Evening star., 1924-01-24
REVOLT BACKBONE
At BREAKING POINT,
0BRECON CERTAIN
Federal Leaders Count on
Rage of People to Aid in
Crushing Rebels.
ECONOMIC LIFE SUFFERS
UNDER CLOUDS OF STRIFE
Naval Move Expected to Place Fin
ishing Touches on Fed
" eral Victory.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Ell PASO, Tex, January "a
President Alvaro Obregon was
forced to return to Aguas Calientes
yesterday when he attempted a
trip to Celaya, and now Is gather
ing his forces in an attempt to cut
through rebel troops holding
Celaya, an important railway juno
ton. advices received in Juarez to-
day state.
MEXICO CITY, January "a (by Radio
via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram).-
The Obregon administration, at the be-
ginning of the eighth week of revolu-
tionary hosti.ities, finds itsen in an
Exceedingly advantageous" position.
with bright prospects that the back
bone Of the revolution will shortly be
broken" says an official statement is
sued by the war department yesterday.
A summary of the military situation
after seven weeks of operations against
the rebels, war department officials
point out, takes into account only fed
eral operations afoot without attempt
ing to predict what decisive effects
proposed naval activities would have.
The naval operations are expected to
supply the finishing touches to the land
campaigns against Vera Cruz, the
rebels stronghold.
Even should federal armies suffer
reverses in the coming offensive,
war department officials are conf
dent the fate of the revolution Is
sealed. since they say the naval
blockade would be virtually certain
to cut off rebel supplies of arms and
tactics, which would be the neces-
sary result. could be easily quelled.
Count ON PeopIes' Anger.
The government Is basing great
hopes on the popular anger against
the revolutionists, whose activities
are paralyzing business and causing
much suffering in regions both di-
rectly and indirectly affected. Thus
far popular indignation is manifest
ing itself in the organization of VOL
unteer agrarian regiments for active
duty in state and town protection.
Clashing personal ambitions of rev.
olutionary leaders, de la Huerta,
Maycotte, sSanches. Estrada. Garcia
and Vigil. are depended upon to
scatter the revolutionary elements.
Directing the western front cam
paign from yCelaya. President Gen.
Obregon has divided the federal
forces under Gen. Amaro to pursue
rebel columns which virtually. have
abandoned Guadalajara and which
are attempting to. prolong the strug-
gle by incursions into various parts
Of Jalisco, Mtchoacan and GUIANA
juato.
The advance against Vera Cruz is
proceeding under direct command Of
Gen. Martinez, with Secretary of War
Serrano directing operations from
federal headquarters at Puebla.
Fight in OIL Districts.
Offensive operations are being di-
rected from Tampico toward recov-
ering petroleum districts under rebel
control.
Unoifcial reports from Tampico are
to the effect that Ciudad Victoria,
which was taken over by a revolving
garrison early this week, has been
recaptured by federals.
Little credence is given here to a
report that Gen. Sanchez, rebel lead
er was wounded during an alterca-
tion with Poniano Carranza, rebel Of
ficer, who attempted to persuade
Sanchez to lay down arms.
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