New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-02
Huerta's Military Strength.


for.
Huerta's Military Strength.
Huerta still has much military strength
even il he loses at Torreon. The old man
Of Mexico City Is fighter. He is an
Indian, with an Indians courage and for
titude. He may fear TO die. but II he does
he hasn't shown any indication OF 1t so
far. He has something more than 5000
soldiers. With recent conscripuons the
number may be closer TO 5000.
OF these about 12,00O are in the vicinity
OF Torreon. The others are scattered
throughout the country, holding down In
cipient revolutions and fighting bandits.
If Huerta suffers defeat at Torreon II
will be a serious blow, but there is no
good reason for believing that this means
disntcgration of his entire force, or that
he will not be able to rally his troops
and make other stands between Torreon
and Mexico City.
There is little doubt that Huertas
army is better organized than that OF the
rebels. but this is balanced by the ap-
parently undenable fact that as class,
ers. Perhaps II is their northern blood.
Maybe their proximity to the United
States mas enabled them TO learn the les
son Of hustle and followon. Further, the
rebels have more incentive to fight. The
impulse may be disreputable because IL
has so much TO do with loot and ouuages'
but il is nevertheless there. on the other
hand, Huertas soldiers know little or
what they are fighting for. They arc
conscripts picked up from the streets,
POOR, ignorant poems for the most part,
but on.e they are soldiers they go where
their officers send them. even unto death.
There Is always in Mexico the chance or
the Unforeseen, OF a sudden change OF sem
timent, OF the disintegration OF man
power Huerta may encounter some such
thing, but it seems improbable II villa
advances to the south from Torreon, as
he may, although even his friends do not
think so. Huerta has resources TO block
his advance. He will still have an army
Of approximately 10000 or $1,000 men scat
tered through the country.
Mexico City has no Notifications, ou,
the city lies in valley. and the sur
rounding mountains would form bar
rier n Il ever got to the point where
Huerta had to coop himself In the capital
for last desperate stand.
So. II the theory that Huerta can last
is correct-and all things point to It's so
being-the American policy which de-
mands his elimination Is failure. Ana
II that policy requiring his enacement IS
10 be carried out some further action
from Washington will he necessary. Here
in. therefore, is one reason why so many
persons consider intervention inevitable.
No Confidence in Rebel Ability.
Looking at the situation from another
angle-supposng that the rebels win and
Huerta is deposed-there IS no confidence
in the ability of the Constituencies to
govern. even II they take Office. There Is
nothing TO indicate that Zapata, the ban
dit rebel of Morelos. whose following Is
growing while Huerta is occupied In the
north. will succumb to the rule OF Car
rama or Villa, or whoever else may be-
come President Zapata has aspirations
Of his own. He yielded not to Porfrio
Diaz, to de la Barra. to Madero or to
Hueftd.
ent man in Mexico-always rebel.
In consequence OF these conditions, and
considering the probability OF internal
suuabbling and almost immediate counter
revolutions II the present rebellion sue
ceeds the situation following rebel VIC
tory will be one Of chaos, with no prospect
OF peace being restored to Mexico. I'M
fortunate conditions which now prevail
will continue and there will be as much
need for a strong hand then az there Is
now. That is also a reason for the opin-
ion that interv ,ntion is the only solution.
Still another, mentioned in these dis
matches before. Is that there will be
demand for action from the United States
II the rebel leader Villa gets within strik-
ing distance OF the capital.
Then there is the er-present POSSIBLE
fly of a few more Bentons being killed.
Pressure from abroad IS likely at any
time TO force the hand OF the United
States. and It is certain that Europe will
not wait for the elimination OF Huerta
through the slow process OF financial dis
Indignation, the impoverlshment of the
nation and economic stagnatlon. Huerta
Is q tenacious WdI1lOT ne Will CllHS "
his office like a leach. He will get money
for his purposes when and where he can
and in doing so may take his country TO
ruin. But he will be long In the taking
He is good for months yet possibly
wear or two. and in the mean time for
eign interests are going 10 suffer. IL
really doesn't look as II 'watchful walt
ing can be made to last for more than
a few weeks longer.
So. II Huerta stays. action by Washing
ton will be necessary. II the policy does
not change. II he totters TO fall. some
one must take hold. There seems TO be
no one in Mexico TO take up the task. II
stands clear that II the United States will
neither interfere nor assist Mexico will
soon be in a state OF collapse which will
require action whether Washington wants
10 take IL or not.
WOuld Cut Senator's Franks,