REVOLT IN MEXICO

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 27

REVOLT IN MEXICO

PRESIDENT HUERTA’S POSITION. PRESIDENT WILSON’S OPINION. MEXICO CITY, December 1. An official denial has been issued of the report that President Huerta has fled. December 3The Federals are retreating on the capital and are abandoning Guaymas, Chihuahua, and other important strategical positions. Seven Federal generals offered to surrender at JuareZ, stating that the Huerta Government was bankrupt and the soldiers were not paid. The oil companies throughout Mexico have cancelled their contracts to supply the railways with oil fuel. The rebel leaders have announced that they will not tolerate American interference, but they state that if they are properly treated they will willingly live on the best terms with the United States and help her to safeguard the Panama Canal. December 5. A 24 hours’ battle was fought near Victoria, and resulted in the defeat of the Federal troops, who suffered heavy losses. Fighting continues desultorily. WASHINGTON, December 2. The President, in a message to Congress, expresses the belief that President Huerta’s regime is crumbling, and that there will be no peace in Mexico till President Huerta has resigned. VIENNA, December 2. Provisional contracts have been signed by Berlin and Vienna business houses for the delivery in Mexico of 50,000 Mauser rifles and 1,000,000 cartridges. LONDON, December 3. The Times correspondent in Mexico City cables that a desperate situation is developing, in consequence of the attitude of the United States Government, which wishes to freeze out President Huerta. The northern disturbances, he affirms, on the whole, are not purely revolutionary, but inspired by a desire for brigandage. There had been mutilation, torture, murders, rapine, arson, the violation of women— and girls, and the killing of children. The policy of the United States hampers the Government, but if the strong hand of President Huerta is removed the result will be appalling. December 4. The Times’s Mexican correspondent advises that almost all the land in Mexico is held by therich, who manage to escape taxation. Numberless peons are fraudulently deprived of their holdings, while the Indians, who are totally ignorant of the land regulations, have lost their property and become slaves. No President is ever legally elected, and the illegalities are tolerated because there is no public opinion in Mexico. The country is comparable with eighteenth century Russia, and it will take generations to raise it. The present war was mainly provoked by ex-Presideut Madero’s assassination. No principles are at stake, and the revolt is one of the most pitiable wars that have ever been fought in history.