Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-18

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they got within one hundred yards of
the defenses before they began to
NOW them down.
General CarranZa had not taken
the field up to the time of the as
sassination Of Madcro. although he
had been n warm friend of the revo-
luton. He was also Madero's broth
er-ir law, having married a sister of
the dead presid Mt. His connections
have been good. and there is little
question but that he is sincere: and
really devoted to the highest inter
ests of Mexico as he sees them. His
main trouble is that he is pig g-head
ed slow to recognize opportunities
and jealous of mis- own standing. lie
was prominent lawyer up to the
time of his taking the field. ard the
head of one of the states. Through
the genius of his chief general, Obre-
Gon, be has succeeded in reaching
first place of influence in the coun-
try. Naturally belonging to the aris-
tocratic class. he has alenated them
by promising the reforms demanded
by the poorer classes in connection
with the redistribution of the land.
But he has not yet entered Mexico
City, and probably does not dare to
90 so. because of the still unsettled
condition of many parts of the coun-
try.
The Arch Brisand villa
Villa is no novice at the hide and
seek game which he is now playing
with the American army Ten years
before DiaZ was forced to leave Mex
leo he started his elusive career There
are many tales current processing to
give reasons therefor. One declares
that he was just a common brigand
but another maintains that an officer
OF the Dia2 army ran off with Villas
sister, and afterwards so cruelty mis-
treated her that, in revenge, Villa
, killed him. He had been a peaceful
! arrieano up to this time, driving mule
| trains laden with ore over the noun
tainS. but was at once forced 10 take
to the hills. and for ten years was
hunted by the rurales. the pick of
the DiaX army. lie gathered Il band
of followers, and instead of being
taken. he killed and captured many
of the federal soldiers.
Villa had the nucleus of an army
when the revolution began, and after
the murder of Madero, lined up his
| forces with the rest. against Huerta.
Readers will remember how he
fought side by side with CarranZa, un-
til he began to suspect that his chief
had ambitions and designs upon the
republic which he could not counte-
nance. Then the two split, and villa
lined up his interests with Iapata. the
bad man of the south, always dan
serous, and a force today to be
reckoned with, if he can secure am
munition for his men. For "A while
villa swept everything before him,
and it looked as if he would be able
to secure the presidency but right at
Mexico City it was shown that he
could not stand the strain. and his
star began to wane. Finally when this
country recognized Carranza, Villa re-
ceived his death blow, so far as hopes
of conquest were concerned, and de-
generated into guerilla warfare. The
story of recent atrocities is too fresh
in the minds of reaedrs to be of inter-
est here
Chasing a Shadow.
1t is dangerous to forecast the fu-
ture as a prophet, for before this ar
ticle is in print, villa may be taken.
Mr.. Stephens. however, has little con-
fidence that this will be the case. for
Villa has had years of successful ex-
perience as a fugitive. The other
evening, when he gave the interview,
he stated that he would not be sur
prised to hear that villa had back
tracked and would be discovered
looting some border town. The very
next morning. the headlines of The
World suggested that an attack
looked as if this had been done.
AS for reports that the master bri-
gand has been wounded or slain, there
10 likely nothing but deception be-
hind the stories. villa is not through
fighting yet, and unless pursued to the
death will be menace to the peace
of the Mexican border for months to
come.
The accompanying Illustration
shows villa in his palmy days before
he became morose through the un-
lucky turns Of the wheel of chance.
He has host Of loyal followers left.
and while they have scattered for the
present. they doubtless can be reas-
sembled In short order.
What Should BE Done
Mr.. Stephens is not responsible for
what follows. Now that the work
has been started. the stars and stripes
should not be withdrawn from Mexico
until order has been restored. If the
few seaports are blockaded, the war
ring factions will be helpless Their
arms are poor and ammunition is
at premium. The guns are an old
assortment at best. and they have no
means for a fresh supply. One soldier
was actually found dead with a 22
calibre rifle. The soldiers do not
show great valor in battle. and all
this talk about the vast army needed
by the United States to secure release
from the common anarchy is pure ex-
aggeration. The United States in
tervened in Hayti and did not consider
the act as violation Of democracy.
1t would be nice IL the schoolmaster
president would reconcile for us the
logic which argues so differently in
the two cases. The sort of big broth
er friendship which the United States
exercises over Cuba would be an in
finite improvement over the watchful
hysteria. which comes from seeing in
nocent brother Americans slain by the