Today in the Sobel Timeline: August 13

On August 13, 1914, at the height of the Hundred Day War, Mexican President Victoriano Consalus removed General Vincent Collins from command of the army defending Mexico City from the French Expeditionary Force, which had been advancing on the city from its beachhead in Tampico for four weeks. Consalus replaced Collins with General Emiliano Calles, the commander of the Durango military district. Sobel notes that Consalus selected Calles primarily because he was on the scene in Mexico City at the time, but also speculates that Consalus sought to counter French appeals to the U.S.M.'s Mexicano population by appointing a Mexicano general.