Obregon and Carranza form alliance, but a suspicious one. If successful in war, they would turn against each other with the Army. Obregon's first military coup was Puebla's seizure from Zapata's leftovers: the orozquistas. Villa does not advance on Veracruz, no definitive reason why. Zapata's inactivity is a very bad idea as well. Villa marches north, leading Mexico into a year of civil war. No definitive sides of citizens divided between the main men.
Three issues split Villa and Carranza: central government, land reform, and attitudes about the US. Villa was only somewhat committed to land reform. Carranza wanted to return estates to original owners. SUPER IMPORTANT: views towards US were very different. Carranza is uber-anti-American, while Villa was pro-American.
Early 1915 ~ Villa seems to be going to win the war. British, Americans agree. However, Villa was losing his 'touch', becoming careless, alienating classes. Parochialism = drawback. Villistas were falling into traps from Carranza's side; looked really bad. Villa notices prices rising for ammunition. His pro-American beliefs drop steadily. Military campaign had good start.
Angeles threatens Monterrey; becomes very popular there. Villa was needed in Guadalajara to clean up Fierro's mess. Obregon was worried for Tampico, studied human nature to understand. He moved from Queretaro, Angeles warns Villa. Villa gets baited and takes it. Villa as general gets worse and worse. He attacks Celaya again in April, with larger numbers. Large number of casualities, Obregon moves back.
Obregon likes melodramatic telegrams.
Villa takes Trinidad, "his Waterloo". He should be able to beat Obregon without Zapata, ordered attack. Obregon doesn't want to go to offensive. He loses his right arm, tries to kill himself but is bulletless. Villa badly beaten, retreats. He loses massively in 1915, with personal & military problems. Villa in trouble, returns to Chihuahua. There is financial and economic crisis. Last-ditch effort, fails. Public version is completely different than private Villa: happy/outgoing vs. neurotic/angry.
Urbina is a super-bandit! Huerta is imprisoned. He dies, is buried next to Orozco. Villa won't give up, spends last days in Chihuahua City. He takes off to the sierras.
0 comments:
Post a Comment