The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-14
Gen. Alvaro Oregon.

learned that Obrc-uu could not be
bought and certainly could not be de-
'eated. For more than a year he had
charge OF the northwestern division
II the Constilutionalist army. He
started his campaign in his native
State of Sonora, close to the United
states bOrdo~, and after a years con-
| t.nuous successful fighting was the
/ first OF the Constitutionalst Generals
to reach MeN!c1 city. Military en-
perts say that this march 81 moro
| than 1000 miles was one Of the
greatest military feats accomplished
! by any OF the Mexican leaders.
Until the appearance OF Gen.
! Oregon upon the scene It was the
popular belief that villa could never
/ be defeated. lie was the terror Of the
! Mexican soldiers. The mere mention
/ OF his name was sufficient to spread
| fear among those whom he was TO
| attack But something entirely dit
| ferent happened when villa met the
| forces of Gen. Ohrcgun. The latter
shattered the long established super
stition and outgcneraled villa in the
greatest battle fought in the war.
Francisco Elias Mexican Consult
AitItldl Ut .NtN blh WHO - one OF
| Gen. Obregon's most intimate friends,
| relates a number of interesting stories
which throw an Illuminating light
upHn the personality and the methods
of the young General. According to
him Obregon is only 80 years old
and is the youngest and most sue
cessful OF the Generals on the staff
of the First Chief Carranza. He is
a pat3ua Of ti. Efufa - morn Trbara
he received his earl, education and
there also he spent most Of his youth.
In his early twcntics he invented an
agricultural machine which was pat
! ented in the United States and
sold 10 an American concern. With
tho money which he received for his
invention he bought himself a small
| farm, 10 which he devoted most Of
his time.
Regardless OF his high rank Gen.
! Obregon is very simple and demo-
cratic individual He is constantly
seen among his soldiers chatting with
| them and entirely Obvious ~ his
| superior rank. He is passionately
fond Of stories and Jokes and Is an
: Unsuitable reader. In his list of sup
plies are 10 be found constantly or
derH for books magazines and news
papers. He carries with him a small
library while IN the field,
Most OF his knowledge OF warfare
| Obregun has derived from study of
| the life and activities OF Napoleon.
In many respects Obregon emulates
Napoleon, Often before a battle he
addresses his soldiers and officers
and by his enthusiasm and cloquenco
gains their loyalty and support. Usu-
ally he gives them to understand
/ that II Is they who hold the destiny
| Of Mexico in their hands and not
| he. Future generations will hold
them responsible Tor failures and viii
remember them II they succeed
| Gen. Obregon was the hfst man in
Mexico to place the army there on q
modern scientific basis. He reorgan-
/ ized his forces after "A profound study
of the United States army. He also
gathered the largest force OF soldiers
I known IN that land Until his time an
army OF 10000 men was considered an
immense force. Even the shrcwd old
dictator Huerta was not able to mass
bigger force, But the first thing
| Obregon did was to organize an army
Of more than $4,000 men and place il
on "A modern military footing. Then
he turned his attention 20 the thing
most needed in his army--a field hos
/ pital,
/ Ohrogon is very modest He speaks
| little Of his victories ana achievements.
| Unlike most Generals, he takes little
srcdit to himself. After his victory
and the occupation Of Mexico city his
/ colleagues and officers gathered to
congratulate him upon his success.
Gen. Oregon received them with sur
prise and informed them that the con-
Tatulatlons were due to his soldiers
and not TO him. II was they, he said.
| who shouldorcd most OF the burden:
, It was they who won the fight for tho
| cause, lie himself was bur a small
cog in the great wheel of progress
His earnestnesS and his simplicity won
him the admiration OF his soldiers.