Fifteen Minutes

Feverishly excited Chileans expected a new Government any moment last week as former Dictator-General Carlos Ibanez flew home from a year of exile in Argentina. Dispatches reported that "60% of the armed forces are for Ibanez." But the Navy, Air Force and some infantry appeared still to support the self-styled "Sane" Socialist government of Don Carlos Guillermo Davila (TIME, June 27).

Years ago as a potent publisher Don Carlos helped to make General Ibanez Dictator. In return he was sent as Ambassador to Washington. The two men met and talked briefly last week, ostensibly as friends. Presently General Ibanez turned up at Santiago's Cavalry School, known to be a hotbed of his partisans. The telephone rang. General Ibanez was told by a member of the Davila Cabinet that he must get out of the Cavalry School and the capital. General Ibanez got out in 15 minutes, sped by motor to his farm near Rancagua, south of Santiago.

Meanwhile dapper Don Carlos & family moved out of their handsome house, moved into Casa Moneda, palace of Chilean Presidents. Tanks rumbled into the palace courtyard. Machine guns were set up on the walls. Two regiments of infantry who Don Carlos hoped were loyal took up defensive positions around the citadel of "Sane" Socialism.

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