The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-06-03
VILLA HAS PROCLAIMED =,
GEN. FELIPE ANGELES
PROVISIONAL PRESIDENT

provisional president of Mexico and
Villa himself secretary of war.
The move coming at the climax OF
military operations considered by the
Carranza government so serious that
it has asked the United States for
permission to move troops through
Texas, New Mexico and Arizona is
regarded here. as rejecting situa-
tion more serious in Mexico than any
since the, triumph of Carranza over
Villa three years ago. Viewed in con-
nection, with the activities Of Fells-
tas' forces in southern Mexico the
situation is regarded as full of posi-
bilities.
American government officials are
refusing to comment on the news un-
til they receive official continuation TIC
There seems, however, to be no doubt
Of it's authenticity ,,i.,,.'. q j.
!: Angeles reported first proclama-
tion announcing that Americans in
Mexico would be protected is par
ticularly interesting to officials here,
coming as it does ION the heelsIof the
refusal Il Of the state department to
grant Carranza's request that he be
allowed to move troops through AMI
erican territory for the purpose Of
protecting Ameicans, in Chihuahuat
Acting SECRETARY Polk ANNOUNCED
today he, had notified the Mexican
government. he could not grant the
request made unless assurances could
be given that Americans would be
afforded protection while the troops
were In transit That this could not
be done had been admitted previous
" by the Mexican authorities. Gov
ernor. Hobby, Of fTs4as, des1iped t.
authorize the passage of Mexican
troops through Texas without guar
antees of protection to Americans
and so notified the department.
Felipe Angeles is well known to
|, American officials, through his ser
vices to the French government dur
ing the. European war as inspector of
muniti Ions, in the United States. =. He
is held in. high esteem by the French
government and was considered by
the United States government al, the
time of the Niagara Falls conference
the best selection for the Mexican
presidency. At this conference three
names were agreed upon by the rep
resentatives of the various Mexican
factions, and the United States as
suitable presidential choices and An
tgeles' name headed that list. :
|. Angeles is about 45 years of age
and is full blooded Mexican Indian,
as were Porfrio Diaz and Huerta. He
lis a graduate Of Chapultepec Military
Academy, the t"West Point" Of Mexi:
CO, and Of the Ist! Gyr artillery school
IN France. Hetwas head Of Chapulte-
pee under Madero, who chose Ange-
les to go to Morel6s and conduct the
campaign against zapata.
Angeles quickly saw that the
zapatistas were not genuine, revolu-
tionists but were fighting for the res
,toration of the lands that had, been
taken from their fathers by Diaz. By
January, 1918, the fighting in More
los had practically ceased and Ange-
les was ready to make a peace with
zapata byfwhich the Indians should
be- granted their lands. I'M Febfuaryy
however, the "ten days Of tragedy
began in Mexico Ceyiwhsn the army
revolted against Maderos Residebt
.Maderp telegraphed Angeles to bring
his artillery to- the capital. 1t, e was
admitted at the time tha of all the
Forces fighting against the rexoltine
army Angeles did the best work. :. :
When the coup d'etat came and
Madero was imprisoned, and Huerta
declared, himself president, }Angeles
refused to come in with his army. He
was arrested and sentenced to death
by Huerta. He succeeded, however,
in obtaining his release and Huerta
sent him to Paris, "to continue his
studies" without pay.
Later Angeles returned to Mexico
through the United States with the
.1- L.