The Elbert County tribune., 1919-06-06
BATTLE AT SAN ANDRES WITH
cARRANZA TROOPS Is
GIVEN OUT.
WARNING SENT U. S,
JOIN BANDITS AND
cARRANzA GOVERNMENT is
WEAKENED.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
EI Paso, Texas May 31.-Colonel J.
G. Ezcobar, IL command of the Juarez
garrison, gave out telegram from
Gen. ]. A. Castro at Chihuahua City
the defeat of rebel force
at San Andres, forty-flve miles to the
west. The battle, according to the
message, lasted twenty four hours,
the rebels, commanded by Martin Lo-
pez, losing one-half of their forces.
The federals were under command of
Gen. Petrocilo Hernandez. The mes
sage gave no details of the number of
men engaged.
Washington.-While officials here
are silent on the well-authenticated re-
ports from Mexico that the Villistas
have set up provisional government
with Gen. Felipe Angeles as provi-
sional president and Francisco villa
as provisional secretary of war, the
movement is regarded mere as fraught
with grave Significance for Mexico.
Among many Latin-American diplo-
mats and some of the home govern
ment officials the belief Is that the fall
of the Carranza government is near at
hand and they say that Carranza is
about to pay the price for flouting for
elgn nations and pursuing a false eco
nomic and financial policy in Mexico.
President Carranza. it has been
learned from an official source, was
warned nearly year ago by the
United States government that villa
contemplated new campaign on an
extensive scale in the spring of this
year.
1t has been learned authoritatively
that villa began preparations for the
present campaign early last year. He
has been assembling arms and NUM-
tlons since that time, accommodating
funds for his war chest and mapping
out details of the campaign.
During the winter he sent word to
all his followers to be ready to take
the field early in the spring. He ad-
vised them to get their crops in early,
as precautlon against famine, for the
campaign would start as soon as the
grass grew green to insure forage for
their horses. All this information came
to the. Washington authorities from
many sources and 1t was upon this
information that the warnings were
sent to Carranza.
Carranza failed to take any action
until the Villistas were on the trail
and began to cut the railway lines
and to isolate bands of Mexican fed
eral troops. Six weeks ago he had
5000 men In Torreon, it was reported,
with large supply of arms and am
munition.
Instead of moving north in force to
engage Villa while the latter's force
was scattered over the state of Chi
huahua, the major portion of these
troops remained in Torrean.
The small detachments of troops
sent north to garrison cities, towns
and camps, were easily overcome by
Villa, who was thus able to add to his
military equipment.
Reports of Villas policy in the
recent capture of Parral have just
reached the State Department and
demonstrate why the rebel leader is
able to win the support even of the
conscripted federal troops sent to op-
pose him.
When Parral was captured, villa
Imprisoned or executed the officers,
but told the men that he appreciated
the fact they were cOnscripted and
did not hold their conduct against
them.
He said he had need of their arms
and equipment, which belonged to the
Mexican government, but that the men
were free to return to their homes,
providing they would give their indl-
vidual word that they would not take
up arms against him again.