(7) The
Constitutionalist
Revolt III: The Fall of the Huerta Dictatorship, Jan.-Jul.1914
January
1914
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Jan.01-03 > A Constitutionalist
frontal
attack on Nuevo Laredo is repelled with great loss of life
US Relations.
==Jan.02 > Woodrow Wilson is
informed
that Huerta is considering declaring war on the US
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Jan.04-07 > A Constitutionalist
attack
on Ojinaga fails
Villa.
==Jan.05 > Villa signs an
exclusive contract
with the Mutual Film Corporation for $25,000 (claims that he scheduled
battles and executions to accommodate filmmakers are
untrue)
(see May.09)
Constitutionalist Revolt.(northwest).
==early.Jan. > Federal troops
mutiny at
Ensenada in Baja California
Huerta Regime.
==Jan.06 > With Huerta’s
authorization,
the Catholic Church dedicates Mexico to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Villa.
==Jan.07 > At Carranza’s request,
Villa
resigns as the Governor of Chihuahua, but he continues to dominate the
region
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
==Jan.10 > In tough fighting,
Villa takes
Ojinaga, on the US border - the Constitutionalist conquest of Chihuahua
is complete
Villa.US
Relations.
==Jan.12 > Pancho Villa first
meets John
J. Pershing, in Ojinaga
Finance.European
Relations.Huerta Regime.
==mid.Jan. > ~Huerta suspends
payment
on the interest on the Mexican national debt - ~Mexican credit
collapses
to the 1940’s - ~Huerta looses European support
Constitutionalist Revolt.(northwest).
==late.Jan. > Obregón
fights an
indecisive battle near Empalme
European Relations.US
Relations.
==Jan.28 > British Foreign
Minister Grey
proposes to Woodrow Wilson that the European powers demand Huerta’s
resignation
- wary of European interference, Wilson declines
Zapatista Revolt.
==Jan.29 > The Zapatistas attack
Tlahuac
February
1914
US Relations.
==Feb.03 > After receiving
Constitutionalist
assurances, President Wilson revokes the arms embargo on Mexico to aid
Carranza - ~frightened landowners, businessmen, and church leaders
throw
their support to Huerta
Constitutionalist Revolt.(south).
==early.Feb. > A revolt erupts at
Abala
in the Yucatan
Villa.US
Relations.
==mid.Feb. > Villa meets with US
General
Hugh Scott on the International Bridge at El Paso
Villa.European
Relations.
==Feb.17 > Villa kills the
reactionary
British landowner William Benton during a confrontation in
Juárez
- sharp British protests
Rural.Huerta
Regime.
==Feb.17 > Huerta establishes an
Agricultural
Ministry
Villa.
==Feb.22-23 > Villa returns the
remains
of his executed mentor Governor Abraham González to Ciudad
Chihuahua
for a formal funeral
Constitutionalists.
==late.Feb.-Apr 12 > Carranza
relocates
his capital from Hermosillo in Sonora to Ciudad Chihuahua
European Relations.
==late.Feb. > Under US pressure,
Britain
withdraws its recognition of the Huerta regime
==late.Feb. > Germany decides to
support
Huerta
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
==Feb.--- > General Felipe
Angeles arrives
in Villa’s army, and soon becomes his chief military adviser
March
1914
Constitutionalist Revolt.
==early.Mar. > The rebel
Constitutionalists
have become militarily better supplied than their Federal opponents
Rural.Huerta
Regime.
==Mar.11 > Seeking popular
support, Huerta
orders the preparation of land reform
Zapatista Revolt.
==Mar.12 > Federal troops mutiny
at Jojutla
in Morelos, disrupting the southern command
==Mar.14 > Zapata opens the siege
of Chilpancingo,
the capital of Guerrero (see Mar.23-24)
Constitutionalist Revolt.
