Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-11-07
ARMY MEN WHO KNOW SEE BIG
TASK AHEAD If UNITED
STATES INTERVIEWS.
LIVES OF MANY SOLDIERS
WOULD BE SACRIFICED
Invasion BY United States Would SOL
Idly All Mexican Factions and Army
Of Many Thousands Of Men Would
Be Rsquired-Two Huge Campaigns
Required If Explosion Finally Comes.
Especial Correspondence

washington, Nov. Army onlcerS
who have been thru the mill and who
are not carried away by any hallucina-
itions on the subject Of glory, are look
ing for some ugly work in Mexico if it
falls out that American troops have to
be sent over the border.
Few Of the army officers are en-
thusiastic over the prospect. True,
some Of the younger and more am
/ bilious ones are aching for trouble.
They want a change from barrack life
and border patrol duty. And it can be
! said for the whole army that if orders
come to move they will be obeyed with
eagerness because no soldier worth his
salt likes to lie about forts and military
posts for long at a stretch. All the
same. experienced officers clearly per-
ceive the difficulties of restoring order
in Mexico If Uncle Sam has to under
take the job.
No Before Breakfast Job.
One thing pointed out by well-in-
formed officers is that the notion it
will be before-breakfast job to quiet
things down in the republic to the
south Is an illusion. Mexicans are not
Americans when 1t comes to fighting.
At the same time. they can fight and
fight we'll and it is to be borne in mind
they have been fighting for several
years. This means that If the Ameri-
can troops invade the country they will
encounter, not all recruits by any
means, but lot Of men who have been
veteranized. who have been many
times under fire and who can not be
.ttl
the part OF the conquerers.
Nor does it follow, as so many be-
lieve. that there will be nothing but a
good army officers look for some good
sized and pretty stin engagements. II
1t prove to be true, as so often threat
ened by Mexicans. that the whole
country will unite against an American
invasion, that will mean that the
American forces will find themselves
opposed by considerable armies.
Two Extensive Campaigns Required.
II there Is armed Intervention, II may
be expected there will be one campaign
at least on 8 large scale in northern
Mexico and one In the region between
Vera Cruz and Mexico City. These
campaigns are likely to be OF much
more magnitude than is generally an
ticipated. II the view Of some officers
| Is the correct one. Mexican armies
| which may run up to $4,000 troops or
more are quite likely to be encountered.
When 1t il reflected that the American
troops will have to fight on the Of
fensive and the Mexicans will have the
defensive. this means that the United
States will have to get into action
with something else than regiments or
| brigades. It will call for operations
| by divisions. II not by one or more
army corps.
Outlook Not Pleasant.
II way could be found, in going
into Mexico, to go In with the support
| and good will Of the constttutionalists
that would. Of course, obviate much Of
the difficulty. But there is little IN
the situation thus far to warrant the
belief this can be done On the other
hand, the crossing Of single troop Of
American cavalry over the border, II
reports are to be believed. would in
flame all Mexicans alike. After the
principal campaigns, It Is admitted on
all hands. there will be no end Of
guerilla fighting. no end Of garrison
work in the towns and cities. This is
the aort Of thing OF which troops tire
quickly. especially the business OF
maintaining garrisons.
Senator Penrose recently said 10000
American troops could police Mexico.
In saying this, the Pennsylvania sena-
tor expressed the opinion Of plenty of
other folks. But there is practically
no support for such an opinion among
army officers or men who have had a
hand in the policing Of Cuba or who
have fought thru the bamboo jungles
and miasmatic swamps Of the Philip
pines. They know 1t will take a good
many times 10000 men and that lot
Of that number will leave their bones
on the other side OF the Rio Grande II
| the orders are given to go in.