THE MEXICAN REVOLT

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 235, 9 February 1911, Page 5

THE MEXICAN REVOLT

AN AUTHOR HUNTING FOR • "SUBJECTS."

By Cable—Press Association—Copy right, New York, February 8.

The Paris correspondent of the New York Herald states that Jack London, the American author, is leading a band of Mexican insurgents. The Mexican Government is protesting to Washington, fearing that the ex-

ample will be followed by other Americans, who should be prevented from crossing the border.

A "BATTLE."

FIFTEEN MINUTES' FUSILLADE. NOBODY HURT. Received 9, 1.10 a.m. Mexico City, February 8. In a battle between the Federals and insurgents near Juarez none was injured. A fierce fusillade was kept up for fifteen minutes, and the Federals fled beyond range. The Federals are now occupying Juarez. The insurgents' position is unchanged, awaiting reinforcements to attack Juarez.

MEXICO AXD ITS RULER. A phase in the development of this great republic is marked by the present rising. For nearly forty years, under the beneficent rule of her dictator, President Diaz, foreign capital has flowed in like water. This has meant the employment of a large number of foreign experts, managers, engineers, clerks, and accountants—and even the strong rule of Diaz has not succeeded is disregarding the popular cry against so many lucrative positions being held by outsiders. The proletariat has in truth little to complain, of. Every Mexican who has qualified for a position of responsibility, whether by the army or any of the Government or municipal services, has been eagerly sought after—and among these are not only the pure-blooded native Spaniards but a large number of Creoles and Indians. Where foreigners are employed is on such railways and waterpower schemes, and similar concessions, as have been leased to foreign capitalists, and these are almost all cither passing automatically into the hands of the Government, or will so fall in on the termination of the leases, when the number and position of foreigners so employed are likely to be simultaneously reduced. Such a change as this introduces possibilities, from many sources, of political revolutions. To-day Diaz is in his eightieth year, and there does not seem as yet to be a really strong man capable of talcing his place. But so long as he lives he keeps together a strong organisation, supported by a standing army of upwards of 40,000 regular troops, with that magnificent cavalry force, "the rurales," or mounted police. The district of which the Valley of Mexico is the centre rules the country, and is civilised and prosperous. The capital, Mexico City, has a population of close on 400,000, with suburbs of 150,000—and is almost similar in wealth, extent of public gardens, parks, colleges, hospitals, and museums, to cither Melbourne or Sydney. It has a system of electric power cheaper and more widely employed for tramways, water supply pumping, sewage pumping, lighting, and domestic services, even than Sydney.