The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-10

have commenced. To all intents and
purposes that part of the republic is as
tranquil today as 1t ever has been or
probably ever will be.
Eject Would he Doubtful.
To what extent would the taking of
the capital influence the Mexicans is
now the question to be considered. To
be sure. when the Germans had taken
Paris in ISL, the backbone Of all resist
ance had been broken. There are many
instances of this sort in history. but in
this respect Mexico City means SO little
to the Mexicans that such a result could
not be hoped for. The pacification of
Mexico, for that could be the only reas-
enable objective or Intervention, would
have to be carried into the most remote
parts Of the republic. In that would lie
the difficulty.
There is the hope. OF course, that the
saner element of Mexico would by that
time realize that law and order was all
the American army demanded But this
is merely a hope, not well supported by
the country's antecedents. One has to
know the intimate history of political
Mexico. from Hidalgo and Juarez down,
to understand how little justification there
Is for such a conclusion. The Mexican Is
not above demanding that before he
would treat with the invader for his own
good there would have to be a complete
evacuation. Naturally, to this the United
States government could not consent. In
terminable guerrilla warfare would be the
consequence.
with bases established at Vera Cruz.
Mexico City. and Tampico. military oper-
atoms in the republic would be less diffi-
cult. But before the country could be
swept clean Of rowing guerillas and or
der established, the American army
would have to be greatly augmented.
Nothing short Of 10000 men would be
needed for this work. entailing an ex-
penditure of at. least $4,000 per day, or
$1s2. 500 900 in . year.
The claim made now and then that It
would take from ten to fifteen years to
subdue Mexico Is very extravaganza, OF
course. Yet the task might stretch over
three to four years easily enough The
public is SO accustomed to seeing maps OF
Mexico on a very small scale that there Is
constant danger Of Understanding the
extent Of the republic. The distance
from Laredo and Mexico City IL roughly
COS miles. from FL Paso. the distance Is
even greater, and between Matamoros
and Mazatlin lie hundreds Of miles OF
wish to try its metal on. Mexico Is q
country Of magnificent distances. not 80
much by reason Of extent rs by reason
of inaccessibility.
would Have to Get Railroad.
2 For strategic purposes the Americans
would be obliged to gain control Of the
City Railroad line from
the very first. With this in view, several
having San Antonio. Tex, as
their main base. would operate from the
north. The country north of Monterey
might not present any serious problems,
though In the vicinity Of Lampazos. N.
L., some resistance might be expected.
Here one of the flower plateaux rises to
an elevation Of about 100 feet from q
plain $50 feet above sea level. At villal-
DANA more encounters would take place.
The Mexicans even might decide to con-
test possession Of the railroad leading to
Monterey through terrane rendered
severe by the fact that the valley in
which the line runs ID thanked on both
sides by hills and mountains excellently
suited to guerrilla operations It would
be no small matter at any rate to keep
open this line of communication.
Monterey lies at an elevation Of 2,313
'eet. and II held by a force well supplied
with artillery. sege Of some duration
night precede its reduction. It IL not
likely. however, that the Mexicans would
make stand there. though. II minded
10 do 20. they could make its tenure pre-
,arious for long tima The mountains