Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-07-23
Rebels Now Rule
Half of Mexico

today at its maximum strength. II is
an army poorly organized and poorly
equipped. OF this army a large pro
portion is held in or near Mexico City.
leaving the remainder, numbering less
than a full division, according 10 the
American organization. to guard and
maintain supremacy In the states of
Nuevo Leon. eastern COahuila, south
ern Durango. Hildago, San Luis Potosi.
Guanajuato. 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-Chiapas. Campeachy. Yucatan,
Tabasco, part of Vera Cruz and Quin-
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 Villistas, as this force is pOpu-
larly known, is not the unorganized.
poorly equipped, and undisciplined
force that a great many people in this
country think < is. II 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
and is said TO hav, fairly well organ
lied artillery arm, and the Villistas
| fire the best ammunition. which, as 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, and
the western part OF Carranza's own
state of Coahuila.
The one part of chihuahua that An
geles and villa do not control is the
border city of Juarez, opposite FL Paso,
and they would today be in possession
of that much-needed border port but
for the fact that they brought about
American Intervention I'm their plans
by firing over the border into the Texas
city. The Americans did not go TO
Juarez TO help Carranza. as some peO-
pie think. but solely for the purpose of
safeguarding the lives of Americans on
the Texas side of the Rio Grande.
The next more important rebel
force In Mexico Is that under COM
mand of Manuel Pelaez, who dominates
the oil-producing regions of the Tam
pico country. Pelaez has under his
command 1900 well organized and fair
~ well equipped men. The value Of
tie foreign oil interests in the ter
ritory in which Pelaez is operating is
estimated at more than $500, 100000.
pelaez is said to be pro-ally in senti-
ment. and to this Is due In large part
the failure of the Germans and their
Carranzista sympathizers to gain con-
troll of the oil fields while the Euro
pean war was actively under way.
Allies Like Meixuerio.
Under Guillermo Meixuerio, in the
state Of Oaxaca, is another rebel force
of several thousand well organized
men. Carranza has made desperate
but Intellectual efforts to dislodge Meix-
uerio, who is easily one Of his most
feared opponents, and whose record is
such as TO win the sympathetic approx
al of the allies Meixuerio is full.
blooded Zapotec, a lawyer, and man
of fine education.
Next in importance among the rebel
groups is that commanded by Felix
Diaz. Under Diaz, according to Off
cial information, there are approx
mately 5000 men. The Diaz forces,
however, unlike those under PelaeZ,
Ange es and Meixuerio, are loosely or
gained and are said to be in great