Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-03-17
ZAPATA 5 POWER
IS SMASHED IN
MEXICO; CAPTURE
LIKELY ANY DAY
Correspondent of the Asso-
ciated Press Has Just Re-
turned From Seven day
Trip Through MoreIoS.
CUERNAVACA LOOTED
OF EVERYTHING L00TABLE
People Are Now Working in
Fields, Business Houses Are
in Full Blast and Schools
Are Being Opened.

Mexico City, Saturday, March 10
| (by the Associated Press. The state
of Morelos, just south of this city, Is
completely under the control of gov
ernment troops after being overrun
for ten years by bands commanded
by Emiliano Zapata. A campaign b.
General Pablo Gonzales, commander
of the government forces, has been
successful, Zapata and a few hum
dred followers being driven into the
almost impossible mountains near
Puenta De Ixtla, on the boundary
| between Mexico and Guerrero. His
capture, with that of his chief lieu
tenants, is expected almost any day.
An opportunity to confirm the gov
ernments announcement that More
los has been pacified has been af-
forded the correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press, who has just complet-
ed seven days journey by railroad.
mule back and afoot through a-large
part of the state, including virtually
all of Zapata's former strongholds.
There is a regular train service over
the National Railway of Mexico be-
capital of Morelos and colonists and
artisans are being taken there free of
charge hv the government.
oeefIsa saca .sso,sest.
Cuernavaca. which has been held
by government troops for several
months, is rapidly approaching nor
NAL condition, although the Zapat-
istas during their occupation of the
town stripped the place of almost ev-
cry stick of timber and unroofed near
ly all the houses and buildings. So
scarce was material for clothing
while Zapata held the town that his
men looted tho cathedral and the peo-
pie who remained there tell of seeing
the rebel soldiers wearing trousers
made out of what were once valu-
able paintings. General Gustavo Eli
sondo, former rough rider, who IL
in command at Cuernavaca, reports
the discovery of cave ten miles in
length in the mountains where Zapata
had his headquarters An average of
thirty Zapatistas are surrendering to
General Elisondo daily. If they care
to serve in the government armies,
they are accepted and sent to the
northern states.
A trip was made from Cuernavaca
to Cuautla, the principal commercial
center Of the state, and on the way a
number of Zapata's former strong
holds were visited. Government
forces are stationed at all strategic
points, one of which is Tetilla Pass,
where on May 7, 1918, a government
regiment of 400 men was ambushed
and massacred.
Sugar Refinerics Destroyed.
The country between Cuernavaca
and Cuautla is dotted with looted su-
gar refinerie representing invest
ments totalling millions of dollars.
They are surrounded by sugar plan
tations which were allowed to run to
waste by the rebels.
The district near Cuautla where
General Gonzales has his headquar-
ters, shows the results of the govern
ment's program of dividing up the
great estates among the people, with
the cooperation of the proprietors.
Many former rebels are working in
the field, while the town of Cuautla is
being rapidly rehabilitated. The alb
sence of a state government for ten
years and lack of funds, however,
makes for a slow development of the
plan, under which former field work.
ers have a chance 10 earn a small
farm at the end of ten years by shar-
ing in the crops raised on the land.
The government is determined to-
eliminate the old system. under
which the whole state of Morelos was
formerly divided into twenty-eight
estates owned by fourteen families.
More Schools Needed.
Schools are being opened, but their
capacity Is entirely inadequate to. ac-
commodate the, hundreds of children
seeking admission. One may see evi-
dence of the conditions which have
prevailed there In the curiosity of
children, some of whom are Is and 16
years old, in the first civilian theyl
have ever seen. In the past they have
encountered only the cotton clad Ia
patistas or uniformed government SOL
dier:.
Except for the extreme southwest
section, where Zapata has takenl
refuge, the whole state is quiet andl
there has not been skirmish report
ed in weeks. In addition to the re-
of railway service between!
Mexico City and Cuernavaca. the In
teroceanic railway Is operating trainsI
between Cuautla and this city,