The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1916-03-24
AMBITION CAUSE
OF Villas FATE
GEN. ANGELES TELLS WHY FOR
MER LEADER HAS BECOME
HUNTED BANDIT.
SOUGHT TO BE DICTATOR
Power of The Once Famous General
Began to Wane When Advis-
ers Were Estranged.

Ell Paso, Tex, March 21.-Gen.
Felipe Angeles, often referred to as
the ''True patriot Of the Mexican rev.
olution," and former chief military
adviser to Francisco Villa, today
came out of long retirement to ex-
plain how, in his opinion, Francisco
villa, instead of being leader Of the
Constitutionalist cause, has fallen to
the status of hunted bandit.
General Angeles charged that "vil-
la, like Carranza, aspired to be die
tator," and that this, and not the
battles he lost, caused his trends to
forsake him.
The General was the last Of VIII
las prominent supporters to quit
him. He now lives on modest
vegetable and dairy farm, four miles
beyond the eastern outskirts of Ell
Paso.
Half a mile distant flows the Rio
Grande. From his front porch he
can look across into the Mexican ter
ritory, which he is at present forbid
den to enter.
"The Carranzistas, the Villastis
and the Zapatists are all my enc
miles," said the General, his young
son acting as interpreter, 'and !
chose this place for my home so that
they may know that I fear none of
them. 1 till my soil and herd my
cows, having definitely put aside war
and politics. am not guarded; any
one who wishes can cross the river
and modest me-"
Tribute to villa.
Before beginning the interview
General Angeles said that he regret
ted the difficulties into which Villa
had fallen. He said that he had a
warm remembrance of the man as a
comrade in arms, and explained he
had been drawn to support him be-
cause Villa had seemed at the time
to represent the cause of real de-
mocracy. He said he only left him
when he found Villa did not under
stand democracy, although he did for
the cause all that he knew how to
do.
| Discussing the causes of Villas
rise in the army, General Angeles
said:
'villa gained power because of his
wonderful energy and his personal
/ magnetism. He had driving power
! Also he could be free and gener-
GUS.
There seemed to be an impression
1 that Villa assured obedience by in
spring fear. This is unjust"
Going on the next phase Of the
former Constitutionalist leaders ca
reer, the General said:
Cause of Downfall.
"The primary reason for Villas
/ loss of power was his attempt to
dictate the policies of his adherents
He refused to accept advice and his
: friends left him.
"villa possessed the knack to
draw around him men of ability
When he estranged these men his
4 power began to wane.
| "As commander he had but one
plan of battle-to drive forward. He
knew nothing of military strategy
and his advisers supplied it. He lost
! his strategy when he lost his advis'
ers.
'"The> turning point in Villas ca
reer came with the battle of Celaya
in March, 1915. This engagement
one of the most important of the rev
olution. exposed his defects as gen
eral. villa went into this battle
with the most meager supply of am
munition possible. After the first
attack he had no ammunition. YET
: he ordered his men to advance
again.
Before villa marched from Mon
terey to attack General Obregon's
forces volunteered to go with him
Unfortunately I was thrown from Q
horse and my foot was crushed.
"I begged him not to take the Of
fensive until he had obtained sum
cient ammunition. Confident tina
the enemy were frightened BY thu