Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 175, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1919 — Page 3

Rebels Now Rule Half of Mexico

Official Information Shows Carranza Barely Clings to Control Over Rest. HAS ONLY 60,000 TROOPS President Is Too Weak to Keep Order as Bandits Harass Whole Country —lndustry Snuffed Out and Morale at Low Ebb. New York.—The Mexican problem was never more toublesome. Conditions In that revolution-racked land were never more chaotic than they are today. Carranza now controls little more than one-half of Mexican territory and his hold on that is not at all secure. Opposed to him are six organized rebel organizations, not including the Sonora Yaquis, while everywhere tils authority is hampered and his troops harassed by organized banditry. Bearing upon actual conditions In Mexico, the New York Times has come Into possession of certain information, now in the official possession of the United States government. Verification of these statements which follow Is to be found in the archives of the government in Washington.' Carranza has officially claimed that tie is supported by a regular army of 120,000 well disciplined and well equipped troops. This statement is not borne out by the facts in the case, and the truth of the matter is that his armed forces number not more than €O,OOO officers and enlisted men, who are poorly equipped, whose morale Is at low ebb, yet upon whose loyalty depends Carranza’s sway over a people who number more than 115,000,000. Today the Coahuila “chieftain” Is exercising authority in those parts of Mexico not " under rebel or bandit domination as a dictator and through the promulgation of executive decrees. Of the great American border-line Carranza is in control of not much more than one-third, while the whole of southern Mexico is severed from “federal control” by a stretch of rebel-con-trolled territory that on the Atlantic extends from the rich oil lands of Tampico almost to the City of Vera Cruz, and on the Pacific by the entire coast line of the great state of Oaxaca. Lower California has become to all intents and purposes Independent of the government that sits in Mexico City. Three General Divisions. The contending forces in Mexico may be referred to under three general heads. They are: First —The federal or Carranzista forces. Second —The rebel forces led by Felipe Angeles, Francisco Villa, Guillermo Melxuerio, a full-blooded Zapotec Indian, and by many well-informed observers considered the ablest and most trustworthy leader in Mexico; Felix Diaz, Manuel Pelaez, who dominates the Tampico and adjacent oil fields; the Zapatistas, still, despite Carranza affirmation, a power in that part of Mexico of which the state of Morelos Is the center; General Cantu, governor of the state of Lower .California, and the organized Yaqui Indian forces of the western part of the border state of Sqnora. Third—The bandits who, in small groups, are operating everywhere in Mexico. As to the first or federal forces supporting Carranza, it is,, as already pointed out, the official claim of the present Mexican, or Carranza, government, that this force numbers 120,000 men. It is a conscript army to a great extent and it is small and inefficient for two reasons, the first being Carranza’s inability to enforce conscription, and the second the fact that he is unable properly to equip, train, or maintain necessary discipline. Owing to these two conditions, over which Carranza appears to have no control, the federal army of Mexico is

COMFORT FOR OUR MERCHANT SAILORS

The mattress and pillows used in the berths of the sailors and firemen aboard government-operated merchant vessels not only are comfortable, but make fine life preservers. Their filling la a soft, resilient tropical fiber known as kapoc, which will sustain 25 times its own weight in salt water for 48 hours.

