Semi-weekly herald., 1913-03-03
INTERVENTION A GIGANTIC
TASK FOR UNCLE SAM
Washington, Feb. 27,

"Five hundred thousand men and a
million dollars day for two years!'
That is what Intervention by the
United States in Mexico means, in
the opinion of one of the highest au-
thorities of the government, who is
in q position to know what he is talk
ing about.
In other words, the Taft cdministra-
tion realizes that intervention in Mex
leo means the plunging of the United
States into long and costly war. The
military experts of the government
are convinced that to intervene in
Mexico in the present state of affairs
would bring upon this country one of
the most gigantic tasks it has ever
undertaken. They declare without ex-
ception that the enormity of the oper-
alton necessary for successful inter
vention in Mexico would make the
war with Spain look like an after
Moons skirmish by comparison and
reduce the Philippine insurrection to
mere incident.
There would be far less talk in ia
vor Of Intervention, administration of
ficials believe, if the country at large
understood what such a course would
mean to the nation. At least officers
Of the government find it difficult to
believe that any patriotic American
would openly desire to see his coun-
try plunged into a struggle which
would cost the United States millions
of dollars and the loss of thousands
of American lives.
Fifteen years have passed since the
war with Spain. Army and navy of
ficials and diplomatic officials as well
have not forgotten what even that
brief struggle cost the country. They
attribute the lightness with which
many Americans including a few in
high places, advocate Intervention to
the fact that they remember only that
the United States was an easy victor
in a war that lasted less than three
months and which was practically de-
cided by two naval engagements in
which the American forces suffered
practically no loss.
Though Mexico has not today any
thing like the prestige possessed by
Spain at the time of the Spanish
American war military experts say
that to measure the proposal that the
United States intervene in Mexico by
the war of 1898 is to commit the
greatest possible error. Such a judg-
ment of the situation can lead only
to false conclusions and to self de
ception as to the magnitude of the
task.
Probably the greatest single factor
among the various elements of the
situation which would make interven-
ton in Mexico such a tremendous un-
dertaking is the intense dislike and
even hatred, which the Mexicans bear
toward the government and people of
this country. This national feeling
extends in Mexico from the highest
to the lowest, despite the fact that
thousands of Mexicans find it con-
venient to receive Americans cordial
ly and accord them and the United
States government the most respect
full treatment.
Should Mexican territory be in
vaded by armed forces of the United
States there is no doubt that the dor
mant feeling Of resentment would be
aroused into nationwide manifesta-
tion Of hostility to the Americans and
their purposes. Consequently the
American forces would have to con-
tend with every man, woman and child
Of that republic. In fact during the
two years in which Mexica has been
the scene Of constant turmoil and dis
order the threat has repeatedly been
voiced on every side that all internal
dissensions would be forgotten and
III forces united to repel the invader
1t Whatever the cost.
The assertion is made in some quar-
ters Of the United States that this
Of the Mexican people with
With regard to = possible invasion Of
thsir country BY the United States