The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-16
It's Frightful Cost Suffi-
cient to Make Admin
istration Pause.
AN APPROXIMATE
ESTIMATE MADE
No Less Than 100000 Men and
$l,ooo,ooo a Day for Two
Years Would Be Price Paid
for Invasion of Mexico
by This Country's
Forces.
fspeclal 10 The r4mes-njspa,cb

Especial TO The rimes-Dispatch.J
Washington. February 15--"FIvc
hundred thousand men and a million
dollars day for two ycnrs!'
That is what intervention by the
United states in Mexico means, in the
opinion OF one Of the highest authori-
tics OF the government, who IL In a po-
sition 10 now what lie is talking about
In other words, the Tai, admins
tration realizes that Intervention In
Mexico means the plunging the United
states into q long and costly war.
There would be far less talk in favor
OF intervention. administration officials
believe. ii the country at large under
stood wha, such course would mean
10 the nation.
Probably the greatest single facto!
among the various elements Of tho
situation which would make interven-
ton in Mexico such "a tremendous I'M
dcrtaknG is tic intense DISLIKE. and
even hatred. which the Mcxicans feel
toward the government and people Of
this country.
Nntion-vtdc Resentment.
Should Mexican territory be invaded
by armed forces of the United States
there Is no doubt that the dormant
feeling OF resentment would be aroused
into q natl On wide manifestation Of
hostility to the Americans and their
purposes. Consequently, the American
forces would lave To contend with
every man. woman ana child of that
republic. The Mexican people, II Is
unprecedented. have not Jet forgotten
that their country was violated h. an
American INVASION more than sixty
years ago. and that treaty of peace
was concluded on Mexican soil.
In view OF these considerations II is
no.; strange that tho Washington au-
thOrities are inclined 10 tile view that
intervention in Mexico is TO he dreaded
az 81 national calamity
II Congress should authorize inter-
vention. tile first steps would be the
calling into action of the army of the
United States and its transportation 10
Mexico. This would make necessary
the purchase of shiLi TO carry the SOL
diers and the purchase of supplies
with which to arm feed and clothe
them.
Rarely Advance Guard.
Including the coas- artillery, troops
numbering about $1,000. there are In
the United States or,ir $4,000 regulars
available for service 1t is easily seen
then that the regular forces would hard
y be the advance guard OF the army OF
$4,000 Ten which, II is estimated,
would be necessary to cary out any
plan of Intervention
The militia would lie the first 10 he
called upon. There are now about 5000
officers and los, 900 enlisted men in the
militia. In the call for volunteers each
of these men would De invited TO join
tho volunteer forces But even this
would be only q beginning. as IT would
add at the most onl:. $4,000 men TO the
regular forces. Between 10000 and
10000 additional men would have TO
be obtained from the country at large.
Plans have already been drawn for
the opening OF host,lities. Two points
have been selected for tho pushing of
the forces into Mexico. These are the
northern frontier and the Gulf coast.
On the north. first blows would be
struck at places where railroads con-
meet Mexico TO the United States. La :
redo, Eagle Pass and Ell Paso offer the
most direct railroad routes into Mex
leo. or these. the Mexican National
Railway, with it's terminus opposite
Laredo. Texas. offers the shortest and
most direct means of ingress to the
most important sections of Mexico.
Seizure of all railroad rolling stock
and equipment at these points would he
the first move. Then cavalry would
he dispatched to seize and hold as
many points along the lines OF com
municaticn as could be taken.
be begun at Vera Cruz. This was
the program followed in the war with
Mexico in 1S47. The navy would prob
ably find almost its only part in the
war in reducing the batteries guard
ing the port of Vera Cruz
Once. the advance was begun, il
guard at either point along the s'I rail-
tha ss' 4on l 81 td sS5y
needed to hold each military office on
the line of communication OF an adj
succeed in reaching the capital thew
would have. TO leave behind them n
force Of at least $4,000 men merely TO
Task Barely BerIns.
TAKEN and sdTathh the ensa the city
contrGl of the. the capital, the TASK Of the
Some idea Of what they would be UP
of this city military critic whose
in the government military schools ~
Germany, and the United States He
Five years Of guerrilla warfare, ex-
tending into the mountain fastnesses
leo means to the United States aH ~ T hes
Central Mexico would be the only part
of the county con,d IN In Which deSstvs cam
would be series OF long -drawn-oi,i
lsirmishes-guerrilla warfare in It:
worst phase. -
ITO put Mexico in order once more
the American commanders would have
TO set up a military government. corn.
the country. This would involve tie
exercise Of control over 100000 square
miles. some Of which is desert and q
comuunicatiops. Those who Nave
studied the situation do not see how
even after order was restored, the
Mexico" s,fss- ~
with this prospect of much to loss
and practically nothing to- gain. tho
reslst tonthe last degree possihle de: