Evening star., 1932-12-27
MINERS TRAPPED BY EXPLOSION.

ana mas played on most OF the many
golf courses around Southern Cali
fornia.
He found a little comic opera army
waiting for him and built it into an
efficient military force. His artillery
was in charge of young officer who
had been educated at Chipultepec and
in France.
Young Rodriguez began building
roads and making public Improvements.
Social life at his capital was charming.
His wife was beautiful and gracious.
He himself is handsome and gracious.
In 1928 came great crisis.
Mexico suddenly burst out with what
promised to be the worst revolution in
its history. 1t was led by a military
group 1t was very much as though
Won Papen and the former officers of
arms against the German republic.
In this crisis young Rodriguez saved
Mexico.
He refused to join the military group
and plainly informed them that he in
tended to remain loyal to Gales. They
begged. pleaded and threatened. All to
no avail
Not only did he refuse to join, but he
began buying all the military fighting
planes he could lay hands on. In the
end he collected IS fighting ships, which
he placed at the disposal Of his govern
ment.
Used Diplomatic Course.
The key to the situation was the lit
tie town Of Naco that lies on the Ari-
zona border Just south Of the copper
town Of Bisbee.
This passed into the hands Of the
rebels 1t was the critical point. It
meant everything to the rebels. Cut of
everywhere else from the ports. it was
their one chance to smuggle ammuni-
ton and supplies through from the
United States.
What will ever be remembered with
gratitude by the Mexican soldiers is
that Rodriguez could have sent his
planes and his army to Naco and cut
them into ribbons. But he didn't.
BY feat of diplomacy, the details OF
which will never be known, he per-
suaded the rebel commander. and made
it safe for him, to turn about. Over
night, Naco became a federal garrison
again. It was death blow to the rebel
cause.
For time that little loyal garrison
remained marooned = surrounded by
rebel troops-an island in a dangerous
sea.
The generalissimo Of the rebels in
Sonora who threatened at any moment
to wipe Naco out was fat man named
ManZo. He was enormously fat and
enormously funny. He had been a
hack driver at Guaymas before he heard
the Cincinnatus call to arms. Rodriguez
arranged series of meetings with Gen.
Manzo and persuaded him to blood
less surrender. So he not only saved
Mexico. but he avoided killing hundreds
of harmless little poems who had no
real interest in the fight.
Gales Stepped In.
Very soon after the revolution Rodri-
guez went back to Mexicali and con-
tinued with his work Of promotion and
development. About a year thereafter
he resigned on account OF the Ill health
Of his young wife. They Travelled IN
Europe and finally came home 10 q
ranch once owned by Robert LOUIS
Stevenson near Ensenada.
Meanwhile-in 1930-Mexico showed
signs of haring up again. Ortiz Ruolo
was not q strong enough man.
There are in MeXico-and were then
two strong men who were and always
will be danger, Joaquin Amaro and
Andreu Almazan.
Gen. Amaro is an Indian who came
to the capital few years ago as an
illiterate savage with earrings and a
handkerchief wrapped around his long
black hair. He made of himself an
educated man; and he made the Mex,
can army an efficient well-uniformed
fighting force. Almazan is man OF
university education-openly suspicious
S,..St wI,at vo,, 1,;1l. h,,t n vear
ago, Gales came whirling in from his
retirement; deprived Almazan of his
cabinet position; removed Amaro as
secretary of war, and assumed the war
portfolio himself.
Rodriguez was fairly yanked out OF
retirement to become assistant secre-
tary of war-but in actual charge OF
the army.
The resignation Of Rubio was prac-
tically forced. There were many rea-
sons-among them row over the
governorship Of Baja CALIFORNIA;
story too long to tell.
Wants . Strong Arm.
All those familiar with the situation
knew that Gales resignation month
or two before meant that Rubio had
better pack up; that either Gales him
self or Rodriguez would shortly be
President Of Mexico.
It turned out to be Rodriguez. He
stands under the protection Of Gales
powerful arm; but is free agent.
Gales Is tired and not well. He wants
to turn over Mexico to a strong arm;
but he wants to sit around and be sure
that the arm is really strong.
Rodriguez has just turned 41-the
youngest President of the republic. He
stands well with the business men. As
assistant secretary Of war he handled
with bold decision strike that threat
ened to tie up the capital. He stands
well with the military group. As
gesture. he returned to Gen. Amaro the
portfolio Of war and conspicuously rode
with him down the boulevard on his
way to the Castle Of Chipultepec.
His announced policy Is to reduce
unemployment, to welcome American
capital, to promote the tourist trade
and-most Of ALTO build food roads.
eCopyright, 1874. By North American News.
paper Alliance, Inc.)