MEXICAN CHIEFTAIN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXIII, Issue 15920, 4 May 1912, Page 8

MEXICAN CHIEFTAIN.

Should the rebellion inaugurated by Emiliano Zapata result in the overthrow of the Madero Government, there would be added to Mexico's history a chapter that is unique in this country, writes a correspondent in Mexico to a New Orleans papsr. Previous revolutions have received their impetus from men of high intelligence and usually of culture. Zapata's most advanced point in the social plane was that of an itinerant merchant, a peddler. Officially his name has ben written on the records of this country prior to the Madero revolution as "that of a private in the Mexican army. Tnero is one more entry, and that, recording HIS DESERTION FROM THE ARMT. Those unacquainted with Zapata frequently make the mistake of styling him an illiterate. This is not true. The man can read and write, and has tho rudiments of a common school education. Added to this, he possesses a shrewdness which, combined with a stubbornness, a personal magnetism and a bravery which no one denies, makes him a person truly formidable. Zapata was born in Ayala. He is between thirty-five and forty years of age. Practically no Spanish' blood contributed to his personal appearance, although a long, heavy moustache and stature somewhat greater than that of an ordinary peon betray the fact that he is not a pure Indian. His skin is that of the ordinary Mexican Indian, while his taciturnity is more than that of the North American aborigine. His enforced patriotic service to his country came to an end in just one year. He was in gaol in Ayala, during the early part of the Madero revolution. One night there was a delivery, and Zapata, at the head of a handful of men who had been his companions in tho little prison, declared himself a leader in the cause of Madero.

Contriving to get word to one of the revolutionary juntas, he offered his services. He received the thanks of this body, but was told that no mort> money could bo expended at that time for the equipment of additional troops in the south.

Zapata said not a word, but returned to the mountains about his boyhood home and ordered his followers to join him in attacking a neighbouring village guarded by a mere handful of rurales. They overthrew the guard, seised their arms and liberated the prisoners, whom Zapata had little difficulty in persuading to join his uprising. This action was repeated time and again, the only change being that each successive assault was made on a larger garrison, until Zapata's army of rebels had attained a size that made it ONE OF THE MOST FORMIDABLE FIGHTING FOHCES

south of Mexico City. The revolutionary junta was now glad to take advantage of the services of Zapata, and he was ordered to report to General Ambrosio Figueroa, Commander in Chief of tho army of the south. Between Figueroa and Zapata there has always been a deep-seated antagonism. Figueroa is a man of education and of some military training. Between him and Zapata there could be nothing in common. As leader of the army of the south, Figueroa was entitled to credit for the southern campaign, which so nearly resulted in the capture of Mexico City itself. As a matter cf fact, a great part of the credit was really due to Zapata. The antagonism resulted in jealousy on tho part of both, and so it was that an attempt made_ late in the day to pacify the people of Morclos by installing Figueroa as Governor only made Zapata the more determined to overthrow tho central Government which ho had fought to establish.

. Steadily his forces grew as they had during the days of Madero's revolt, until, on February 1 of this year, he found himself, at the head of forces to such numbers as to cause the Federal Government to send against him a large part of the Government troops. By that time_ ho had changed his propaganda to include grievances whoso righting he declared could bo accomplished only by the overthrow of Madero. His " Plan of Ayala," written by a school teacher upon whom he had : bestowed the title of colonel, calls for Emilio Vasquea Gomes to occupy tho Presidency. For himself he asks nothiug more than the privilege of fighting. That Zapata is a ruffian pure and simple is not altogether true. Attired always in the clcse-fitting trousers of the charro costume, bolero coat and peaked sombrero, silent and distrustful, he is not a man to grace a diplomatic reception at Chapultepec, and his men, wandering in bands far from his headquarters, oftentimes have committed atrocities which place them.beyond the outposts of civilisation, but rarely have such barbarous acts been . attributed to Zapata. On the contrary, there are stories of leniency and of a rough courtesy which, if true, must r-ause one to believe that tho leader of this new rebellion is a man who lias been painted in too vivid colours.

A peal of bells in Essex is rung by an electrical apparatus.