Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-09
LARGE ARMY is MASsED.
Gales at Head Of Force Said to Num-
Der 1900 Men.

Az
ber 1900 Men.
MEXICO CITY, March R.-The
greatest army Mexico has known since
the DAYS of Pancho Villa moved north
ward today in an attempt to subdue the
revolution in the north.
At its head was Gen. Plutarco Eilas
Gales. secretary of war, who IN 1919
rode with Gen. Alvaro Obregon at the
head of Mexico's last such great army
that which crushed Villa.
The immediate objective was CanitaS,
a junction point in the State OF Zachet-
cas-. Capture of the city would open
way westward to Durango, where Cen
Urbalejo held out, or northward 10 Tor
reon. where Gen. Jose GonZalo Escopar
troops were located.
Existence of this large army--wnlcn
some say contains 10000 men-Was kept
secret until late last night, Wnen an Oh
fetal government statement SAID II mac
been concentrated at 1rapuato, State ol
Guanaiuato, under the direction OF Gen.
Loazaro Cardenas, and mad ALREADY
started for Canitas.
Aboard Special Train.
Almost simultaneously with the an,
nouncement a special train Wnlcn nao
heen waiting. with steam up, at the
S,oIonia Station, left to join the troops
with Gen. Gales and his stan apoaro.
Departure of Gen. Gales from Mex
ico CITY and practically entire shl1tlng
of activity from north and south mace
clearer than ever the government STRAIT
egy-of sweeping clean IN vera CIuz
before attending to housecleanlng IN tile
north. So scattered is the revoiutionaIiy
movement in Vera Cruz ana tne sout,,
now it can hardly be counted as al al
threatening. 14+,o
of the revolt NAV occur shortly in a
clash between the combined forces OF
Cen IJrbaleto and Gen. EScobar ano
the army of Gen. Gales. ..
.Joining the army of Gen. Gales from
the East will be the columns OF Ger
Andrew Almazan and Gen: EuiieIO
Ortiz Gen. Almazan arrived at sal
tillo. capital of the State OF Coanulia
sThursdav night from Monterey ano
ioined with the troops OF Gen. Or'Z
arriving from Paredon, Coahulla:
Between Monterey ana Saltillo
rebel detachment under the comma,n.e %.
of Cen Luis Gutierrez clashed with M
+roor,s ar Oio Calente. but was defeated
.roe tu.o generals were said today al
ton of Torreon.
Canitas Battle Likely.
The first battle of the Northern cam
paign NAV be fought at Canltas unieS
the rebel forces retreat from there pc
fore arrival of the federals. Gen. ana
cleto Lopez. in an airplane fylng owe
the city yesterday, SAID ne saw Ilie t,
troop trains of rebel sololers tnere VIII
another approaching.
Another possibility is that II the repe
forces should withdraw to Torreon am
choose to make a stand there, the
might be subjected to lengthy selge. D
the federal troops. Gen. AlmaZan ma
already requested a regiment OF artlller
be given him to lombard the city Whel
he reaches it. A.
Another view Is, however, that tn
combined forces of Urbalejo and ESco
bar believed the most powerful fore
in the North, will withdraw from Tor
reon to Chihuahua City and join wit
the rebel forces of Gen. Caraveo. In
government in its official statement
the military situation inclines to TIL
latter view.
The government statement does NJ
give the number of troops on eltht
-.Ce. but it is understood Gen. Escobs
has between 1000 and 5000 men, {
Torreon, and Gen. UrbaleJo probabl
1000 or 1000, at Canitas and Durang
The combined Ortiz-Almazan fore
probably number about 5000 men, viii
there are probably about $4,000 men
the army moving north from 1rapuat