today at its maximum strength. It is an army poorly organized and poorly equipped. Of this army a large proportion is held in or near Mexico City, leaving the remainder, numbering less than a full division, according to the American organization, to guard and maintain supremacy in the states of Nuevo Leon, eastern Coahuila, southern Durango, Hildago, San Luts Potosi, Guanajuato, Queretaro, Michoacan, Jalisco, Tepic, Zacatecas, Guerrero, Colima, Chiapas, Cainpeachy, Yucatan, Tabasco, Quihtana. 800, and the eastern or Atlantic edge of the state of Vera Cruz, wjiich territory on paper remains undei*federal control. The big transcontinental stretch of rebel-controlled territory, which averages more than 100 miles in width, and which forms an unbroken barrier from ocean to ocean, completely separates the federal-controlled states of the south —Chiapas, Campeachy, Yucatan, Tabasco, part of Vera Cruz and Quintana Roo—from the states or parts of states over which Carranza still holds sway in the north. Villa Forces Strongest. Of the organized opposition groups which are seeking to overthrow Carranza, the most powerful Is that which is operating in Chihuahua and neighboring states under Angeles and Villa. The Villlstas, as this force is popularly known, is not the unorganized, poorly equipped, and undisciplined force that a great many people in this country think it is. It is, on the other hand, probably the best organized and equipped military organization in Mexico. It numbers 10,000 men commanded by Angeles, the French trained rebel leader, with Villa second in command. It is well equipped with rifles and is said to have a fairly well organized artillery artn,_„ and the Vlllistas fire the best ammunition, which, as a rule, is American made and is smuggled across the Rio Grande by “gun runners.” The Angeles-Villa forces are today practically in control of the entire state of Chihuahua, a large part of Durango, the eastern part of Sonora, and the western part of Carranza’s own state of Coahuila. The one part of Chihuahua that Angeles and Villa do not-control is the border city of Juarez, opposite El Paso, and they would today be in possession of that much-needed border port but for the fact that they brought about American intervention in their plans by firing over the border into the Texas city. The Americans did not go to Juarez to help Carranza, as some people think, but solely for the purpose of safeguarding the lives of Americans on the Texas side of the Rio Grande. The next more important rebel force in Mexico is that under command of Manuel Pelaez, who dominates tiie oil-producing regions of the Tampico country. Pelaez has under his command 3,000 well organized and fairly well equipped men. The value of the foreign oil interests in the territory in which Pelaez is operating is estimated at more than $300,000,000. Pelaez is said to be pro-ally in sentiment, and to this is due in large part the failure of the Germans and their Carranzista sympathizers to gain control of the oil fields while the European war was actively under way. . Allies Like Meixuerio. Under Guillermo Meixuerio, in the state of Oaxaca, is another rebel force of several thousand well organized men. Carranza has made desperate but ineffectual efforts to dislodge Meixuerio, who is easily one of his most feared opponents, and whose record is such as to win the sympathetic approval of the allies. Meixuerio is a fullblooded Zapotec, a lawyer, and a man of fine education. Next in importance among the rebel groups is that commanded by Felix Diaz. Under Diaz, according to official Information, there are approximately 5,000 men. The Diaz forces, however, unlike those under Pelaez, Angeles and Meixuerio, are loosely organized and are said to be in great

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

Bat on Shoulder Called Good Luck in Poker Game.

Canton, O.—Mystery surrounding the purchase of live bats at $lO by Cantonians was solved when one of the purchasers explained that bats bring good luck. During the last several weeks a number of bats have been sold in Canton. Advertisements have been run in the newspapers and many persons are anxious to obtain then}. ""If you keep a bat in your pocket or lex it perch on your shoulder when you sit in a game of cards, you are sure to have good luck,” remarked one bat owner. He added he knew a man in Chicago who owned a bat and he always had good luck.

need of ammunition and other war materials. Despite this handicap, however, the Feliclstas, as the Diaz rebels are known, continue to be a force, and all the efforts of Carranza to break up the organization have failed. The Felicistas are operating in the state of Tamaulipas in the north and in part of Hidalgo, Puebla, and Vera Cruz in the south. The southern Felicista area forms the center link In the rebel ocean barrier. The state of Morelos and small parts of the states of Mexico and Guerrero form the area in which the famous Zapatistas are and have been operating for the last seven years. As for Cantu, in Lower California, the situation there can be dismissed with a word. Cantu is in absolute control of that part of Mexico, and Carranza Is making no effort to interfere with the Independent state that Cantu has set up. Smuggle Arms In. The seventh of Carranza’s troubles are the Yaquis of western Sonora. They are operating in bandit groups and number probably several thousand. Likb the Villlstas, they are armed and equipped by smuggling from the United States. The Yaquis are among the hardest and best fighters in Mexico, and little if any effort is being made by the federal government to restore order in that part of Sonora under their domination. Lastly, the bandits. Official reports prove that everywhere in Mexico the outlaw bands are to be found. Their number is unknown, but they are powerful enough to hold the attention of a considerable part of Carranza’s hard-pressed little regular army of 60,000 men. Briefly, what precedes gives the lineup of the factions that are fighting for control of Mexico. Here are some of the’facts, officially established, that have resulted from the country-wide internecine strife in Mexico. Economically Mexico is in the midst of a crisis which is characterized by the Intense poverty and the actual want of the great mass of the people. The morale of the population everywhere was never lower than at the present time. The general health of the people is everywhere bad. Cattle raising, the principal Industry of the nation, Is today only about ten per cent of what it was in 1914. Of all Mexican Industries, v the growing of henequin alone shows progress. All textile factories and sugar mills, with a few exceptions, are out of business, and those that are operating are run down and in need of repair. Practically all of the country’s 16,000 miles of railroads are demoralized or destroyed as a result of rebel and bandit activity. Not a cent of interest has been paid on the national foreign debt In more than five years. , More than 75 per cent of the population is now absolutely illiterate. The national credit is gone, and the foreign oil Interests are, despite the apparent friendly attitude of Pelaez, menaced. As an indication of the health of the people, latest reports estimate the yearly death rate in Mexico City is 21,000, while the reported birth rate is only 7,500. It is believed, however, that a correct census would show a larger birth rate, although the 7,500 estimate is official. At the present time all reliable reports coming out of Mexico indicate the precarious condition of the Carranza government. Carranza has been during the past three years probably the most pro-German head of a state in the western hemisphere. Openly Pro-German. Until recently his attitude has been unfriendly to the United States, and when he thdught Germany was winning he made no efforts to conceal his sympathy for the Teutons. Legislation that was passed during the war and which was directed against the allied oil holdings in the Tampico country is generally believed, in private as well as official circles, to have been Inspired by German interests and representatives in Mexico. Protests against tjiis. legislation have been filed by the American, British and French governments. Since he developed his anti-American attitude Carranza has fanned „hls supporters with the slogan of “LatMp American Solidarity” against the great northern republic, and today the most generally developed trait in the majority of Mexicans in federal controlled territory is that of anti-Americanism.

