The Cordele dispatch. (Cordele, Ga.) 19??-1971, 1918-01-18
THE MEXICAN INDIAN

Mexico, by new 1t would nave dWlll-
died to possibly to guerrilla war
fare with the Yaqui Indians This is
2 race of constant trouble making and
little peace.
The Yaqui Indian mas Deen the trou-
be maker of northwestern Mexico fol
generations and his recent out break
is but one of large number which
nave occurred during the administra-
items Of Diaz, Madero and other lead
rs
Starting with Bronco Yaquis along
the Rio Yaqui in southwestern Sono-
70 early in September, the revolt has
spread to many Of the allied tribes
acuding the Mansos Yaqms who
have been peaceful in the pass and
who derived their names from the
act they worked with their hands,
In the rich Yaqui River Valley of
Southwestern Sonora the Indian up
Using has had its center. The In
dian towns of Potam. Vacuum, La Col
orado and Suaqui Grande have been
ocenes of various Indian raids and
Mexican federal troop have been I'M
1ble to make any great Roadway in
onquering these warning tribesmen
The revolt reached its height after
,he fall harvests of corn, beans and
3arbanzo had been harvested. Store
houses where these crops had been
put away for the winter were looted
md the indians extended their field
f operations far into the north toward
1ermosilo, the capital Ammunition
and rifles were smuggIed ross the
Sonora border for them and a num-
Der of engagements fought between
;he Yaquis and the federals resulted
II the. routing of the government troop
The basic cause for the unrest "a
nOng these Southwestern Mexico In
Il ie A.
time these Indians owned and titled
thousands of acresof the most fertile
land in the republic which was water
I'd by the Yaqui River. These lands
were gradually conliscated by the
9arious governments and parcelled
out to favorites of the ruling powers.
The Indians claim they were given in
'erior lands for their Original Il, dlnas
and insist upon ;he restoration of
,hese tribal holdings. One American
Company now controls 3OO,O0Oacres
of land in the Yaqut country, much of
which is claimed by the Indians.
The Yauui tribes were originally
agricultural people with bent for
hunting in the mountains during the
winter They are stocky, sturdy and
possess many of the traits of the Amer
lean indian, Fighting has lately been
one of their chief occupations as
they have been on the war path either
IN their own interest or for he various
de facto governments for Is years
During the days of President Diaz
he Yaquis were dispossessed Of much
o.. their fertile valley lands by Gen
eral Torres, the federal governor Of
sonora Large numbers were deport-
ed from the state by boat 20 the hot
lands Of Gucatau and to Tres Marias
island, off the coast of Topic This
was one OF the chief grievances which
caused the YaQui war. This was con
tinued until the out break Of the Ma
dero revolution when the indians join,
ed with AIadero against their sworn
enemies OF the old federal regime.
They did much of the hard lighting
during the Madero and subsequent
revolutions, especially at Celaya where
they were General Obregons mainstay
when Villa and his powerful army al
tackled The entrenched positions Of
Obregon's Carranza force. The Yaquis
were given much of the credit for this
victory which shattered Villas dream
eff political power and drove him back
to the border At Aqua Prieta, the
Yayuis again aided in defeating Vii
Ia and causing him to revert to his
guerilla campaign which included the
Santa Ysabel and Columbus. New