The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-04

the rcdcrals are well supplied with ar
tllcry
According to official reports. however,
the Constitutionalists have comparatively
few men trained sufficiently to use field
guns with accuracy and effectiveness.
Neither is 1t believed by army officers that
49, "4.tinr of the embargo will greatly
rsstcu the attack on Torreon. already
long delayed, and they are stlll sceptical
of villas ability to reach Mexico city.
That the raising of the embargo will
rroyc u severe, II somewhat Indirect blow
at IIucrta Is conceded. officials here
aercc To- som" extent with the belicf or
the tonstitutionalists that announcement
OF the raisng Of 'he embargo VIII IN
crease the decentralization among iluertas
supporters. The fact that the United
states was willing TO take such direct
action looking toward the elimination Of
Huerta is expected to prove a cause OF
OBJECTIONS from the 1iuerta standard
win Iucreasr Bnnditry.
Another consequence of the Presidents
action which is predicted is that the
banditry which has sprung up in Chihua-
hun and some other sections controlled
by the icvoutionists will be increased
Already small bands hav" appeared which
find 1t profitable to take advantage or the
chaotic conditions in the territory held by
the rebels by raiding and footing. villa
has been obliged to give considerable time
TO running down these bands. but has not
yet succeeded In suppressing them any
more than has Iiucrta eliminated tn"
same condition In the north. with the
EMBARGO lifted II will he easy for these
bands to get arms without resort to the
elaborate and expensive processes "rn-
ployed by the Consttutionalist forces
II is well known here that the War
aud state Department officials have never
.s,N. tI,.. Al e..
lift the embargo on arms. u was re
ported that President Wilson was pre-
vented from taking this action last fall
BY the earnest pleadings of secretary
Bryan that such step could hardly be
counted as peace measure consistent
with the ideals of the present Adninistra-
ton.
Army officers regarded the possibility
o. the President taking such action with
much adherence. believing IT "A danger
Gus and unwarranted proceeding. Such
views were not of course ever expressed
publicly by army officers. They held too
that IL would make the final pacitcation
o. Mexico all the more difficult in case
Il were eventually undertaken 10y the
United states. because 1t would amount
20 supplying the enemy with arms.
The Presidents action to-day marks
the third stage of his policy in regard
70 the sending of arms into Mexico. From
his Inauguration in March last until July
10. 1918. President Wilson followed the
course of the Taft Administration and
permitted the Huerta Government to i'm
port from the United States all the arms
il desired though he had not recognized
the Huerta Government. In August in
his message to Congress he announced
thai both sides We're to be treated alike
and that the expectation OF arms from the
United States into Mexico for the use of
either side would be prohibited. Now he
has gone y step further and announced
that the reyolutonists are to buy arms
in the United States II they wish to do so
The financial embargo placed on Huer,a
by the United states, together with the
action taken to-day, amounts practically
TO the Washington Government favoring
the rebels at the expense of the Federals
though strictly speaking Huerta is re-
ceiving equal treatment by the raising OF
the embargo.
It is understood that the Constitutional
lists hope that the effect of the aid given
them by the Presidents action will be
10 enable them TO borrow money. Funds
have not been as plentiful among the
Constituencies AS has been supposed. II
il said. They hope now to draw to their
support persons outside OF Mexico who
have been timid about lending financial
aid because OF uncertainty as to the
futur" of the Constitutionalists.
The Presidents proclamation was not
forwarded to the Treasury Department
tonight hut acting Secretary Hamln
WIS informed unosticially of its issuance
and made preparations to communicate
with the customs officials in Texas the
first thing tomorrow morning when he
expects Secretary Bryan will bring the
matter officially to his attention
To Notify Border Oniciais.
kilograms summarizing the proclama-
ton Will be forwarded then to officials at
Laredo. Brownsville. Corpus Christi.
Eagle Pass. Buquillas, Preside. Del Rio.
FL Paso Columbus, y. NJ. Nogales.
Douglas, Naco Tia Juana, California.
san Diego and CaleiNo.
These instructions, prepared by Acting
Secretary Hamlin will be to the Eject
that arms and other munitions of war at.
10 be regarded by customs agents as
articles of legitimate commerce and per
mitted TO pass through custom houses as
such. No assurances are to be dema nd.d
as To the purpose for which the arms ar,
to be used. other than would be the case
with regard to articles offered for ship
ment into any foreign country other thar
Mexico.
The resolution Of Congress approved
March -. 1879 under authority OF which
President Taft issued his embargo procla
NATION is construed as still leaving with
President Wilson discretionary power foi
issuing permits for arms intended to bt
used by gucrrilas and bandits and Other
FORCES not nghting on the same plane as
villa. Xspata and Carranza. The discre
ton could be exercised. II is believed. onl,
through the insurance of supplemental,
pronuncamento or by other steps. which
the Administration has not slgnihed its in
tention TO adopt
The step which the Administration tool
to-day was urged upon President Wilson
ny members Of the Senate Foreign Re
lstions Committee last summer befor,
yohn Lind was despatched to Mexico city
Urges AMERICANS 10 ELEE.