Arizona republican., 1920-04-29
REBEL STRENGTH EQUALS FEDERAL
 FORCES, REPORT.
Spread of Revolution in Mexico Throws Thous- ands of Supporters to Sonora Cause, Washing ton Hears Situation in Mexico City Is Not Yet Serious
rneputriSar .a. F. Leased Wire1

WASHINGTON, April 2S.-Mexican advices here today, both through American and rebel channels. continued to note a rapid spread of the revolu- tionary movement against the Carranza government. particularly in the close vicinity of Mexico City itself. Govern ment officials here however said they saw nothing in these rather scattered incidents immediately critical in the situation faced by the federal author ities.
 The best available information, it was added. indicated that the rival forces under arms were nearly equal in number.
 Rebels Control States in South
 News from the southern part of Mexico confirmed reports that Cuer- navaca, PuebIa and Cuatla were in rebel hands, and Zapatistas had gath cred in some strength in the southern part of the state of Mexico, adjoining the federal district
 General Alvarado. representative of the Sonora government here, but who has returned to the border temporarily, has sent to Postmaster General Burle- son Suggestion for a reciprocal ar rangement regarding the movement of mails from and to rebel territory. Un- der rulings of-the postmaster general. all mail directed to Mexicans in So- nora and Sinaloa must be passed through Fl I'aso or some other govern ment controlled port of entry.
 As indicative of the character of the reported defections in the federal rangs, rebel agents here said the force which joined the rebel standard in Morelos, making possible the occupa- tion or Cuautla was from the "su- premos poGeres.' the famous organiza- ton Of picked troops used since the deposition of Diaz as a guard for the national capital. They also viewed the break in the garrison in Chihuahua as reducing the menace to the revolution ary forces in Sonora from that quarter.
 Until the rebels operating in almost every part of the countr- are CO., ordinated. Mexico City is in no serious danger. military men here believe. ex-s cept by coup d'etat. or from a raid that chance turned into a more important movement. The largest operating units are still those controlled by Carranza aifd. with the exception of Sonora, Sina1oa and q few other states cons trolled by the rebels. the balance of power was said to still rest with the government.
 May Put carranza on Defensive
 The chief immediate difficulty of federal leaders, military observers here said. was that pas-alyzing of Carranza lines Of communication might force them to adopt a defensive attitude in
  rehels.
 The official statement published Tn Mexico City yesterday and cab1ed to Washington that General Dieguez was in Guadalajara with 5000 federal troops was regarded as significant since the announcement was made three weeks ago that he had started from Mexico City for the west coast to attack the rebels moving southward from Sonora His failure to get further than Guadala jara was said to have given the rebels opportunity to move on Mazatlan and organize their lines of communication that extend to the American border.
 X report that 2500 men had been taken by the government from Man zaniIlo to reinforce the garrison at Ma Zatlan was not fully credited by ob- servers, not only because of the rebel activity about NIanzaniilo. but also be- cause of the governments lack of ships necessary to move such force.