Appropriate Steps

Twenty-two years ago little Augusto B. Leguia was President of Peru. He was President last week, and for only seven of the intervening years had he been out of office. During his first term abrupt persons kidnaped the kinetic little man, who has been called the "Bantam Roosevelt of Peru," tried to force him to sign a written resignation at pistol's point.

"Sign!" shouted a conspirator. "Sign for your mother's sake!"

"I thank you for reminding me of my mother," cried Little Leguia, rolling his eyes piously. "That courageous woman would not have her son take such an unworthy step. I will not sign!"

Before anyone could shoot him, federal cavalry dashed to the rescue. Anniversary of this great occasion has become a national holiday known as Character Day. Scarcely anyone has ever dared ask President Leguia to resign since.

One who dared last week was Lieut.-Colonel Sanchez Cerro in Arequipa, far to the South.

News came to President Leguia that rebels had gained control of the departments of Arequipa, Puno and Cuzco. Announced the Leguia government:

"The government is taking appropriate steps."

Appropriate steps were: to order out the air force; send the Peruvian cruiser Coroncl Bolognesi with 400 troops, the depot ship Lima to bottle up rebels in Mollendo; demand pledges of loyalty from the remaining military commanders.

Revolt spread quickly. Other garrisons and university students joined. But President Leguia, outwardly unperturbed, went as has been his Sunday custom for years to the St. Beatriz racetrack. Lima's chief of police skedaddled. The cabinet resigned. President Leguia's "appropriate steps" broke into a run. At a midnight conference he appointed a new cabinet of military friends. Colonel Gonzales of the civil guard broke into the room, declared that cabinet unsatisfactory to his insurgents.

President Leguia: 'T am disposed to bow to any decision of armed forces. . . . Now those who take over the power will see the bitter difficulties of government." General Manuel Maria Ponce took com mand of the revolutionary junta. President Leguia sent an intimate, con soling message to his three daughters dis mayed at Chosica, a resort 30 miles from Lima. His two sons and he entered a swift motor car, sped to Callao, boarded Peru's other cruiser, Almirante Gran, sailed for Panama, where he had prudently arranged passage for Europe on a commercial boat.

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