Popcorn Debauch.

San Francisco.—Frank Fischer sued Mary Reilly, nineteen, for SSO. He lost, Mary told the judge he gave her ths money to buy popcorn and peanuts anfl she spent it in one evening.

HARRY DAVIS HAS BEEN MADE ASSISTANT MANAGER OF PHILADELPHIA ATHLETICS

Assistant Manager of Philadelphia Athletics.

Veteran Harry Davis has been coaxed out of his retirement and has been made assistant manager of the Athletics., Though his title is that of assistant manager it is understood he really is in full charge of the team and that Cpnnie Mack hdTeafter will devote most of his time to business affairs of the club. Davis was Mack’s right-hand man for ten years, then went to Cleveland for a brief period in 1912 and returned to Mack, remaining with him until the close of 1917. He is thoroughly acquainted with Mack’s ideas and while they will be carried out, of course, still the baseball world will be much interested in seeing how Davis fares with more or less of a free hand. Davis will have as his lieutenant another veteran, Paddy Livingston, whose duty will be to coach the pitchers of the team.

UNIFORM MAKES HIT

The Southern league rule that managers must not appear in uniform unless listed as active players doesn’t bother Carlton Molesworth. The fat manager of the Birmingham team dons a flannel shirt and a pair of overalls before each game, puts his team through its hitting and fielding practice as an “active” participant, then retires to the bench when the game begins. His workout rig is said to make a great hit with the fans.

JOE ENGLE TO JERSEY CITY

Former Washington Twirler Added to Bill bonovan’s List—Others hook Up With Bears. Bill Donovan has added a few seatoned players to his Jersey City Colts, who may help the Hudson county nine get on its feet. Eddie Collins, the Brooklyn lad who played the outfield tor several seasons with Pittsburgh

Joe Engle.

and the Braves, has signed with the Jersey outfit. Then Joe Engle, a righthanded pitcher, formerly with Washington, has been added to the Jersey City pitching staff. Engle recently was released by the Cleveland club. Paddy Banman, a former Yank, joined the Skeeters on their trip to the north. Old Cy Pieh, a team mate of Bauman’s on the Yankees, has hooked up again with the Newark Bears.

WALLY SCHANG IS FAVORED

Placed in Fifth Position in Batting Order of Boston Red Sox—Unusual for Catcher. It is seldom indeed, that a catcher Is placed ashigh as fifth in the batting order of a major league team, as is the case with W. H. Schang of the Boston Red Sox. • Schang is not only a fine batter, batting from either side ►t the plate, but he is a fast base runner, something unusual in a catcher.

