The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-24
THE MEXICAN SITUATION.


! Great fear for the safety of Ameri-
cans is now being expressed by the
jingoes who are DESTROYS of rushing
| this country into a war with Mexico.
for that is what armed intervention
would mean. But this much is GER
tain. AS soon as a United States ex-
pedition started on it's way across the
Rio Grande, 1t would be a sure signal
for the slaughter of every American
who was so unfortunate as to be with
in the boundaries of that country. This
would be the first reprisal that the
Mexicans would make. And so the
situation is most delicate so far as the
safety of the Americans in Mexico is
concerned.
But in all probability there is much
exaggeration in the reports that come
from one source and another concern
ing the present plight of most of the
Americans in Mexico. They are being
exploited by those who have selfish
interests at stake, who would profit
in a variety of ways If Uncle Sam were
to lead his soldiers on a mission of
Mexican pacif1cation- 1t was exag-
geration of like caliber that brought
on the unnecessary war with Spain.
And President Wilson and his advisers
are doing well in going slow with the
framing of a new and more vigorous
Mexican policy, regardless of any
pressure that is being exerted by for
eign governments, or by the mouthings
of the flrebrands at home, both inside
and outside of the halls of congress.
Those people who have an idea that
it would be little more than a picnic
for the United States army to quell the
turbulency in Mexico are thinking
through their hats. OF course. there
would be an eventual triumph of
American arms. But it would not be
brought about in a few months nor
without the shedding of much good
American blood. Neither could it be
achieved merely by the regular army.
A huge force of volunteers would be
needed. Army officers, who know
whereof they speak, think they are on
the conservative side when they esti-
mate that at least use, 900 men would
be needed to bring about and pre-
serve peace in Mexico. Some people
seem to labor under the hallucination
that the three brigades with an ag-
gregate of 13, 900 or IA. 900 men, which
are now encamped at Galveston and
Texas City, constitute a force that
would be sufficient TO establish order
in Mexico, and within a fortnight or
So But army officers know differently.
They believe that these brigadeS could
be landed at Vera Cruz and marched
on and into the possession of the City
of Mexico without much difficulty, and
that they could easily overcome any
resistance that might be offered
against such an expedition. But the
taking of Mexico City will not mean
the conquest of Mexico like it did in
the war of 1896 1t would just be the
beginning of the Mexican campaign.
To bring about peace in Mexico, It
would be necessary for the United
States to garrison practically every
town in the wide domain of the coun-
try from which veritable bush-whack-
ing expeditions have to be sent out
against the recalcitrant Mexicans.
If the United States attempts the
pacification of Mexico the undertaking
will be a big one. 1t will cost much
money and the lives of many good
Americans, who are needed at home
for other and more substantial pur-
poses, and who can i'll be sacrificed on
any field of battle. To rush madly
along into a war with Mexico just to
appease the jingoes and certain mon
eyed interests would be folly, folly of
the worst sort. They never stop to
count the cost to others.