New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-01-10

towns of Potam, Vacuum, Bacum, La
Colorado and Suaqui Grande have
been scenes of various Indian raids,
and Mexican federal troops have been
unable to make any great Roadway in
conquering these warning tribesmen-
The revolt reached it's height after
the fall harvests of corn, beans and
garbanzo had been harvested. Store
houses where these crops were put
away for the winter were looted and
the Indians extended their field of
operations far into the north toward
Hermosillo the capital Ammunition
and rifles were Smuggled across the
Sonora border for them and a number
Of engagements fought between the
YaQuis and the federals resulted in the
routing of the government troops.
The basic cause of the unrest among
the southwestern Mexico Indians is
the land problem. At one time these
Indians owned and titled thousands of
acres of the most fertile land in the
republic which was watcred by the
Yaqui river. These lands were grad
ually confiscated by the various gov
ernments and parceled out to favorites
Of the ruling powers. The Indians
claim they were given inferior lands
in place Of their original holdings and
insist upon the restoration Of these
tribal holdings. One American COM
pany now controls 500, 900 acres of
land in the Yaqui country much of
which is claimed by the Indians.
The Yaqui tribes were originally
agricultural people with a bent for
hunting in the mountains during the
winter. They are stocky, sturdy, and
possess many of the traits of the
TN
" been one of their chief occu-
pations, as they have been on the
warpath either in their own interest
or for the various de facto govern
nents for ) years.
During the days of President Diaz,
the Yaquis were dispossessed Of much
Of their fertile valley lands by Gen
eral Torres, the federal governor of
Sonora. Large numbers were depOrt-
ed from the state by boat to the hot
lands of Yucatan and to Tres Marlas
Island, off the coast of Topic. This
/ was one Of the chief grievances which
/ caused the Yaqui war. This war con-
! tinued until the outbreak of the Ma
, dcro revolution when the Indians
joined with Madero against their
j sworn enemies Of the old federal re
giTC.
I0CN QlO IiuCH OIL IIle nara uSnlttS
during the Madero and subsequent
revolutions, especially at Cclaya,
where they were General ObreGon's
mainstay when Villa and his powerful
army attacked the entrenched posi-
tons Of Obregon's Carranza force.
The Yaquis were given much Of the
credit for this victory, which shat
; tered Villas dream of political. power
and drove him back to the border.
AT Aqua Prieta, Sonora, the Yaquis
again aided in defeating Villa and
causing him to revert to his guerilla
campaign, which included the Santa
Ysabel and Columbus, N. M, mas
sacres.
General Plutarco Elias Gales has
undertaken a mailed fist campaign
against the Yaqui Indians in Sonora
to suppress the present uprisings. He
has interned the peaceful Yaquis in
RECOMMENDATION camps and has or
dered all others hunted dcWn and
killed. Wholesale deportations to the
hollands of Mexico have also been
threatened.
The Yaquis are divided into two
classes One is the "bronco Yaqui,
which includes the fercest Of the
fighters and the sturdiest Of the
tribesmen. The other class includes
the "mansos'' or peaceful Indians.
Numbers Of attempts have been
made to convert these Indians to
peaceful ways. President MaderO had
a commission of Indians visit him in
Mexico City. Later he sent y COM
mission to treat with the tribal lead
ers But the Indians claimed they
were not given back their promised
lands and were soon ON the warpath.
The present uprising is said by Off
cials of the government to be the most
threatening since the days Of Diaz.