Arizona republican., 1919-05-31
CARRANzA WAS
 TOLD IF VILLA
 MENACE BY J. 5.
Warnings Went Unheeded While Rebel Power Grew Might Have Been Crushed Last Year-Car- ranza Policy Weak-Pres- ent Revolutionary Cam paign 8 Real Danger

WASHINGTON, May 3o.-Although the Carranza government of Mexico was warned nearly a year ago by the United States of preparations for the present revolutionary campaign which has resulted in the proclaiming of Gen eral Felipe Angeles, provisional presi- dent and Francisco Villa, secretary of war, little attention was paid to infor- nation given by this country.
 Specific warning of the threatened menace to his power were given Presi- dent Carranza by the United States last October 15, and again last Nov. 21. it was learned authoritatively today. President Carranza- was reminded on these and other occasions particularly of his duty to protect Americans and American property in Mexico.
 Villa began the collection of arms munitions and money year ago for the campaign which in the opinion Of officials here now has grown to consti- tute the gravest menace to Carranza's power since Villa was in the field, by the government forces three years ago. Last winter it is said, Villa notified i his followers to plant their crops early as the campaign would begin as soon as the grass was green to insure forage for their horses. Unusual activity was displayed throughout northern Mexico by the Villa force in getting their crops into the ground to provide against famine All this was learned by agents of the United States and formed the basis for the warnings sent to Car ranza-
 Just why Carranza paid little heed to these warnings or was unable to divert any military forces from other parts of the republic to the campaign in the north is a mystery to officials here In the opinion of some the extra ex pense of such an undertaking may have deteITed him, remembering that the campaign of Huerta cost the Mexican government approximately 60,000, ,000 pesos. The total revenue from all sources for the first four months Of this year. according to official figures. was only about 2s,000,000 pesos.
 Carranza Policy Week
 Six weeks ago, Carranza had S,006 men in Torreon which large supply Of arms and ammunition at Chihuahua Officials here are unable to understand why he did not move those troops north
 before Villas men had been assembled ID d ldrSe lOICe at dDy pOlnL.
 Villas popularity among the troops r is explained here by his conduct upon
 the capture recently of Parral After
 the surrender of the garrison Villa ad
 dressed the men, having imprisoned
 the officers, telling the soldiers that as
 he realized that they were conscripts
 and as he needed their weapons, they were free to return to thir homes i they would give their word of honoi that they would not take up arm. against him again. This information
 reached the federal troops and ac.
 counts for the ease with which ViIls l has defeated the federal troops sen against him.
 , It was learned today that inquirie, 2 have been made of the Mexican gov ernment regarding a reported seizur, by Villa of shipment of arms from tn. : United States designed for Carranza information received here is that Will; obtained one-half of at least one recen shipment on threat to attack the Car 7 ranza agents and take all the shipment It also is reported that none of tn l recent shipments of arms to the Mex l ican government authorized by thi government have got farther than Chi !, huahua, which is now threatened b, 2 Villa Officials here had no official in | formation today regarding reports tha
 an attempt might be made to sen [ Mexican federal troops through Ari n zona in bond to operate against Villa.