Evening star., 1936-04-10
GALES AND THREE
AIDES EX|LED To
i. S. AFTER COUP
Mexican Ex-President Ac-
cuSed in Train Bombing
Fatal to IL.
SURPRISE ARRESTS
CAUSED BY LEFTISTS
Former Cabinet Officers Among
Those Placed on Airplane
for Texas Stop.
BACKGROUND

BACKGROUND
Gen. Plutarco Elias Gales, no,u
in his 59th year, rose to the his
torical position OF Merico'S strong
est ruler from humble birth as a
peon in absolute poverty. He
fought in 1910 as revolutionary
against Porfrio Diaz.
He first became President in 1924,
but previous to that he had muin-
tdined President Aludro Obregon in
power. Atterwdrd he made Emilio
PorteS Gil, Pdscual Ortiz Rubio and
Gen. Abelardo Rodriguez Prest-
dents in succession. 1t tDuS his dp-
proDal Which gaze the presidency
to CardenaS, the present Chief Err
ecutiue of Merico, in 1884. They
split, more than a year ago. on
questions OF labor policy.
Copyright. 1885. by the Associated Press)
MEXICO CITY, April 10.-Gen
Plutarco Elias Gales. for II years
the strong man" of Mexico, was ar
rested today in surprise coup by the
government. With him were arrested
three of his principal advisers.
All four were placed aboard an air.
plane carrying them to forced exile
in the United States.
Federal troops and secret police
agents went to the homes of the four
men shortly after midnight to make
the arrests. In addition to Gales, they
arrested Luis Morones, former min
lister of labor; Luis Leon, former min
lister of the interior and agriculture,
and Rafael Melchor Ortega, former
governor of Guanajuato.
Gales and his three former aides
were held under guard throughout
the remainder of the night. Then
they were taken to the central air
port and placed aboard a tri-motor
airplane which took off for Browns
vile. Tex, at 8:12 am.
Blamed in Bombing.
The arrests followed the publica-
tion of charges by the left wing of
the Chamber of Deputies that Gales
was responsible for the bombing of
the Vera Cruz train last Monday in
which II persons were killed.
The Leftists also claimed that he
was fomenting anti-government agi-
tation in an attempt to provoke the
Intervention of the United States in
Mexico.
Ostensibly, Gen. Gales had re-
Trained from political activity since
December. when he returned from six
months voluntary exile in the United
States after losing his control over
the nations politics last June.
The government, however, appar-
emily feared he was trying to regain
his old political power through the
Regional Confederation of Workers
and Peasants, which has been con-
trolled by Morones.
AS result, Gen. Lazaro Cardenas.
the President of the republic, or
dered the arrests, which were carried
out with the strictest secrecy.
Denies POiltlcai Interest.
Gales was interviewed only yester-
day by the Associated Press at his
Santa Barbara ranch outside the cap
ltal. At that time he denied any in
terest in politics and it was obvious
that he had no premonition of his
impending exile.
At midnight, Gen. Rafael Navarro.
commander of the military zone OF
the Valley of Mexico, threw a strong
force of troops around Santa Bar
bara.
Gen. Navarro and three officers en-
tered Gales bed room, where the for
mer President, for four days past, had
been i'll with influenza.
Navarro said: by the orders of
President Cardenas, you must leave
Mexico because the conditions of the
country so demand"
Gales replied: Il am your prisoner,
since 1 have no forces, and you may
take me to an airplane or before q
hrmg squad. I consider that the con-
dltlons of the country are due, not to
me, but to the government itself"
While waiting for the military escort
70 arrive at Santa Barbara and take
lSna CAT n