==mid.Mar. > The
Constitutionalists
open a general offensive - advances by Obregón in the
northwest,
González in the northeast, and Villa in the center, against
Torreón
- small risings in central and in southern Mexico - Huerta’s cause
is
generally seen as hopeless
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
Villa’s hard-fought Torreón campaign (part one):
==Mar.20-21 > Villa takes
Bermejillo,
Mapimí, and Tlahualilo on the outer edge of Torreón’s
defenses
==Mar.23-26 > Northwest of
Torreón,
he takes Gómez Palacio in heavy fighting
==Mar.26.[evening]-Apr.02
> The
Battle of Torreón: vicious house to house fighting with heavy
civilian
losses; Villa commits excesses against Spanish nationals living in
the city, contributing to his rising friction with Carranza
==Apr.01.[afternoon-evening]
>
Villa briefly evacuates Torreón and heavily shells the city
==Apr.02.[afternoon] > Federal
forces abandon Torreón in a heavy dust storm: the Federals
have
lost 5,000 men in the battle, the rebels 1,700 - next morning, Villa
occupies
the ruins of the town (see Apr.10)
Zapatista Revolt.
==Mar.23-24 > Zapata storms
Chilpancingo
==Mar.28 > The Zapatistas
formally take
over the Guerrero state government
Huerta Regime.
==late.Mar. > The Huerta regime
makes
military uniforms and training compulsory for all Federal government
employees
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Mar.26 > González begins
the
siege of Tampico
April
1914
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Apr.05-06 > González
begins serious
attacks on Tampico
==Apr.07-08 > Constitutionalist
attacks
are repelled at the Iturbide Bridge
==Apr.08 > González
advances on
Monterrey
Zapatista Revolt.
==Apr.06 > Zapatistas execute the
hated
Federal General Cartón
==Apr.08 > The Zapatistas take
Iguala
in Guerrero
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
The end of Villa’s Torreón campaign:
==Apr.10-12 > After a week of
heavy fighting
in the area northwest of Torreón, Villa routes the Federals
from
San Pedro - the main Federal force in northern Mexico disintegrates,
with many of the retreating troops perishing in the desert
==Apr.15 > Villista forces occupy
San
Pedro
US Relations.
The intervention crisis begins:
==Apr.09 > The Tampico
incident:
Federal troops briefly arrest several American sailors near the battle
zone [late morning]; despite a prompt apology by local Federal
authorities,
US Admiral Mayo delivers an ultimatum demanding a special salute from
Huerta’s
regime
==Apr.10 > Huerta balks at the US
Navy’s
demands for a special salute, while President Wilson backs Admiral Mayo
==Apr.12 > Federal authorities
formally
decline the US demand for a special salute; Admiral Mayo begins
planning
a landing at Tampico
==Apr.14 > Wilson orders the US
Atlantic
fleet to Mexico [afternoon] - Huerta’s reaction: “Is it a
calamity?
No. It is the best thing that could happen to us.”
==Apr.15 > The US Senate gives
virtually
unanimous support for Wilson’s hard line against Huerta; Senator Borah
exults: “If the flag of the United States is ever run up in Mexico, it
will never come down. This is the beginning of the march of the
United
States to the Panama Canal!”
Constitutionalists.Villa.
==Apr.12 > Carranza sets up his
capital
at Ciudad Chihuahua
==mid.Apr > Carranza thwarts an
attempt
by Villa to execute Chihuahua Governor Chao: the harsh dispute between
Carranza and Villa is soon apparently smoothed over, but both quietly
begin
preparing for an armed power struggle
==Apr.15 > The El Paso paper Correo
del Bravo, financed by the Sonoran politico Maytorena, begins
attacking
Carranza as an enemy of agrarian reform, and backing Villa and Zapata
Zapatista Revolt.
Federal power collapses in Morelos:
==mid.Apr. > Zapata controls
virtually
all of Morelos except the district capitals - all but two haciendas
have
been taken
==late.Apr. > Federal forces
abandon all
but Cuernavaca and Jojutla in Morelos (see early May)
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Apr.18-24 > González
takes
Monterrey in heavy fighting - Federal forces abandon Nuevo Laredo
US Relations.
