The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-03-09
GOVERNMENT PLANS
TOCLEAN VERA CRUZ,
Then SWEEP north
Two Great Armies Gathered Sc.
cret|y for Drive to Wipe
Out RevoIutionists
CAnITAS BATTLE EXPECTED
Atlantic Fleet Patrols Coast to
Prevent Escape Of Flee
ing General Aguirre
CAnITAs BATTLE EXPECTED

ing General Aguirre
Mexico City, March 0.-(P)-The
greatest army Mexico has known
since the days of Panclao villa moved
northward today in an attempt to
subdue the revolution in the north.
At its head was General Plutarco
Elias Gales, secretary of war, who In
1915 rode with General Alvaro Obre-
gon at the head Of Mexico's last such
great army-that which crushed villa.
The immediate objective was Cant
tas q junction point In the state OF
zacletcas. Capture of the city would
open way westward to Durango,
where General Urbalejo held out, or
northward to Torreon where General
Jose Gonzalo Escobar's troops were
located.
Existence Of this large army
which some say contains $4,000 men,
was kept secret until late last night
when an official government state
ment said 1t had been concentrated
at Irapuato, state Of Quanajuato,
under the direction of General Loa-
FARO Cardenas, and had already start
ed for Canitas.
To Clean South First
Departure Of General Gales from
Mexico City and practically entire
shifting of activity from north and
south made clearer than ever the
government strategy-of sweeping
clean in Vera Cruz before attending
to house cleaning in the north.
Joining the army Of General Gales
from the east will be the columns Of
General A,adreu Alamazan ana Cen
eral Elugio Ortiz. = s~-.t1s 1s-...st
The coAabined S-Allnaxan fofCeS1
probably number about 5000 men,
while there are probably about $4,000
men in the army moving north from
1rapuato
In announcing fall OF Ciudad
Juarez, Chihuahua, to the rebels yes
terday the government statements
said soldiers had only withdrawn
across the international bridge at Ell
Paso to prevent endangering Anieri-
can lives in El Paso.
Canitas Battle Seen
The first battle of the northern
campaign may be fought at Canitas
unless the rebel forces retreat from
there before arrival Of the federals.
General Anacleto Lopez, in an air. |
plane flying over the city yesterday,
said he saw three troop trains Of re-
bel soldiers there with another ap-
The government statement does not |
give the number Of troops on either |
side but 1t is understood General |
Escobar has between 1000 and 5000
men at Torreon and General Ur-
balejo probably 1000 or 1000 at
CanitaS and Durango.
1t was said the Atlantic fleet had
arrived at Tampico from Vera Cruz.
had refueled and started out to pa
troll the Gulf coast to prevent escape
IN that direction Of the rebel General
Jesus Maria Aguirre. Two fast boats
we're being made ready at Vera Cruz
% assist the fleet. The Port Of Vera
Cruz, officially closed by the govern
nent when the city was occupied by
he rebels, has been reopened.
FL Paso. Tex, March 9.-(Re|
luarez was quiet today following yes.
'erday's seven hour battle that took
IS toll Of Americans and left the
Iey city Of northern Mexico in the
lands Of revolutionary forces. |,
Two Americans were killed and an
,ther wounded during the fighting.
Lydia Roberta, 2 years old, was
atally wounded by = stray bullet
While she was playing In the yard Of
Ter home here. Another American,
Teddy Barnes, q bartender, was found
|ead In Juarex after the battle. His
'ody lay beneath slain soldiers near
he federal headquarters ct the Hotel
tio Bravo. Another Fl Paso child. 8 6Iss
ears old, struck by stray bullet. was
xpected to recover.
Official casualty lists Of the battle
7ere not available but It was esti-
mated that Il federal soldiers and re-
els were killed ana more than ! |
core on, each side wounded.
On this side Of the border. 3l0
6exicau federal troops ana their
antilles were tnterned at Fort Bliss
nder the terms of . truce which =
nded the battle. The truce was con.
luded at . conference on the tntoe-
attonal bridge between General
Ioti9s Ramos, commander Of federal
'ocDs, General Miguel Wales, rebel
!edaf. and Brig. Gen. Van Horn
Eoeely. commander ol American !
,tces here, after stray bullets had 4