BASEBALL STORIES

Bill Whittaker is having a great season with Fort Worth. * * * Buck Weaver is traveling with some speed this season. * « * The University of Virginia baseball team made a profit of $2,421.07 this year. • * * Bobby Roth Is playing a great game for the Macks and is immensely popular with the fans. * * * Lefty Schorr, a pitcher who started the season with Salt Lake, has been taken on by Seattle. * * * Del Pratt, Yankee second baseman, is playing a greatly improved game since the Yanks returned home. ♦ • • The Pittsburgh Pirates have not been hitting to brag about, but this feature of their play Is improving steadily. • ♦ * Pat Don Carlos Ragan, now a Giant, once was considered quite a Giant tamer. That was when he was with Brooklyn. • « • Pittsfield’s heaviest loss Is in the absence of Catcher Devine, who has been out of the game with an attack of appendicitis. • • • Horace Allen, an infielder who gained fame as a player at Georgia Tech, in Atlanta, has been signed by the Dodgers. • • « The playing of the “Stai>Spangled Banner” in ball parks reveals the melancholy fact that Mr. Emslie has more hair than Mr. Klein. • * * Hooks Warner, back from overseas and out of the army, is practicing with the Pirates and hoping something will happen to permit him to stay on the team. »-~z* * Lee Meadows of the Cardinals is still one of the best six or seven inning pitchers in the National league. He has been that tor three or four years. * * * Providence used to think it had a corner on Brown University athletes but New Haven now claims two. One is Claude Davidson and the other Billy Murray. Sam Lewis, claimed by Shreveport and thus rescued from exile to the Three-I league, has shown his appreciation by doing good work for Billy Smith’s team. * * * Voluntary contributions to a fund to erect a memorial to Capt. Eddie Grant, will be received by John B. Foster, traveling secretary of the Giants. Grant was the only officer among ball players killed in France. ♦ * * Ed Pfeffer, who has been going great guns for the Brooklyn club, attributes his fine condition to the ten-day boiling out period he put in at Hot Springs before he Joined the Dodgers in training. * * , The New York American League Baseball club has secured Albert Wickland from the St. Paul club of the American association. St. Paul will receive a New York player in exchange. Wickland is an outfielder and went to St. Paul this spring from the Boston Nationals,

MAY IN HARD LUCK

Jakey May pitched to only two batters in a recent CardinalsReds game, but that was enough for the scorers to charge him with the loss of the game. He relieved Meadows with the score 4 to 3 and a runner on third. A hit by Rousch sent in the run that tied. Meadows could be charged with that, so May was left with the tie game to solve. The next batter hit safely off May, leaving two men he had put on before he was Jerked. They were enough, when they scored, to give Cincinnati a win and May a black mark.

SIX WEEKS’TRAINING IS TOO MUCH-COBB

Tiger Star Says Player Should Remember Length of Season. Looks Like Folly to Georgia Peach for Player to Drain His Endurance in South— -Has His Own Idea of Training. Ty Cobb answers the critics of his training camp methods by the assertion that the routine of one month or six weeks is entirely too long for the ball player. For many seasons Cobb has refused to report to the Tigers when they entrained for Dixieland. Rarely has he Jumped into uniform earlier than a week or ten days before the opening of the regular season. Cobb’s enemies repeatedly declared that failure to train would handicap Cobb considerably. But it has never been so. Several times the “Southern Typhoon” has started slowly, but along about mid June he has found his stride and breezed along to the sublime heights of the offensive baseball world. “Four to six weeks training in the South, with two sessions daily, hurt rather than help a player,” Cobb explains. “After two weeks in the South the player is trained rather fine. After that strenuous training begins to sap his endurance. When the season opens he looks good and

Ty Cobb.

plays well. But before mid August you will notice that he is growing stale; that he isn’t playing with all the old dash and speed. “It would be all-right for a player to train four to six weeks if he was going to play only for about two months. But when he is conditioning himself for six months’ play it seems like folly to me to force him to drain his endurance powers in the South and bring him North with not enough left to carry him through six months of play. "Early in my career I spent four to six weeks in training camps. Usually I reported for the opening of the season in fine condition. But after about two months I would begin to get a little stale. My work would lack zip. I decided finally that it was because I was overtrained. So One season I did not report to the camp for the full training season, but merely put in about ten days’ work. As a result I was able to put into the regular playing season all the endurance that was necessary and I carried it along right through to the end of the season. Instead of finishing the baseball year fagged and worn out and trained off, I was Just as good physically as when the season began. And ever since then I’ve followed that system of training Just enough to get the kinks out of my arms and legs without the sacrifice of stamina.”

MANAGER MORAN KEPT KOPF

Youngster Promises to Be One of Shining Stars In National League This Season. Leave it to Pat Moran to save himself an ace for the day of the big emergency. He managed to retain Larry Kopf, who originally was slated to go to the Dodgers, but refused, and the youngster who broke into the main show a few years ago as substitute infielder for the Athletics promises to be one of the outstanding stars of the National league this season. Kopf already has made good, but his admirers say he is going to ascend to even loftier heights. Both in fielding and batting Kopf has been one of the stars of the Reds, and Moran doesn’t hesitate to express his admiration for the youngster. Moran, it Is evident now,, accomplished a ten strike for the RedSi and himself when he kept Kopf for) Cincinnati,-