Evening star., 1924-01-05
BATTLE FOR LEON.
Rebels Seek to Sever Federalist
Communication,

Communication.
MEXICO CITY, January I'll, 10 os-
ficially stated that rebels comma nded
by Manuel Dieguez have appeared in
the vicinity of Leon, in the state of
Guanajuato. evidently with the in
tention tent n, OF taking the city, and cut
munication with the north. Il is be-
lteved that a battle now is being
waged and that the fighting un-
doubtedly will be heavy.
Leon Is an important city on the
Mexican central railroad thirty miles
northwest Of Guanajuato, the capital
OF the state of that name, and ap-
proximately 180 miles northwest Of
Mexico City.
immediately upon receipt of infor-
NATION that the rebels had appeared
In that vicinity the war department
ordered Gems. Eulogio Artiz, Rodolfo
Galiengos and Julian Medina to has
ten there to drive off the force threat
ening communications with the north
Inc war department Announces that
hghting is entering a period of great
activity, which soon will show the
people whether supremacy rests with
the government headed by President
Ooregon or the revolutionista.
According to Intercepted radio mes
sases. the rebels lack war materials.
Expects End I'm Two Months.
Gen. Francisco Serrano. secretary Of
war, declared today that the gov
ernment would put down the revolu-
tion within two months. There have
been no important military actions
tho last few days. he said. on account
OF the governments desire to concen-
trate its forces at both the Jalisco
and Vera Cruz fronts, to repair the
railways and to get everything in
readiness for decisive, simultaneous
battles.
The Ja.isco rehaIs ara tha host or
ganized and the most dangerous, ac-
cording to Serrano, who stated that
they number between four and Ave
Thousand. The Vera Cruz revolters
Sn, wiil not ss ,ua1e survive a single decisive
The federals are not seeking
ephemeral victories" the secretary
continued Nor desire to occupy
cities without value. This is the
reason why Ttehuacan was evacuat-
to bring about decisive action"
Concerning Romulo Ffgueroa. he
said that the Guerrero leaders column
was entirely dispersed by q federal
Caraveo and were forced to scatter
and appeal by wireless to Estrada
for supplies.
Thought March Triumphant.
Gen. Genovevo de La Morlos. whose
troops picked up the scattered
Figueroistas, said the rebels de-
clared they had been led to believe
glowing accounts. sent out by wire
less from Vera Cruz. that their
march on Mexico City would be a
triumphal procession.
Relative to the alarming reports
received OF the conditions in the Tam
pico petroleum region, Serrano as
sorted that strong columns Of troops
under Gems Luis Gutierrez and Juan
Espinosa Cordoba were advancing on
Tuxpam and other rebellious centers
from Vera Cruz that Gen. Cavaxos is
dominating the state OF Hidalgo with
500 followers. and asserted that
Pachuoa, the capital Of the state. and
other cities are safe.
Gen. Miguel Acosta- frst secretary
Of war, questioned specifically re-
garding the report that Tampico had
fallen into rebel hands fatty denied
the report Believing that Zacatecas,
capital Of the state Of Zacatecas was
not garrisoned, homo guards from
Jerez, Maltinango. Juchipila and vari-
Gus other villages attacked the city,
but we're repulsed.