The US intervenes in Mexico:
==Apr.18 > Wilson issues an
ultimatum
to Huerta to salute the US flag
==Apr.19.[1230.AM] > The
US learns
from its Veracruz consul that the German ship Ypiranga is due
Apr.21
with munitions for Huerta
==Apr.20.[300.PM] > Wilson
asks
a joint session of Congress for authorization to use armed force
against
Mexico - he receives a standing ovation, but the resolution is delayed
in the Senate by Lodge and Root
==Apr.20 > The US Atlantic Fleet
is ordered
to proceed immediately to Veracruz
==Apr.21.[200.AM] > Wilson
decides
to order the immediate seizure of the Veracruz customhouse to forestall
the unloading of the Ypiranga
==Apr.21 > US forces land at
Veracruz
[1120.AM], quickly occupying key points near the harbor -
fighting
soon erupts [1230.PM]: by the next day, 19 US personnel and over
200 Mexicans have been killed - bafflement in the US and abroad - ~the
incident provokes a furious response throughout Latin America
==Apr.21 > The Mexican Congress
grants
Huerta extraordinary powers; he immediately decrees an amnesty and
urges
all rebels to join in resisting American aggression - a brief surge
of support for the Huerta regime sweeps Mexico; widespread anti-
American
rioting - ~the government fears a US attack on the capital and pulls
its
troops back to central Mexico
==Apr.22.[800-1100.AM] >
US forces
occupy all of the city of Veracruz
==Apr.22 > Huerta breaks
relations with
the US, and expels the senior US diplomat
==Apr.22 > The US Senate
belatedly authorizes
the use of force against Mexico - US citizens are evacuated from
Tampico
Constitutionalists.Villa.US
Relations.
==Apr.22 > Carranza angrily
condemns the
US seizure of Veracruz
==Apr.23-25 > Villa privately
informs
the US that he supports the seizure of Veracruz; he is near a total
rupture
with Carranza
US Relations.
==Apr.24 > US Secretary of War
Garrison
urges an immediate march on Mexico City; the Cabinet discusses the
possibility
of war with Mexico; President Wilson authorizes the mobilization of the
US Army
Latin American Relations.US
Relations.
==Apr.25 > Argentina, Brazil and
Chile
offer to mediate the US-Mexican crisis
US Relations.
US forces in Veracruz:
==Apr.25 > US naval aviators go
into action
for the first time, near Veracruz
==Apr.26 > The US declares
martial law
after local officials refuse to cooperate
==Apr.28 > US forces occupy the
hideous
fortress/prison of San Juan de Ulloa near Veracruz and release the
political
prisoners
==Apr.30 > The US Army, under
General
Funston, takes over command in the area from the Navy
US Relations.
==Apr.29 > Wilson comments on the
Mexican
situation: “We have been in a blind alley for so long that I am longing
for an exit.”
May 1914
US Relations.
US forces in Veracruz:
==May.01 > Young Douglas
MacArthur arrives;
he is soon participating in reconnaissance missions behind Mexican
lines,
surviving several shootouts
==May.02 > General Funston
formally assumes
administrative control of Veracruz
==May.02 > US pilots fly the
world’s first
air mission in direct support of ground troops
==early.May > US troops begin a
massive
public works campaign to clean up the city
==May.07 > General Funston
proposes an
advance on Mexico City from Veracruz
Zapatista Revolt.
==early.May. > The Zapatistas
take Jojutla
in Morelos (see Jun.02)
Constitutionalist Revolt.(south).
Fighting in Tepic:
==May.04 > The Constitutionalists
take
Acaponeta in Tepic
==mid.May. > The rebels take
Ciudad Tepic
US Relations.
==May.06 > US Pacific Fleet
commander
Admiral Howard protests the primitive Constitutionalist air raids on
Mazatlán
Villa.US
Relations.
==May.09 > The film The Life
of General
Villa opens in New York, depicting Pancho Villa as a hero, with the
real Villa acting in some scenes
US Relations.
==May.11 > Speaking at the New
York City
funeral of US forces killed at Veracruz, Woodrow Wilson says “We have
gone
down to Mexico to serve mankind...”
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==May.11-13 > Constitutionalist
General
Pablo González takes Tampico
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
Villa clears southern Coahuila:
==May.11 > Villa begins an
advance against
Paredón and Saltillo
==May.17 > Villa’s cavalry storms
Paredón,
north of Saltillo - afterwards, Villa has Federal officers shot in
front
of him while he’s eating lunch
==May.20 > Saltillo, the last
Federal
outpost in the northeast, is abandoned to Villa
==May.27 > Villa meets fellow
General
Pablo González, and turns over Saltillo to him
Latin American Relations.US
Relations.
==May.20-Jul.02 > An unsuccessful
conference
is held between the US and Mexico at Niagara Falls, mediated by
Argentina,
Brazil, and Chile
Huerta Regime.
