THE MAN OF MEXICO.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10896, 10 March 1914, Page 7

THE MAN OF MEXICO.

®.,T. Oakley, in the Graphic. Recent events in Mexico have brought the name of interim President Victorians Huerta prominently to the foreground, and an? particulars of this extraordinary man meet be of interest to to the British public. Born of Indian parents in a village named Oolotlsn, State of Jalisco, in the year 1844, he is consequently now 69 years of age. When he was still a boy, this place was visited by a body of troops under the command of a -General Guerra, who required the assistance of some one able to write a military despatch. Young Huerta reported himself and did the work to the entire satisfaction of the General, who struck with the unusual intelligence of the boy, commenced to question him and asked what he wished to be when a man. “A soldier, ’’ answered the youth, ‘‘and later on a genera!.” ‘‘Then come with me,” said the officer, and he was conveyed to Mexico Oity with a military convoy and presented to President Befilto Juarez with the words, ‘‘Here is a young Indian boy, sir, who wishes to be a general. ‘‘Then send him to the military college. ” - was the laconic reply of Juarez... For some years Viotoriano Hnerta remained in this institution, and distinguished I himself In his to such an 1 extent that final prize day the headmaster told him that he was one of the greatest gicries of the college, and would occupy the highest positions of honour in their beloved country. . HiO f military career of over 35 years, has been a continuous series of triumphs, and he was one of Porfirio Diaz’s most trusted officers. After quelling the serious snti-Madero rebellion in the State of Chihuahua in 1912, he returned at the end of that year, on sick leave, to Mexico, aud was in that oity last February during the stirring events which finally terminated in the deposition 'of Madero and his own elevation to the PreaidentialJOhair, in conformity with the vprovisions of the Mexican Constitution.

In Hnerta is to be recognised a man o# tan blemished integrity, in- { domitablo courage and disinterested j patriotism ; ‘a born leader of men, respected and trusted bj bis brother officers and adored by the private soldier. He freely expounds bis views on historical, political and social questions- is thoroughly acquainted with Engiah history, and entertains a profound reverence for British' Institutions. Shakespeare is his favourite poet,' Wellington, Nelson and Lord Kitchener are his ideal heroes, and be considers the late King Edward tbs greatest monarch that ever occupied the throne of England. One of his first official acta was to arrange for the closing of the infamous Fortress of San Juan Ulua, built by the Spaniards at the entrance to the Port of Vera Onz and used for some centuries as a prison for political offenders and criminals. It was in the terrible dungeons of this fortress that Madeto held General Felix Diaz, nephew of Porfirio Diaz, imprisoned for many months, alter that offioer’s abortive revolution in October, 1913. Huerta loves to retire to his mod j est bungalow, situated in the suburb of Popotla, some three miles from the city, and while there he despatches much of his official business aad receive his Cabinet ministers and friends, only occupying the spacious and luxurious premises of the Government Palace and Oastle Ohapultepeo upon State occasions, or when receiving the members of the diplomatic corps This bunga low is situated in tie centre of a pretty garden, occupies but 72 square metres, and consists of six rooms only, all" of which are furnished with Spartan severity, truly characteristic of the veteran campaigner inhabiting them. Every morning President Huerta visits his barber’s shop in the city and chats affably with the toasorial assistants, and very seldom fails to take his afternoon tea in a well known central cafe. On official occasions he is accompanied by the elegantly uniformed Presidential mounted gnaijd, but otherwise is never attended by more than one of his private secretaries, and moves about the town and suburbs with the nonchalance and security of an ordinary citizen. On the night of his recent Cromwellian coup d’etat, when he dissolved the two Houses of Parliament and sent 110 of the members of the Lower Chamber to the penitentiary. he supped with a friend in the public hall of a popular German restaurant. He attended the celebrations of the Frdboh, American and Spanish national holidays, and joined heartily in the confetti combats and other diversions. At a recent entertainment given at the British Club in honour of the retiring Minister, Mr Francis Stronge and Mrs Stronge, General Huerta appeared, insisted upon being addressed by those present as “Mr” Huerta, and remained for two boors chatting and narrating many* of his experiences. He is an admirable speaker, and commands a wonderful fluency of words; hard and relentless hitter when aroused, convincing in argument and pleasing in delivery Since his nomination to the Presidency he has been occupied principally in the pacification of the country, but be has also found time to devote himself to agrarian and educational issues, and he loses no opportunity to advance his pet scheme of elevating the masses and extending the blessings of education to the unalphabetic millions ol the Republic. This is the man Huerta.