LATIN AMERICA: In and About Mexico

Down Aguascalientes’ Main Street walked Harold G. Bretherton, U. S. Vice Consul. From behind rang out a shot which wounded the Vice Consul slightly in the back. The cause of the outrage was unknown, but it was believed that the bullet was intended for somebody else.

A few days previously, Richard H. Cole of St. Louis, the man who obtained U. S. recognition for Presidents Madero and Carranza, and who is now U. S. agent for the President-aspirant, Adolfo de la Huerta who was last year beaten by President Obregon (TIME, July 14, 1924) in the most recent of Mexico’s civil wars—this man Cole called upon President Coolidge at Swampscott, failed to find him at home.

It was alleged—nobody could find out for certain—that Mr. Cole left data to prove that General de la Huerta was preparing an attack on President Calles who was certain to be overthrown during the next few months. Documents were also laid before the U. S. President containing evidence of a number of outrages inflicted upon Americans by President Calles’ “Red” Government, thereby inferring that a Huerta victory would be well merited and to the interest of the U. S.

The City and State of Vera Cruz sent a joint claim to the Federal Government at Mexico City requesting collection from the U. S. Government of 1,645,000 pesos ($822,500) for damage incurred during the U. S. ocupation of 1914.*

* On Apr. 21, 1914, a U. S. fleet landed sailors and marines at Vera Cruz. The customs house was seized and the city was occupied, after some fighting, for the purpose of exacting an apology from Mexico for the arrest of U. S. gobs.