GRINGO AND GREASER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 150, 12 November 1912, Page 7

GRINGO AND GREASER.

THE MEXICAN REBELLION. A TRAVELLER'S VIEWS. Mr. Vance Palmer is only a young man, but he is an author well known in England, and has seei almost every country in the world, and talks interestingly of Siberia, Japan and rebellious Mexico. He landed in Sydney by the Ventura, coming direct from Mexico through Los Angeles. "When I left Mexico it was in a high state of fever," said Mr. Palmer. "Rebellion was rife and the country was in a disturbed state. The Mexicans were flighting everywhere, and President Madero's forces were always being attacked. Wall Street is responsible for the whole business—at least, so the Mexicans say. The Mexicans hate Ame- ; ricans.and anything American, and they vent their hatred in no uncertain way, Madero was educated in America, and consequently his sympathy is with the States. His' Federal forces had a convincing victory on September 20 at a spot a few miles out of El Paso. I was in the city at the time, and the town was mad with excitement. THE FIGHT ON THE RANCH. "The rebels, led by' a former officer of- Madero's forces, who had deserted, captured a ranch, and lay in waiting for Madero and his men. The Federals attacked viciously, and for a time the rebels fought 'back savagely, but they ; were routed, and retreated in a panic.: It was a sharp, short set-to, and 12 were killed. -That was not all the fighting I was close to. The whole time I was in El Paso and. Arizona the Mexicans were firing oyer the and at one time, when it looked as though America must intervene, the Rio Grande was lined with American troops. The Mexicans fairly seethed then, and, their bitter hatred conquering them, they went about the streets.. snarling and showing their teeth at i,he Americans. INDEPENDENCE DAY IN ARIZONA. "I'll never forget Independence Day in. Amon.a," went on Mr. Palmer. "There we're' knife- and revolver fights everywhere. The different sections of Mexicans—the American sympathisers and. the; reTjels—came into conflict at the least provocation, and fought and slastect'' each' ; other like men possessed. There,; wafc bloodshed everywhere, but tlje' authorities' seemed powerless to pre* vent,it,'.' Men literally i ran wild for IA-. hours.'; ~ : ''But' ' getting' back to the rebellion. ,the time is not far distant ' wKeh ..tjjey '■ will spread themselves ovei; I,he wjioile.' of Mexico, and for that ? they will have North Americ.4,,a\ uteft. Wall Street is behind the reMlion." i ' Madero's forces declare that the, New' York financiers are in W^th'tli'e;labels. 1 .'. Their great interest in mntps'cqhipels'-ithem to set the rebels goiiig, a.ixd,® I dij .'not think the time far distant Ayhev Diaz will return from Spain tp imakij.'ijir "attempt ''to depose the great .Madero.;'Tfif'cable' in your papers stating. ."thikt Diaz, a nephew of the exPresident; had brolceri out in open revolt aga'ijist the Government, did not surprise me,-,; The haVe ; been calling for Djaz'„.aiid F.iSficfs fleiv rebel army should ibe iji'.triiiy. not.]hacl jpljs worst"of that rebellion yet, ■i».hd| w 't}ie;,/time'- r 3ias r not passed when Amijri'ci ! EVERY DAY. ' "The Mexican is all that is said and written about .him. ,He is treacherous and murdm%(is.'- u ''f£'is a common sight to see .murders in the streets. All the Mexicans •Carry*'knives, stilettos and reand, usg jthem ; at the slightest excuse. The .saloons, 1 think, are responsible itox all:, jthis. . .They are open day an# the doors of most •Kave/uHt closed. for years. Cheap tfrink 'is poui^d : into the Mexicans, and i's"tha;t: ; t'he/:!are. not really responsible for their actions. - There are two classes of Mexicans*—rthe Indian, and the Spanish. '■ < • Whe fetter "is 'the : higher class of man, and he lords it over his fellowcountryman. Mexicans only are employeii ; & i 't!he' i: i , ailwk}'s in Arizona, but there .is always an American ganger in ch'arge,I*' 1 *' Americans call the Mexican's grea'sei's, a"n'd the Mexicans retaliate by yelling 'Gringo!' •at every opportun-ity.''''"T-fiavc''seen'many a fight over the 'twolwordsi''' They are the most insulting'4oi'cll thfey can huvl at one another. The Mexican's spare time is filled in by gambling" ,'iUid drinking." . . OFFENSIVE JAPANESE. Prior to his -trip through the States and' Meiierf, 'MV:' Palmer spent a long holiday in Japan-. "It is a beautiful country,"'-Said' Mr. Palmer, "but the longer t stayed there the more I wanted -tp leave, it. The Japanese are most offensive and insult foreigners without the slightest compunction. The man in the street' hurls 1 all' sorts of vile epithets at the foreigners. It is a good country to keep away from. Its beauty entices many, but can the grand scenery compensate for the insults one has to put up with 1. KINDNESS IN SIBERIA. "I've travelled through almost every country in the world, but in Siberia I met with the most kindness. Its people have but - one thought ~to make the traveller at home. They go out of their way to do you a good turn. I was in Siberia at a -bad time—in the depth oi winter and after the Russo-Japanese war In was in Vladivostock at the time o1 the Vladivostock mutiny, when there was so much ruthless slaughter. Admittedly I saw the vast -Siberia at it; worst. ' It was one great pleasure foi me then and now. lam longing to sot it at its best."