==late.May. > The Catholic Mexico
City
daily El País is shut down - Huerta’s control of the
capital
press is complete
US Relations.
==late.May. > Woodrow Wilson
publicly
favors agrarian reform in Mexico
Huerta Regime.
==May.27 > The ship Ypiranga
finally
unloads munitions for the Federals at Puerto México
Labor.Far
Left.
==May.27 > The Huerta regime
shuts down
the syndicalist Casa del Obrero
June
1914
Constitutionalists.(northwest).
==early.Jun. > The bitter split
between
Sonoran Governor Maytorena and General Obregón slows the rebel
advance
in the northwest
Zapatista Revolt.
Zapata mops up Morelos:
==Jun.02-10 > Zapata cuts off
Cuernavaca,
the last Federal outpost in Morelos
==Jun.10 > Zapata orders an
advance on
Mexico City
Constitutionalists.Villa.
Crisis between Carranza and Villa (part one):
==Jun.08 > After making major
concessions
to Carranza, Villa opens talks but is refused any counter-concessions -
~Villa is enraged, and considers marching on Carranza’s government
==Jun.10-12 > Carranza provokes
Villa
by ordering him to break up his command and send reinforcements to
Natera’s
attack on Zacatecas (see Jun.13)
Constitutionalists.
==Jun.11 > A provisional Mexican
government
is approved by the Niagara Falls delegates
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).
==Jun.11-14 > Federal forces
repel Natera’s
attacks on Zacatecas
Constitutionalists.Villa.
Crisis between Carranza and Villa (part two):
==Jun.13 > Villa suddenly offers
his resignation
- it is immediately accepted by Carranza
==Jun.14 > Villa’s generals
forcefully
defy Carranza - they unanimously reinstate Villa, harshly condemn
Carranza,
and announce that they’ll advance on Zacatecas under Villa’s
command
(see late.Jun)
US Relations.
==Jun.16 > Constitutionalist
envoys secretly
meet with US representatives at Niagara Falls and firmly reject
American
mediation or assistance against Huerta
Constitutionalist Revolt.(north).Villa.
Villa’s Zacatecas campaign:
==Jun.16 > Villa begins advancing
on Zacatecas
==Jun.19 > Villa’s attack on
Zacatecas (to
Jun 23): his forces arrive and begin clashing with the Federal
defenders
on the outer lines
==Jun.22 > Villa personally
arrives at
Zacatecas
==Jun.23 > Villa takes
Zacatecas:
in extremely fierce fighting, he launches attacks all around the
perimeter
[1000.AM] - the Villistas take El Grillo Hill [100.PM]
- the panicked Federal forces are slaughtered in repeated attempts to
escape
[mid to late afternoon]: rebel General Angeles writes “...I saw
them annihilated with overflowing joy; because I saw the event from the
artistic point of view, as the master work terminated,” though he later
stops a systematic Villista slaughter of prisoners [dusk] - the
city is left in ruins - the Federals have suffered about 9000
casualties,
three times the rebels’ losses - Huerta’s situation is growing
desperate
Constitutionalists.Villa.
Carranza and Villa prepare to fight each other:
==late.Jun. > Carranza thwarts
Villa from
immediately advancing from Zacatecas by cutting off coal and other
supplies
- the exasperated Villa takes no further part in the overthrow of
Huerta,
but directs his energies against Carranza
US Relations.
==Jun.26 > The US military
government
in Veracruz orders all non-Mexican prostitutes to leave within five
days
July
1914
Huerta Regime.
==Jul.02 > Key figures in
Huerta’s regime
begin to flee abroad
Constitutionalist Revolt.(central).
The fall of Guadalajara:
==Jul.06-07 > Obregón
crushes the
western Federal army at Orendáin, northwest of Guadalajara, ~and
completes their destruction at El Castillo
==Jul.08 > Obregón takes
Guadalajara
Constitutionalists.Villa.
==Jul.08 > Carranza and Villa
sign an
agreement, which neither take seriously
Huerta Regime.
The end of the Huerta regime:
==Jul.08 > Huerta decides to
resign
==Jul.15 > THE FALL OF HUERTA:
his family flees for Puerto Mexico [morning], as Huerta submits
his resignation to Congress
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