Evening star., 1921-05-16
THINKS OBREGON
IS MAKING GOOD"
Gen. PeIaez, Mexican Inde-
pendent and Friend of U. S.,
Sees Unrest Abating.
BY HERBERT COREY.

NEW YORK CITY. May 16.-Gen.
rortant man in the Republic of Mex |
i"o-is at the Hotel Plaza with Mrs. !
HeIaes and a small staff. If President |
Obregon be not considered. he is to- !
day the most important man in Mex
leo, because of his position of in
dependent strength. From 1914 to 1920
he was at war with the Carranza gov
ernment. Since Obregon became
president he has been on friendly
terms with the one-armed leader
You are still in command of the
department of the Huastecas. how
ever" l suggested.
Certainly" said Gen. Pelaez.
1t was during hi, six-year fight
against Carranza in the department of
the Huastecas that Cen Pelaez demon
strated that he was not only the best
friend the United States had in Mex
leo. but the best friend of the allies
there. Every one knows now that the
Carranza administration and the first
chief himself were openly pro-Ger-
States. An anomalous condition had
been produced in Mexico by President
Wilson's more or less continuous sup
port of the Carranza regime. At the
same time CarranZa was doing every
thing possible against the United
States and the allies.
Allies Demand Oil.
I'VE must have OIL" was the notice
that the allies served on the United
States Mexico is the only place where
we can get it."
Cen Pelaez is a part owner Of some
OF the richest Oil properties IN the Huas-
tecaS In 1914 Gen. Canddo Aguilar.
>ater CarranZa'S son-in-law and envoy to
Europe. burned some of Pelaezs proper
ties. There was at this time no question
OF patriotism involved. for the Aguilar
irregulars were as truly banditti as were
the followers of Zapata or Villa. Manuel
Pelaez. owner of a hacienda by in
heritance and country gentleman by
preference. took the field with an army
OF seventeen men. He was never able
to quit it until CarranZa was dead and
the Obregon revolution was successful.
Almost with the outbreak Of the Eu-
ropean war the CarranZa administration
began an attack upon the American and
British oil interests in the Huastecas.
Pelaez's success in defending his own
properties gave an idea to the owners
of the region. They asked Pelaez to en-
large his field of operations and defend
their properties likewise. In the end an
armed guard of 5000 men was created.
No such army has ever operated in
Mexico, SO far as memory shows. 1t
was on friendly terms with the inhabi-
tants of the country. The discipline was
absolute. A PelaeZ man who burned or
looted might as well begin to write
his goodlbys to his nearest and dearest
The general was merciless in punish
ment.
Pel1ex Troops Peaceful.
When body OF troops was sighted"
a friend once told me. 1.-The Indi&ns in
the villages would run for the Jungle
II the troops were Carranzistas they
never came back. If they were Pelaezis-
tas the Indians trooped back fully at
ease, carrying their scanty household
were SAFE
The American and British oil COM |
panies paid the cost of maintaining the !
Pelaez army, of course, but there never |
was any thought of graft" in the minds !
an extraordinary business man, accord |
ing to Erby E. Swift, an attorney of |
Mexico City, who is accompanying him |
in the dual capacity Of friend and iiaison 1
ofhcer. between the visitor and the |!
American people.
He kept books throughout the six
years of war" said he, land complete
letter file system. He can not only show
every penny he spent
Nothing like that had ever been heard
of in Mexico fighting. For the six years !
Pelaez lived in the jungle-and the |
judges Of the Huastecas are real ones |
and MANAGED to operate an efficient |
business office. His men were as we'll |
clothed as possible and well armed, by |
virtue Of the fact that he used to defeat !
the Carranzista forces and take their !
guns. and were incredibly loyal
Jungle Warfare Methods.
Once he was attacked by 1900
tactics that had been successful dur
ing his years of jungle fighting. He |
waved his hand and his troops melt |
ed away by ones and twos. Then |
they killed the Carranzistas by ones
place and time appointed.
How many Of the Carranzistas es- |
caped?"
Not many" said Pelaez. with a half |
smile. !
his attitude of opposition to the Car |
rama tactics. 1t was not merely that |
Carranza was preying upon the oil |
properties-in which he had a per-
sonal interest-but he felt that the !
Carranza opposition to debt-paying |
irretrievably injuring Mexico in the !.
eyes of the world. Pelaez has al !
ways been friendly to the United ,
states and to Americans. He reminds
more than of a soldier. he is SO quiet
SO completely master of himself and
so democratic in manner
Never NeEleets Engagement.
Two things he has always insisted
on, said Mr.. Swift "One is the
keeping his word to the last hair.
The other is that when he makes an
engagement for given time the
other fellow must be there. Pelaez
himself always is"
On this tour of the United States
he has been notably entertained. Con-
sui Robertson of Laredo personally
escorted Gen. PelaeZ and his party
across the frontier line, and Robert
son is something more than mere
consul. BY virtue of experience and
energy and tact Robertson may be >,
classed as diplomat. although he is
ranked as consul Admiral Rodman
Of the Pacific feet entertained Pelaez
and his party on board during target
practice. which is an unusual privi-
lege, and Gen Hugh z. Dickman made
him his guest at Army headquar-
ters He has purchased a handsome
home at Los Angeles. by the way
where Mrs. PelaeZ and their four
children viii remain while Cen. Pelaez
visits the establishment Of the Mayos
at Rochester. Mimi. for a physical
hooking over. Mr.. Swift is accom-