Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1907 — INDIANS TO FIGHT INDIANS. [ARTICLE]

INDIANS TO FIGHT INDIANS.

Mexico Pits Yaquis Against Mayas, Decreasing Both Tribes. The Mexican war department, by direction of President Diaz, is trying the experiment of using the Yaqul Indians to fight the Mayas. The uprising of the Maya Indians against federal authority begafr several months ago, and it has spread until practically all the members of that tribe are ndwin armed rebellion. The Yaqui Indians, like the Mayas, are waging a bloody conflict against the government troops, and upon the peaceful settlers of their territory in the State of Sonoro, The -government has been trying for several years to put down the Yaqui rebellion. It has succeeded in largely decreasing the force of Indians by capturing hundreds of them and deporting them to the Quintana Roo territory, in what was formerly Yucatan. The Maya Indians formerly occupied all of what is now called Quintana Roo. They were brought under temporary subjection about 19 years ago, and the new territory was created by the government And was opened up for settlement The Mayas soon went on the war path again, and there has been no settlement of the territory that was formerly occupied by them. The government soldiers have had all that they could do to keep the territory from being retaken by the Mayas. The Maya Indians have been making such an incessant warfare upon the federal troops that were sent against them during the last few months that the order was given to augment the forces of the Mexicans by organizing the Yaquis who had been deported to Quintana Roo into military companies. It was believed that this experiment of pitting the Yaquis against the Mayas would prove successful from the fact that the few peaceable Mayas who had come Into contact with the Yaquis seemed to show a natural hatred for that race of Indians.