Manawatu Daily Times. “Uneasy Lies the Head ”

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6665, 19 July 1928, Page 6

Manawatu Daily Times. “Uneasy Lies the Head ”

Another of Mexico’s rulers has met' a violent death', the President-elect General Obregon having been assassinated some months before succeeding President Calles in the highest post his country has to offer. Although of late years Mexico has experienced a period of comparative tranquility and prosperity, this latest?tragedy only serves to emphasise the^ insecurity and' danger which beset the pathway of those who aspire to the rulership Of this volatile republic. Prom the days of Maxmillian, the ill-starred and ambitious Austrian Prince who crossed the Atlantic in search Of a crown, right up till now as many Presidents of Mexico have died “in their boots”as “in their, beds.” * The late General Alvaro Obregon was only elected President of Mexico early in the present month, and had not yet been installed in office. He was the sole candidate for th f e Presidency, his two rivals, Generals Serrano and Gomez, having been executed toward the end of last year for their participation in the liberal uprising at the beginning of October.' /General Pranciso Serrano was apprehended on October .4 last and, together with thirteen of his followers, 'court-mar-tialled and shot. An attempt was made it the time to capture/ General Arnulfo Gomez, the other aspirant, but he escaped to . the hills and evaded pursuit for some time. Eventually, however,*, he was captured, together with his nephew, Colonel Prancisco Gomez, and both were shot after a short court-martial. A sequel of the October Revolution was an attempt to assassinate General Obregon on November 13, 1927. Two bombs were thrown at him while ho was riding' in Chapultepec- Park, Mexico City. His automobile was seriously damaged, but he escaped with only slight injury from flying glass. The four assailants fled in an automobile, but were pursued through the streets,of the capital. Three were finally arrested, but two were so seriously wounded that they died On November 21 General Roberto Cruz, Chief of the Presidential Police, announced that after confessions made by the two prisoners before their death tho actual and intellectual leaders in the plot had been arrested and had confessed to their guilt. Two days later four men were charged with being accomplices and were executed in Mexico City. A' dii’ect result of this earlier attempt to assassinateGeneral Obregon was the organisation of “The National League for Revolutionary Defence.” The avowed object of the League is to defend the principles of the Revolution of 1910 as carried forward since 1920 by Obregon and Calles, r and to this end a.“red list” containing the names of all enemies of the Revolution was compiled. General Obregon was the first President-to-be under the new law which extended the term from four to six years. It appears now that President Calles, who at the moment occupies the chief seat in the State, will have to remain in office until a further successor has been chosen. General Obregon lost his right arm at Leon during military operations against the celebrated revolutionist Villa In 1915. ’I