Posted on 05/21/2008 6:04:12 AM PDT by Homer_J_Simpson
The break was made between Rio Verde and San Bartolo, near the Eastern border of the State.
Meanwhile, Federal planes were dropping pamphlets urging the people in San Luis Potosi to support the Federal Government. The planes located a train which left Tampico yesterday morning at 4 o’clock. It was unreported until today when it was found to be safe.
Reports of General Cedillo’s whereabouts were conflicting. Some said he had fled to the hills with a band of followers, others that he was in Las Palomas and still others that he was preparing to flee by plane to the United States as a result of the ultimatum of President Lazaro Cardenas that he and his followers turn in their arms and munitions to the government.
Bernardo Ponce, a prominent Mexican newspaper man, reported General Cedillo as saying yesterday in Las Palomas:
“I have only respect and affection for President Cardenas.” The general blamed Mexican unions for “propaganda to the contrary,” which “President Cardenas has accepted as true.”
It is reported that some of the leading generals in the Mexican Army, whose names cannot be given but whose influence would be necessary for any successful military uprising, have turned thumbs down on General Cedillo. They regard him as “too far to the right.”
Thus it appears that the San Luis Potosi conflict is an entirely local affair, although every effort is being made by the officially controlled press here to make the Cedillo-Cardenas clash appear as a fascist-leftist struggle with nation-wide ramifications. This plan, it is believed, was designed in order to obtain full backing in Washington for the government. However, it is not doubted that General Cedillo is capable of causing considerable trouble in San Luis Potosi.
President Cardenas is now in San Luis Potosi, which is in the eastern part of the State where the influence of General Cedillo is not believed to be so strong. General Cedillo has his headquarters at his Las Palomas ranch in the western part of the State where his power is more extensive.
East of the ranch are mountain hideouts which the General and his followers know well. Also there are smaller hills between Las Palomas and San Luis Potosi.
The War Department reported today that there were ten regiments of troops now in the State of San Luis Potosi. It is believed there are 10,000 Federal troops in the State and probably another 10,000 near by.
General Cedillo’s irregular forces have never numbered more than 15,000 and the government has tried to take over many of them since General Cedillo, who rode with Pancho Villa, resigned as Secretary of Agriculture in August, 1937.
In the past General Cedillo’s forces have been regarded as expert train and rail wreckers, hence he is capable of causing the Federal troops considerable difficulties, as he has access to the main rail and road communications to the United States.
The government also is watching closely for a local movement in the State of Sonora, where the Governor, Juan Yocupicio, long has been under suspicion in Mexico City.
President Cardenas’s special train returned to Mexico City from San Luis Potosi today, indicating that it was feared the line would be cut south of San Luis Potosi. The President apparently intends to stay in the north throughout the difficulties.
Dr. Francisco Castillo Nejera, Ambassador to the United States, and Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ramon Beteta are leaving for San Luis Potosi tonight by train to confer with President Cardenas.
The President apparently is not worried about the situation, and the general feeling in Mexico is that General Cedilllo can be crushed easily. He lacks the support of the leading generals and has never had any strength by himself, but always shifted to the winning side. However, a prolonged struggle is capable of precipitating other difficulties, it is believed.
Owen St. Clair O’Malley, recalled British Minister, is leaving tonight for Veracruz, where he will take a ship to New Orleans. He decided against going by way of Laredo as it would be necessary for him to pass through San Luis Potosi on the latter route. It is understood the Mexican Government requested the change in routes.
LAREDO, Texas, May 20, (AP). – Members of the family of General Saturnino Cedillo, whose differences with President Lazaro Cardenas have precipitated internal troubles in the southern republic, have entered the United States, it was learned today.
There were reports the general was flying to Brownsville, Texas, in a private plane, but a watch along border points failed to show any trace of him.
Senora Cedillo and her four daughters and an unidentified man passed through here shortly after noon by automobile. There were various reports they had left for Brownsville and for San Antonio.
The Laredo Times reported that General Cedillo’s family arrived here yesterday and spent the night at a hotel.
HENDAYE, France (At the Spanish Frontier), May 20 (AP). – Spanish Insurgent forces pushed their lines forward today at three strategic points on their front from Teruel about seventy miles eastward to the sea.
