Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-10
THOUSANDS CHEER
VILLA; HIS FORMER
FOESEMBRACEH HIM
Bandit Leader Surrendered
to Avert Intervention, He
Tells Friends.

By the Associated Press.
SAN PEDRO. Coahuila. Mexico,
August 10, viee Laredo Junction
Francisco Villa marched into San
Pedro last night between the lines
Of a cheering populace which greeted
him with cheers of Viva Villa" Be-
hind him came his band of faithful
followers
Part of his bandit following, with
Its leader. has surrendered to the de
la Huerta government under terms
agreed upon recently at Sabinas.
As he drew up before the main plaza
of the Mexican town cheering
throng of 5000 gathered around him,
the chieftain indicating that he was
about to speak to them.
Il surrendered.' he said, because
further fighting in Mexico meant in
PREVENTION by the United States.
They call. me a bandit. They call
me the worst man in Mexico. but l
would preserve our nationality by
avoiding intervention"
Band Of 800 Pitches Camp.
There were 900 men in the band
which Villa led into San Pedro, all of
whom later pitched camp close by this
march across desert country without
water for man or beast.
Villas entrance into San Pedro
marked the first time in ten years of
revolution that the bandit leader had
neared a city without a plan of con-
quest or as a hunted fugitive.
He was greeted and embraced by
generals who two weeks ago were
leading thousands of soldiers in an
attempt to capture him.
In turn the bandit leader embraced
his former enemies and later in con-
versation with the Associated Press
correspondent declared he was "in a
mood where l would like to embrace
my worst enemies"
TT is time for peace" he continued
to the correspondent. 1T is time
for peace in Mexico. I have lost
many brothers; thousands of friends
and relatives. 1 know many others
who likewise have suffered such a
loss. Many others have had many
enemies. but now I want everybody
to forget their enmity and be friends
Villa said he wanted to show how
men could work who wanted to
work."
Campaigns Harder Than Work.
His surrender, he declared, was due
to desire on his part to see the
country return to peace. One of Villas
soldiers told the correspondent that
the campaigns in the last few weeks
and months had been harder than
work, so the men decided they wanted
to return to work.
Villa said that it was in chihuahua
less than month ago that he had de-
cided to surrender. He said he de-
sired to confer personally with Presi-
dent de la Huerta by telegraph at
that time, but that such a course was
impossible in Chihuahua, where he
was surrounded by federals.
They were trying to find me-" he
said. land I wanted to tell them
where was, so 1 started toward Sa-
binas"
He declared he captured Sabinas in
order to be certain he could command
telegraphic communication with gov
eminent officials at Mexico City.
Villa, it is understood, will rest here
Tor couple of days and then proceed
to Gomez Palacio to collect the years
pay for his men, promised by the
de la Huerta government. later to
take up farming in Durango. He
today.
Agreement Is Ratified.
MEXICO CITY, August 10-Forces
led by Francisco Villa will be muster
ed out at Tlahulilo. state of Durango,
according to the latest advices re-
ceived by Provisional President de la
Huerta.
Villa has been informed that the
provisional president has ratified the
agreement with him, and the former
rebel leader has sent an envoy to
San Antonio. to take money to Sonora
Villa, SO that she may return to
Mexico.
Villa has notified his former lieu
tenants that he has recognized the
government and has urged them ID
cease activities.
Government officials have decided to
appropriate Hacienda de Sanutillo as
a home for Villa Title to this prop
erty is being questioned in a cose
before the courts, and it is proposed
that the government pay the money
into the courts hands for transmits
sion to the parties found to be the
rightful owners, according to the
newspaper Excelsior.