The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-07-14

In the east: General Jacinto Trevino,
commanding in Chihuahua; and Gen.
P. Elias Gales, military governor Of
Sonora.
These are all war-seasoned veter-
ans. General Gales has been friend
~ to Americans and has gained
rather high opinion along the border.
He gave his word he would personally
see that American refugees were not
molested in their flight out Of Mexico.
He will probably try to lead his force
through the mountains to attack the
American expeditionary forces from
the west.
1t was General Gales who over
threw Moytorena, the Villa governor
of Sonora. Gales is believed to have
1900 men under his command.
Carranza himself may take the field,
with the object of inspiring the Mexi-
cans and showing he Is with them
he0rt and soul. He has mo military
ability, but has shown sense enough
in previous campaigns not to interfere
with the plans Of Obregon and other
experts.
Obregon Is undoubtedly the man of
the hour in Mexico. II he were not
unswervingly loyal to Carranza he
could seize the reins Of government
and become himself dictator. But he
is as true to the bearded first chief as
good dog Is to its master.
He is unlike most Mexicans, a big,
breezy, youthful fellow-he Is only
thirty-nlne-who reminds one more Of
an American westerner than Of the
sordld, dissolute, brutal type SO often
found in high places in the southern
republic.
Like villa, he Is a man brought to
the command Of an army without reg
ulqr military training and rising by
the simple genius he possessed. He
has been called the Cincinnatus Of
Mexico.
He comes Of an cid Sonora family
and Is wealthy.
Mexico's troubles found him peace
full farmer, known to but few peo-
pie In Sonora. He aided the revolu-
ton Of Francisco Madero against Por-
firio Diaz in many ways, but did not
take the field.
obreeon's Fame Spreads.
When in the early months of Ma
dero's term of Office Pascual Orozco
and his "reds'' became a terror in the
state of Chihuahua, Obregon collected
a band of 400 Maya Indians and under
the command Of Victoriano Huerta,
then a Madero general, went out to
quell the rebellion. In the battle Of
Otto, Obregon's men gained for them
selves the title Of "Invincibles." His
fame spread, and so many came to
join him that he rode home at the
head of an army Of 1900.
He was made colonel In the Sonora
state militia, and when Felix Diaz
started the military uprising which re-
suited in the death Of President Ma
dero and the seating Of Huerta, Obre-
gon organized 500 Indians and routed
the garrison at Nogales. which had
gone over to Huerta. E-'!
Soon after this Governor Carranza
of, Coahuila was declared first chief
Of the Constitutionalist army and he
made Obregon general Of the army OF
the West, while villa became general
of the central army. 4
It was the activities Of Obregon In
the Vicinity of Mexico City which
forced Huerta to fee for his life. OBJ
RECON then occupied the capital with
his troops. ILL.,
Then came Villas break with Car
rama. Obregon was made Carranza's
chief general, and organized the larg-
est army Mexico had yet seen. His
great triumph came at the battle OF
Celaya, where villa was crushed and
forced to Zee. so,.e ,............ p. !,
In this battle Obregon was desper-
ately wounded. His right arm was
amputated few days later. His ro-
bust constitution resulted in quick re-
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