The Idaho Republican., 1920-05-24

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versed the Sierras through difficult
passes where food and water were
lacking. We arrived before Aqua
Prieta expecting an easy victory
which would have permitted us to
rest our weary horses and refill our
scanty supply of ammunition. To
our surprise we met an overwhelm-
ing force of fresh troops which cut
us to pieces and drove us back over
the interminable trail through the
mountains.
why was l not told frankly that
Carranza would be recognized?
why did President Wilson array
himself at the side of my enemies?'
"lf you realize that the American
people were not to blame, why did
you attack Columbus, an American
city which had nothing to do with
President Wilson's change Of poll
cy?" asked.
Il will not talk TO you about the
Columbus raid" he answered. You
are not my judge. But wish to
say that l am ready to answer to
charges on this matter before an i'm
partial court to be composed of one
American, one Mexican and one
Frenchman. will state my case
and let President Wilson state his,
and if the court decides that am
bandit and should pay with my
life, l will let a rope put an end
to my career
General" ! insisted, will you
at least tell me definitely whether
or not you are responsible for the
Columbus raid?"
%&I will only say this" he replied,
why should pluck off of my brow
one of my most glorious laurels, if
l had earned it?"
And with his ambiguous and typi-
cal reply must needs be content,
passing on to still more grewsome
murder commonly attributed to Vii
la, the. massacre at Santa Ysabel,
where eighteen American mining
men were taken off a train and shot
down in cold blood.
II give you my word that | am
not responsible for that" protested
Villa. Il had disbanded my COM
mand and my men were headed
homeward in groups of fifty to one.
hundred under the command of their
local chieftains. had no control
of them at the time, and as matter
of fact was hundred and fifty miles
away when it happened"
How about your recent kidnap-
pings and ransoming of Americans?"
I queried.
How about your continual mulct-
ing of American mining concerns for
huge sums of money!"
He laughed heartily. ASK any Of
the men to whom you refer If / ever |
them. Ask the mining |
if ever took from them
as much money as | saved them from
losing at Carranza's hand. They |
will tell you that l have given them
better protection than Carranza or
he American government ever af-
'orded them. The proof is that they
ire all prosperous today. / had to
get money somewhere to feed, clothe
and munition my men. l. got 1t
possible, and it was nat
lral that foreign concerns who are
making money out of Mexico should
oay their proportion. Practically ev-
cry mine in the states of Chihuahua,
Durango and Coahuila where l have
been operating is working today.
Will you tell me if the mines in Zaca-
.ecas, hidalgo. Michoacan, Oaxaca
and other southern states are doing
Is much?"
villa surprised me by his knowl-
edge of conditions throughout Mexi-
20. He told me, and proved his
statements by producing letters that
le is kept informed by agents in ev-
Dry Mexican city. He also has rep
in Washington, New
York, st. Louis and Los Angeles as
we'll as in all the American border
,itiess.
Felix Diaz," he said, '.is one of
hose supposed to be responsible for
he murder of Madero. AS such
ian have no dealings with him. FILL
could lay my hands on him l would
ry him for that heinous crime.
Manuel Pelaez with his army in
he oil fields has been fighting the
same enemy as I, Carranza. We
could cooperate, but that is all. He
Is fighting for money, for interests.
am fighting for principle, for eff
fective suffrage for the people.
There was one other man I'm
Mexico who was my natural ally. He
is dead now, murdered by General
Pablo Gonzales. Emiliano Zapata,
like myself, was of the people and |
had only their interests at heart.
i Like myself, he was suspicious by |
nature, but not enough so. He be-
leved when Guarjuardo offered to
join his standard and lost his life as
q consequence. will profit by his |
death and not allow myself to be
caught in a trap. Not that | care