Los Angeles skyline, August 9, 1921
Rif forces took Monte Arruit after a negotiated surrender. For reasons that remain unclear, including confusion or just a disobeying of orders, the Riffians then killed all about 400 to 500 of the 2,000 prisoners, keeping those who remained for bargaining purposes.
Charles R. Forbes was sworn in as the head of the U.S. Veterans Bureau.
The Scottish born Forbes had an unusual personal history and should have been suitable for his appointed role. He had joined the Marine Corps as a musician at age 16. Upon leaving the Marines, he attended university and graduated with a degree in engineering. In spite of that, however, he then enlisted in the Army in 1900 at age 22, overcoming an early charge of being AWOL at one point early in his service to leave the Army as a Sergeant First Class in 1908. He entered the Army again in 1917 and was a Lt. Col. by the end of his World War One service.
His period of leadership of the Veterans Bureau was marked by corruption and his divorce from his wife, who accused him of neglect. He didn't finish his full term and resigned in 1923. He was charged due to his activities with crimes which lead to a conviction, and an eight-month period of incarceration in Leavenworth.
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