Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-12-05

yOfk T1eOO, was que 10 tue TACT Luat
the campaign was undertaken with the
single view Of subduing Mexico OF
punishing her for Directing to our an.
nexation Of Texas and of forcing her
to recognize our ownership Of the ter.
ritory.
The campaign was begun In northern
Mexico only because we had troops
there and because It was the natural
place to begin II. When we saw peace
never would come that way the scene
Of operations was shifted south. and
the City Of Mexico was taken.
Causes That Led Up to War.
President Andrew Jackson in a mes.
sage to congress In 1887 had said tina,
insults to Americans in Texas would
more than justify war. At that time
however. he advocated mildness and
federation.
For some years before that the Unit.
ed States had been trying to acquire
Texas by purchase. Texas then was d
part Of Mexico, but was even less I'm.
der the control Of the central govern.
ment than are the northern states TO-
day. The population was made up
largely Of American settlers.
From 1929 to 1885 Andrew Jackson
and John Quincy Adams made Mexico
offers Of from $1,000. 600 to $15. o00, oOC
for Texas, all in vain
Then, on March 2, 1896. Texas de-
clared her independence az a repub-
lie. The Mexican army under Santa
Anna was defeated by the Texans un-
der General Sam Houston, and the in.
dependence pretty well established.
Mexico would not recognize II, but the
American congress did.
Texas wanted to Join the United
States, but Jackson would not con.
clude treaty Of annexation Mexico
had seld American annexation Of Tex
as would mean war.
Nine years later It was learned that
Mexico was preparing to recognize the
independence Of Texas on condition
that she would not enter the United
States.
In February, 1916, congress admitted
Texas a. a state. Texas claimed the
Rio Grande az her southern and west
ern boundary. Mexico claimed the
territory to the Nueces river, about
$50 miles north Of the Rio Grande.
Texas agreed to leave the settling OF
the boundary 10 the United States.
Invasion by Mexico.
To settle this boundary line General
2.ohs- Tev,no a. a~s,nvna~N ~ Aha
American troops IN the southwest in
July, 1646, was ordered 10 take hia
men into Texas and defend her ports
At the same time the American squad
ron under Captain Stockton was or
dered into the gulf Of Mexico.
Jan. IS, 1916, Taylor was ordered d
take up positions opposite Matamoros,
Aier and Laredo, Mexican towns with.
In 100 miles Of tho mouth Of the Rio
Grande.
Beginning the march on March 8.
Taylor in ten days had fortified q po-
sition on tho left bank at the mouth
Of the Rio Grande. In another ten
days he was within cannon range of
Matamoros.
The American and Mexican forces
were facing across the river. Gen.
eral Ardsta, In command Of the Mexi.
cans, demanded that Taylor retire to
tho Nueces. Taylor refused. and the
Nexicans crossed the Rio Grande.
On April "a a party Of sxty.three
American scouts was ambushed by
the Mexican forces. eleven killed or
Moxnded and the rest captured.
Nay Is, 1876, congress declared that
q state Of war existed between the
United States and Mexico and voted
$1,000 men and $10,ooo.000
These were the conditions.
Taylor had about 1900 men at the
mouth Of tho Rio Grande. American
Dhips-what there were Of them-were
In the gulf Of Mexico. We were con.
frooted with the problem of raising an
army Of $4,000 or 100, 600 men and rails.
ing It quickly-and getting It into Mex.
leo.
General Winfield Scott, in command
Of the American army. took charge of
the campaign from Washington. It
was decided to send three distinct
armies into Mexico. Tho army Of the
west was to march into New Mexico
and take Santa Fe, the army Of the
center was to take Chihuahua, the cap
ital Of the state Of that name. and car.
y on the fight II the northern prov
onces, and the third army. under Gen.
eral Taylor. was TO be sent into cen
trai Mexico.