Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-01-14


ceration as a federal prisoner at Fort
Bliss last July. Attending physicians
attributed death TO complication OF
hFer complaints, which caused a gen.
eial breakdown.
The generals condition first be-
came alarming last FAN and he was
transferred from Fort Bliss to his
home in FL Paso. Apparently i'm
proved after a stay at home, he again
was removed to the fort. Shortly
after Christmas, physicians recon-
mended immediate rem oval to his
home again. From that time on his
decline was rapid.
Only two days ago = federal grand
jury, in San Autonia. Tex, returned
indictments against Huerta charging
conspiracy to violate the neutrality
laws of the United States.
General Bravo, close friend
speaking of the treatment of Amer
leans in Mexico during Huerta's reign
recalled instructions contained in a
dispatch sent TO him by Huerta at
the time the American marines were
landed at Vera Cruz, in April. 1914.
and giving instructions to Bravo to
protect the lives and property of
American citizens. The telegram read:
II give YOU extraordinary power to
take all the measures that are neces-
sary TO the end that under your strict
and property of American citizens"
Regarded as Tyrant
General Nictoriano Huerta. for II
months Dictator of Mexico, incurred
the hatred of most Mexicans, although
the loyalty Of a large number cannot
be denied. His supporters insist his
rule of force was as we'll justified as
the reign of Portirio Diaz and that if
his position had been equally strong.
he would have repeated the record of
benevolent despotism." To the world
in general, however. he was an evil
tyrant, selfish and unpatriotic per-
son who lived only to crafty his own
desires.
Huerta lived as an army officer in
many garrisons until 1895. when, as
colonel, he participated in the cam
paign against Canuto Neri. the ban
dit of the STATE of Guerrero.
lie was so successful that in 1901
he was sent against Rafael del Castro.
another Guerrero rebel. In the same
year he suppressed a revolt of Maya
Indians in Yucatan. aud the next year
he was brevetted a general of brigade
in recognition of his services.
Became Popular
General Huerta became so popular
that President DiaZ distrusted him
and kept him inactive for four years.
Huerto returned to the army, and the
next year he was ordered to quell
Emliano Zapata, the elusive bandit
of Morelos. He could not capture
Tapata. but his campaign has Off
c!ally praised.
Provisional President Licenciado
Francisco dc la Barra sent Huerta
against Zapata again. but when Ma
dcro became president Huerta was re-
called.
For a year Huerta was a general
without command. But Pascual
orozco. who was in revolt against
Madero in the north, was advancing.
The Minister of War was sent in
against him, and then Huerta receiv-
ed command of the disorganized
army. He met Orozco at Conejos
May u, 1912, and scored a victory.
orozco was defeated again at Rellano
and at Bachimba.
Reign of Terror
Then came the "decena tragica"
tragic ten days when 5000 persons
were killed in the streets of Mexico
City. Bernardo Reyer. Felix Diaz and
Manuel Mondragon attempted a coup
d'etat February 9, 1913, and Madero
put Huerta at the head of his de-
Tense. After frightful bloodshed HUI
erta turned traitor to Madero. arrest
ed him and his cabinet and forced
the leaders of the revolt into exile.
\ few days later, the kindly Madero.
with his wife pleading on her knees
for his life from the Dictator, was shot
trying to escape"
other heads of the previous Ad-
ministration died mysteriously. It
was the beginning of a reign of ter
ror, in the course of which hundreds
are believed to have been secretly
executed. Huerta Haunted both Mex
lean constitution and international
law.
Until midsummer of 1914. however,
Huerta refused to yield. On April 81.
1914, United States forces seized Vera
Cruz. The "A-B-C" powers brought
about mediation between the Huerta
government and the Constitutionalists.
the meeting being held at Niagara
Falls. II was hard to say whether the
mediation efforts or the capture of
ZacatecaS and other cities near the
capital compelled Huerta to abdi-
cate.