Insurgent Navarrese forces stretched their sector south of Escriche, on the Teruel front, after almost a week of rain-impeded fighting, in which they stormed ten lines of government trenches, one by one.
Insurgent dispatches also reported the capture of Villafranca del Cid, a key city on the highway from Teruel to Albocacer, leading south toward Valencia and the coast. Commanders of the Insurgent drive said they pushed on past Villafranca and reached the outskirts of Benasal, ten miles to the southeast, after crossing the Teruel-Albocacer highway. Positions dominating both sides of the highway were reported captured. Government defenders were said to be fleeing toward the southeast.
Insurgent dispatches said the town of Villafranca appeared deserted, most of its former population of 4,000 having fled. Villafranca, a textile center, recently had been an important government arsenal with many munition depots.
General Garcia Valino’s corps, preceded by a fleet of tanks, entered the city despite the handicap of snow, the Insurgents said.
On the spur road north of the highway between Albocacer and Iglesuela del Cid, the third Insurgent conquest was said to have been occupation of Castellfort. Insurgents said their troops spread to positions just above the highway to the sea.
Escriche, ten miles northeast of Teruel, was unimportant in itself, but it marked the end of a deadlock in the mountains above Teruel and flattened out the ragged Insurgent front facing southward toward Valencia. The constant pounding of artillery and the bombing and strafing of planes forced the government militiamen to retreat from their last trench, Insurgents said. The advance put the Insurgents in position to resume pivoting their whole front around Teruel and drive south as fast as mud and freezing weather allowed.
The government was reported hastening construction of new fortifications along the coastal line between Alcala de Chivert and Castellon de la Plana to hold the Insurgents within their narrow seaboard strip and protect Valencia from attack from the north.
Nevertheless, in the last ten days a Castilian army corps under General Jose Varela, cooperating with forces commanded by Generals Miguel Aranda, Garcia Valino, Escamez and Camilo Alonzo conquered nearly all of a large pocket in Lower Aragon extending below Aliaga and Castellote down to Mora de Rubielos. With their occupation early yesterday of Vallafranca del Cid and Castellfort, they now hold almost a straight line between Teruel and Alcala de Chivert, passing through Escriche, El Castellar, Valdelinares and Mosqueruela.
The important cross-road junction of Albocacer is now surrounded.
Spanish Government officials convoying the shipment explained that it was in “payment for orders for material placed in America by the Loyalists.” It was not specified whether any part of these purchases concerned war material.
The original plan called for overland transport to Havre but in order to avoid “accidents” the trucks were routed to Port Vendres from where the bullion will be shipped to the United States.
Reply #2 is a Spanish Civil War update.
I’m glad that things have gotten so much better in Mexico!!
that first article sounded like something out of “Atlas Shrugged”
Wheeeew, old article, that means Ana Barbara is safe.
“General Cedillo, who rode with Pancho Villa, resigned as Secretary of Agriculture in August, 1937.”
AFAIK the silver and gold never arrived to the States. It was kept in France and after the war mostly returned to Spain.
The rest of the Spanish reserves, which dated from the times of the American colonies, was transported to the Soviet Union to pay for military equipment.
Franco had to pay German and Italian equipment sending tungsten, used in hardening steel, from the Spanish mines during most World War II.
There was more to it than that, wasn't there?
As I recall the description of the actual movement, the Spanish gold was being sent to the USSR for "safe-keeping" by the Loyalist (i.e., Communist) government.
The actual movement was undertaken by Red Army troops from the central bank to the port of Cartagena, where it was stored in a cave at the Navy base. The Red Army maintained a guard, then moved it onto a pair of Soviet ships for shipment to Odessa.
Where it disappeared and hasn't been seen since...
It's the basis for a fantastic mystery that has yet to be written...
I don’t have that version. Mine follows:
The gold was transported through Cartagena to the Soviet Union, in principle, to keep it safe as well as for paying for military equipment. When Stalin had gotten all, he simply stop sending military aid to his “allies”. By then, the war was already lost.
It was the behavior of a banker, instead of a Communist!
I personally doubt that in the Soviet Union of Stalin something as precious could disappear without him ordering it.
I've no doubt the Spanish gold was commanded to "disappear", almost certainly at Stalin's orders.
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