Turbulent Mexico.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 184, 3 February 1914, Page 5

Turbulent Mexico.

LEADERS AKKESTEi). THE AMERICAN ATTITUDE. NO CHANCE OF POLICY. By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Mexico City, February 1. The police have nrresied the heads of Felix Diaz's political organisation, charging them with plotting against 'llucrl.ii, with Ihc object of installing General Gonzales as temporary President. It was reported that an American visitor stilted that Diaz was now in Havana, mid informed him that lie ought to wait for concessions in McxU> until Diaz was President, tlnis lending color to the belief thai Diaz intended to lead an insurrection. Washington. February 1. Interviewed by the Times' correspondent, President Wilson stated that-he was not changing his Mexican policy. lie had no suspicion that Japan was meddling in Mexico, and had no grudge again Japan because some Japanese were selling arms to President llnerla. He chici. d journalists for their irresponsible si nationalism. Tho papers frankly publish the rebuke.

RI'.MOR DISCREDITED. Received 2, 10.20 p.m. Mexico City, February 2. So credence, is attached to the story regarding (lie Diaz political organisation plotting against Huerta with the object of installing Conzales as temporary I'resident. GKICAT CITY LOOTED. ' FLIGHT ACROSS THE BORDER.

San Francisco, December 22. The conquering rebel lender, Francisco \i:la, two weeks ago, seized Chihuahua, Hie largest city in Northern .Mexico, and the residence of many wealthy men, [mill Mexican and foreign. Villa, was a bandit before he was a soldier, and lie has not forgotten his former trade. Chihuahua furnished a rich and easv held for his depredations. By a combination of plum theft, confiscation and extortion he has acquired in two weeks loot totalling in the neighborhood of £l,000,000. It wag done in the most barciacel manner. Most of the men of standing and possession were expelled from the city, and in nearly every instance they lied to the United States border. Their movable possessions were taken, and t hey were informed that because of .their support of Genera] Huerta, the dictator, who-still remains in control in Mexico City, all their property was forfeited, to the constitutionalists cause. \ ilia toojt the city of Chihuahua without liring a shot. With cowardly precipitin ion the Federal ollicers-and their soldiers ran away upon the reported approach of the rebel forces, and many civilians accompanied them. For eight days they struggled across the deserts of Northern Mexico, led by General Salvador Mercado, until they reached the American border, a journey of 185 miles. Along with them came, burdened with whatever property they could carry, men, women, and children, representhi" some of the richest families in the Re° public. Their flight with the army was I m consequence of reports that thev j could expect no mercy should they fall into the hands of the rebel chief. Luis Terazns, one of the greatest landowners in the world, owning, as lie does, about one-half of the State of Chihuliuha, ot which the cijty of Chihuahua is the capital, was amongst the fugitives. He had with him a fortune in cash.

When the throng reached Ojinaga, on the American border, it is descrbed as a thin line, stretching several miles into Ine interior, with a dusty confusion of broken-down waggons, disabled artillery, and mingled disheartened soldiers and famished civilians, who presented a spectacle of universal despair. Scores passed over to the American side, so as to be beyond reach of • rebel soldiers. Day after day since the capture of Chihuahua refugees have been arriving at different towns on the America n hovdcr with stories of the atrocities of Villa and his soldiers. Some 40 Mexican?, it is said, were shot by the captors of the. city. '

Villa lias acted in a particularly highhanded maimer against the Spaniard residents of Chihuahua, of whom there was a large and wealthy colony. lie announced that he would protect all foreigners, including Chinese, excepting only the Spaniards, who were threatened Willi death if they did not leave the country within ten 'days after he had seized the city. All 'Spaniard stores were looted by Villa. In one special train 487 Spaniards, most of them members of families 1 of wealth, arrived at •Juarez, on the American border,and immediately sought safety on the American side of the river. Villa provided the train, and went through it personally before it steamed out of Chihuahua to see who were leaving. Eighteen Catholic priests and nuns of Spanish origin were amongst the refugees. The priests said that Villa had demanded .tlutli) from each of them after they had given him all they had. The army looted the cathedral and churches and convent of all the gold and jewelled chalices and sacred vestments. Some of the Spaniards, reputed to be millionaires, were without any money as they stepped from the train at Juarez. Their property and interests were left bv them in the hands of Harry Seobell the British Vice-Consul at Chihuahua. All the homes and movable possessions of the Spaniards were appropriated by Villa. The expulsion of the Spanish' priests and nuns was complete, except that the Spanish bishop was permitted to remain.