The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-08-10
Invasion of Mexico Would Not Be Easy Task

ing at that point Q force sufficientiy large
to penetrate to the capital-in time. But
there are considerations Of terrane that
make operations from this point difficult.
At Jalapa. but eighty-two miles from the
coast. the country has already risen to
an altitude of 4.s10 feet, or nearly fifty
seven feet to the mile. Beyond Jalapa
and until Puebla is reached, the country
is every bit as difficult. At Puebla, about
IT. miles from Vera Cruz, the elevation
is no less than 1,125. The passes that
may be negotiated are few in number,
and all Of them easily defended The
terrane which an army on the offensive
would occupy Is such that artillery could
not be used effectively. What the loss
Of life would be in a series of engage
ments that would have to be fought
along the eastern escarpments which the
Central Plateau of Mexico offers is not
a pleasant thing to dwell on. The fact
that south Of Vera Cruz the terrane is
even more difficult and that in operations
toward the northwest the factors Of dis
lance and insalubrity Of climate have to
be met, leaves this part OF the program
anything but an inviting picture.
1t Is doubtful whether Mexico CITY
could be taken via Vera Cruz with less
than 125,0oo men. The only hope of the
officer in charge of these operations
would lie in the superiority Of numbers
the possibility that an extended front,
or line of attack would develop weak
spots in the defensive tactics Of the Mex
leans. Individual courage 10 q sadly
futile thing In terrane such as this, and
the fortune OF war generally Is with the
man behind the boulder up on the hill.
1t Is almost necessary to have seen
painting infantrymen scale heights to I'M
derstand this.
Might De Taken in Six Weeks.
Mexico City might be taken via Vera
Cruz In six weeks, IL no severe reverses
had been suffered. Seven miles per day
with the country to be carried Is no mean
performance.
Needless to say, the railroad to the
capital could not be used by the invading
forces, and such is the territory which
the line traverses that in many places It
could be put out of commission for
months. The line between Mexico City
and Vera Cruz is as difficult a piece of
railroad engineering as can be found.
The same is true Of most of the other
railroads operating east and southeast
Of the capital. Estimating the cost of
military operations at 81 per diem for
each man employed, We find that the
taking of the Mexican capital, outside Of
the mobilization expenditure and cost Of
equipment, would amount to $l2600,o00.
1t must be borne in mind, however, that
the case as here presented does not dis
count even a single serious reverse. With
the Mexicans hard to dislodge. the in
vading army might find itself checkmated
to such an extent that weeks would be
consumed in the carrying of points Of
strategical Importance. 1t must be re-
membered here that the American army
would fight uphill from the moment II
set foot on Mexican soil, and that every
crest would be point Of van
tage for the Mexicans. Most Of the fight
ing would occur in the defiles between
the escarpment walls; with fanatcal Mex
lean soldiery holding the heights. this
would become bloody work indeed.
The diversion movement upon lamp
leo would have little value, except It sus-
tained an invasion across the lower
courses Of the Rio Grande. Strategic
ally. Tampico is hardly on the map, and
the American military sphere to, be es-
tablished there would extend to the
north rather than to the west and south.
The country's topography determines
that.
But with Mexico City taken and with |
the territory toward the coast cleared.
the pacincation Of Mexico would not yet