The Pioche record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1908-1925, 1919-07-18
Rebels Now Rule
Half of Mexico

today AT its maximum strength. II is
an army poorly organized and poorly
equipped. az this army large pro-
portion Is held In or near Mexico City. /
leaving the remainder. numbering less
than n full division. according Ia the /
American organization. 10 guard and /
maintain supremacy in the states of !,
Nuevo Leon. eastern Coahula. south |
ern Durango. Hildago. San Luis Potosi |
Guiana iuato. Queretaro. Michoacan, |
Jalisco. Topic. Zacatecas. Guerrero,
Colima, Chiapas. Campeachy. Yucatan,
Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and the east
ern or Atlantic edge OF the state Of
Vera Cruz, which territory on paper re-
mains under federal control.
The big transcontinental stretch Of
rcbel-controlled territory. which aver
ages more than 100 miles in width, and
which forms an unbroken barrier from
ocean to ocean, completely separates
the federal-controlled states Of the
scuth-Chlapas. Campeachy. Yucatan,
Tahasco, part of Vera Cruz and Quln-
tana Roo-from the states or parts of
states over which Carranza still holds
sway in the north.
Villa Forces Strongest.
OF the organized opposition groups
which are seeking to overthrow Car
rama, the most powerful is that which
Is operating in Chihuahua and neigh
BORING states under Angeles and villa.
The Vlllstas, as this force is popu-
larry known, is not the unorganiZed,
poorly equipped. and undisciplined
force that IA great many people in this
country think it is. 1t is. on the other
hand, probably the best organized and
equipped military organization in Mex
leo. 1t numbers 10000 men command
ed by Angeles, the French trained
rebel leader, with villa second in COM
mand. 1t is well equipped with rifles
end is said to have fairly well organ
lied artillery arm, and the Villstas
fire the best ammunition, which, rs a
rule, is American made and is snug
? gled across the Rio Grande by gun
+ runners"
, The Angeles-Villa forces are today
practically in control of the entire
state of Chihuahua, large part of Du
. range, the eastern part Of Sonora, ant
E the western part of Carranzas owl
state Of Coahuila.
The one part of Chihuahua that An
p gees and Villa do not control Is thu
j.. border city of Juarez, opposite Ell PasO
, and they would today be in possession
4 of that much-needed border port bu
for the fact that they brought abou
l. American Intervention in their plan
a by firing over the border into the TeXa
city. The Americans did not go I
Juarez to help CarranZa, as some pee
pie think. but solely for the purpose O
o safeguarding the lives of Americans o
n the Texas side Of the Rio Grande.
The next more important rebt
a force in Mexico is that under con
mand of Manuel Pelaez, who dominate
" the oil-producing regions Of the Tan
IL pico country. Pelaez has under h
&C command 5000 well organized and fai
b. ly well equipped men. The value {
st the foreign oil interests in the te
TX ritory in which Pelaez Is operating
es estimated at more than $300,0OO,OO
$; Pelaez Is said to be pro-ally in sent
"a ment. and to this Is due in large pa
OF the failure of the Germans and the
oS CarranziSta sympathizers to gain co
or troll of the oil fields while the Eur
nd pean war was actively under way.
Y. Allies Like Mexuerio.
Under Guillermo Meyuerio, in Il
all state of Oaxaca, Is another rebel for
in Of several thousand well organic
men. Carranza has made despera
IN but Intellectual efforts to dislodge Me
DIV uerio, who Is easily one Of his me
he feared opponents, and whose record
rn- such as to win the sympathetic apprt
,OO al of the allies. MeiXuerio is fl
a blooded Zapotec, a lawyer and m
fl of fine education.
ing Next in Importance among the rel
on groups is that commanded by Fe
nat Diaz. Under Dlaz, according to o
lin, cial information, there are appro
mately 5000 men. The Diaz fore
yer however, unlike those under Pela
no Angeles and Meixuerio, are loosely
, Is ganized and are said to be in gr'