive campaign the loCd1
leaders and men had no intention OF
taking the offensive against tnS me
savaEes whose fighting ability Is wen
known throughout the republic Like
the Apache tribes OF Arizona, the
yaquis have committed the most Ilehu-
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 ap-
proxirnateiy four thousand are Wen
ICED fieftine men. This force gen
orally operates in bands or 90 10 4Vv
or more which make swift ana uheA-
uected raids upon outlying ranches anu
villages during the harvest season ana
1t other times II their food supply
happens TO run low, as Is the case a.
the present time Spies are man l, 1,,sl
throughout the farming districts VINO
keen the tribe well Informed and assist
The indians dress as do the poems
I with shirt and trousers OF ISdea oius
denim or khaki usually the LatleI, -
/ il is more easily procuraole, Ior many
I Yaoufs have served IN the reEolutlon
arv armies. A large straw nat, not
I With briu turned down, protects them
from the sun and conceals lnelr
| identity when necessary; and their Ieet
: are protected from the rough country
! by leather sandals-guaraehos' as lhes
mistaken For Friendly Troops.
This similarity Of garb makes II az
ficult even for Mexicans 10 distlne ulstl
parties OF Indians from troops OF tns
: de facto government and as a result
bands have been able TO enter towns
Z before their identity was discovered
/ For example. the town OF Sauz, sonora
saw the mounted body approaching
: with trumpets flourishing and drums
ruffling. but II was thought lnaL an
! expected detachment OF troops was ar =
]
! tl1allv in the town was IL realized what
/ had happened Men, women and chill
| dren were forced out Of their homes
| and driven TO the town plaza where
aII were stripped Terrified and help
/ less they stood while the savaSes
] hacked the clothing, looted the houses
! gathered in the horses and mules: ano
! rode off unmolested with four OF the
I young girls
I THE Mexican wife and family Of an
/ American. John Lehr, were carried OH
! bv the Indians during a raid upon the
! town Of Suaque Grande during NoVeIn-
her Of last year after the ll-year olo
! son had been killed. but these captiyes
] were released last month when the
] Indians were forced TO abandon one OF
I their many water holes upon the IN
| expected approach OF a vastly superior
! force Of Mexican troops
Raid American Settlements
Want Of food and clothing causes the
Indians to make their torays. and Tor
, this reason the productive lands OF tne
| American settlement south OF the
! Yaqui river have been subjected 70
| many costly incursions which have laid
| waste most OF that region and forced
I the majority Of the settlers 10 abandon
| their farms and return, in many cases
| pennfless. TO the United States
/ Late information indicates that tne
/ Indians are now operating 10 the
| northward in the vicinity Of Ortiz. .
| small town on the Southern Paciflc
| railroad, 50 miles north Of Guaymas-