Seeks Amnesty For Rebels.

New York Times 100 years ago today, December 2, 1912:
Mexican Minister Thinks They Remain Active in Fear of Execution.
    MEXICO CITY, Dec. 1.— Convinced that numerous bands of rebels in the States of Durango, Coahuila, and Southern Chihuahua are continuing their operations merely because they believe surrender would mean summary execution under the suspension of the guarantees, Rafael Hernandez, the new Minister of the Interior, announced to-day that he would attempt to obtain a promise of amnesty for them. Cheche Campos and Benjamin Argumado, officers in Orozco's organization, are the chief leaders of the rebels in those districts, and several engagements were fought the latter part of the week, the Government, as usual, announcing victories.
    These and allied leaders have been making successful raids on small outposts, managing for the most part to evade encounters with superior forces. The rich country is practically at their mercy, and the Federal forces are able to accomplish little more than garrison the larger towns.
    Orozco is now stated to have reappeared at the head of some hundreds of men east of Ojinaga, in the State of Chihuahua, after recuperating from a serious sickness The Government professes satisfaction at the improvement in the general situation. Throughout the republic the number of engagements reported has decreased. Only five were reported to-day. Francisco de la Barra, the former Provisional President of the republic, is one of the candidates in the election to-day for Governor of the State of Mexico, but, owing to interrupted communications, it is impossible to learn even the probable result.
    Mexicans are not wholly reassured by the Washington explanation of the proposed visit of four American battleships to Vera Cruz, and are keenly interested in the motive for their coming.
    Much interest is also displayed in the character of the Mexican note replying to that which the United States sent to Mexico in September. It is no secret that the American note is not pleasing to the Mexican Government, and the failure of the Mexican Foreign Office to discuss the nature of the reply gives some basis for believing that the reply is not entirely pleasing to Washington.