New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-01-27

cattle but depend entirely for their supplies upon
the raids which have described"
"What is the disposition of the Mexican authori-
ties toward these outlawsV
1.-THE raiders are never punished for their unlawful
acts" he said land the local authorities not only
wink at them but actually share in the profits of
these deprcdations. Cortna, whose reputation you
well know, is Brgadier-Genera in the Mexican
army, and is also a chief magistrate of the district
of Matamoros, an Office corresponding to that of
District Judge in this country. The Federal Gov
erment of Mexico, if it were disposed to do 80 is
unable TO protect frontier, and so long as the
local authorities share in the profits of the depreda
tons, and the citizens generally are benefited by
them we can expect no measures to be taken on the
other side to stop them"
"YOu say that the Mcxicans along the border gen.
orally profit by these raids. How Is thatF asked
"The cattle which stolen III Texas" he ex-
blamed "are sold in the towns and cities along the
Mexican border at average rate of ~ or - head
BY driving them to Monterey from Sl2 TO 30 head
can be obtained for them. Do nj you see that there
is ample opportunity furnished in this way for
very profitable tradei Why, that country has been
built up on the profits of this illicit trade"
The Navy Department recently sent to the Rio
Grande 4 gunbOat and some steam launches 10 patrol
the river" / remarked; have they succeeded III
giving you any protectionP
"Not in the least TIE Rio Bravo lies just above
Brownsville unable to no any further up the
river. She cannot even turn around. This boat, as
you NAV know was an Alabama River steamboat
with very wide guards wholly unfit for service on
the Rio Grande because she draws altogether too
much water and cannot be turned quickly enough.
But even if boat which could navigate the hlo
Graude to be sent there she would be OF no use
at all Ii a leader of band OF MeXicans was To IN
form the commander of such a boat that lac WAS
about 70 cross the river with II herd of cattle at
point mile distant in a straight line, 1t would gem
orally be necessary for the boat on account oil the
crooked character of tho river TO 90 seven or elght
miles in order to reach that point, and the time that
would be consumed in getting up steam and gong
there would he sufficient to allow the MeXlcanS to
cross with all their cattle. The only use 10 which
boats could possibly be put would be in transferring
troops across the river. provided authority was gwen
To pursue the raiders into Mexico"
How do you think these dcpredatons can be
stopped I" asked.
"Only by sending to the Rio Grande frontier an
effective force Of cavalry, with orders to follow the
Mexican raiders the river and punish them on
their own territory was his reply. 1--WE must
make the risk attending these raids very great, or
else they never will be checked. As long as young
men in the Mexican cities along the border by lew
DAYS work, and easy work at that, and with very
little risk for they not intercepted once in 20
tmeS) can make from 500 to 5000 apiece 10y
stealing Texas cattle these raids will continue but
if our troops could follow them into their own ter
ritory take the cattle away from them, and punish
them severely, and if such punishment was reason
ably sure 10 follow even One-haf Of these lawloss
expeditions this practice would he stopped
Then you do not think that large force OF cav
airy stationed on the American side of the river,
would be able give the required protectionr re-
marked.
NO OF course the larger the force Of troops STA
toned there the better chance there would be of in
tcrcepting few Of these bands. but from what
have told you Of the nature Of tie country, you VIII
see that two or four or even six, regiments Of cav
airy scattered along border of 300 or 100 miles
would be able 81 prevent comparatively few OF these
outrages. The raiders always keep their scouts ont
in advance and generally well informed OF the
movement Of the troops, and with their perfect
knowledge Of the trails through the chaparral,
they are often able to eyadr them even when IN
their immediate ncighborhood." ave arc hoping,
he said, 10 the conversation closed "that the in
vestigaton uow making by Col SchlcichcI's Com
mi tee will result in the adoption Of some effective
measures of protection" I'll W.