New-York tribune., 1920-08-16
Cantu Revolt
Comes to End
Without W ar
Lower California Pacified
Through Agreement ON
Part of de la Huerta
and Governor of State
L. NJ. Salazar in Charge
Public Enthusiastic Over
Attitude of Provisional
President in Settlement
By George E. Hyde
Special Cable to The Tribune

Special Cable to The Tribune
Copyright, 1920 New York Tribune Inc.
MEXICO CITY, Aug. 15.-The re-
bellion of Governor Esteban Cantu of
the northern district of Lower Cali
fornia has been settled without fight
ing, according to official reports re-
ceived here from confidential govern
ment agents on the California border.
Details of the terms of agreement are
not available, but the indications are
that Provisional President de la Huerta
met Cantu more than halfway to avoid
bloodshed and the possibility of loss
OF life and damage to the property of
foreigners in the Imperial Valley.
The first move of the federal govern
ment viii be to clean up the border
towns, abolish gambling and dens of
all sorts which made Lower California
an assembling place OF the undesirable
elements of both the United States and
Mexico for the last five years.
1t is understood here that Luis NJ.
Salazar has been mutually agreed upon
as provisional Governor, pending a
plebiscite to determine the wishes of
the inhabitants. President de la
Huerta already has ordered plebiscte
to decide the Governorship Of the
southern district of Lower California,
although this is unofficial, simply show
ing a desire on the part of the execu-
tive to make an appointment salts
factory to the inha bitants. Reports
from the southern district show great
enthusiasm, due to the efforts of de la
Huerta to conduct house-to-house
canvass in order to obtain an express
sion of opinion by every legal voter.
Forces Ready to Land
The military campaign against Gov
ernor Cantu had reached stage where
forces were prepared to land at Is
at Mazatlan and Guaymas when trans
port became available. The attitude
adopted by de la Huerta in handling
Cantu is similar to that used in the
case Of Villa and others opposing the
government-one of willingness to
compromise, based on the belief that
it is better in Mexico at the present
juncture to sacrifice little rather
than face an expensive campaign, de-
laying the work of mastering out su-
perfuous troops and reorganization
of the permanent military establish
ment.
With the Disappearance of the Cam
tu controversy the only remaining
military problem is the subjection Of
zamora in Jalisco, which involves
some 1000 men already partly reor-
ganized. Zamora is in a position from
which he is able to menace the rail-
way from Guadalajara to Manzanillo,
wherefore the government has or
l. III
and patrols all along the line. This is
the only place in Mexico where guards
are now travelling on trains for pur-
poses of giving protection.
General Gales, Minister of War, is
not rushing the Zamora campaign, de-
siring to be thorough rather than swift
ard to give an object lesson to other
former bandits of the unwisdom of re-
suming the life of outlaws.
The government meanwhile is carry
ing out a military concentration in
the vicinity of Torreon, which was
agreed upon some time ago as the
point best suited to the work Of army
reorganization. The work has been
undertaken of mastering out the un-
desirable elements, those not desirous
Of continuing in military service and
the reorganization of other elements
to bring the army to a peace strength
of $4,000 men.
Technical commissions are studying
the task of standardizing equipment,
which now is very heterogeneous, sew
eral kinds of rifles often being found
in the same unit.
Weapons Worn Out
The reorganization of the artillery
and other auxiliary arms has been pro-
jected, but is dependent upon the
ability of the government to replace
with new weapons the present material
worn out by ten years of fighting. The
necessity of adjusting the mastering
out of the troops to financial conditions
in the treasury and to labor conditions
is necessitating the closest cooperation
between the Department of War ano
other branches of the government.
The distribution of land to former
soldiers is considered of the greatest
Importance and is being carried out at
greater speed than was anticipated
due in many instances to the coopera-
tion of large landlords.
While in many instances this eoopera-
tion simply forestalls probable expro-
priation, it makes it possible for the
government to act without consulting
immediate financial exigencies.
Provisional President de la Huerta
mas mas taken IA ~ steps to assure a fair
the credentials of Deputies anc
Senators making up the new Con
gress on the credentials of Deputies
and Senators making up the new Con.
gress, in view Of the large number O,
protests over the elections. More thar
fourteen appeals have been taken al
ready. and more are expected before
the Congress meets for organization
tomorrow.
The Committee on Credentials ha:
great power in determining the po
litical color of the next assembly, anc
adverse action is likely to the extent OF
giving the government ajority anc