Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-06-05
WHERE BRUNT WOULD FALL
Advance On Mexico City Would Put
Enaineerina Corps to Test.

Should all efforts ut peace-making
| prove futile and the conquest of Mex
leo become necessary, the engineers
of the United States army would have
ahead of them one of the most diff
cult tasks ever presented to an ad-
vancing host.
Of the hardships of this march
much has been written. Compare
sons have been drawn with the march
of General Scott in 1S47, and only
| last week veteran of that famous
| invasion told the trials which beset
the host of which he was one. Medill
Mccormick has pointed out that IL
would require an army of about 25.-
600 men to take the capital and hold
the communication between the at
tackerS and the sea.
Hold the communication between
the attackers and the sea-" In that
clause there lies a greater problem
than any which has yet been discussed
For an advancing army is not like A
peaceful pedestrian, trudglng through
sunny and hospitable roads, sure OF
welcome from every inn. Rather, Iii
| is like an octopus, stretching forth a
wary tentacle. edging along, inch bv
inch. in the direction of its prey, but
keeping ever a fast hold Of the rock
that is its fortress.
When sherman marched from At
lanta to the sea, he cut off all com
munication behind him, but few mod
ern generals would dare to take that
risk. When they advance there is al
ways the necessity of Il base and an
open road behind them for retreat
should retreat become necessary.
There must be a railroad for the quick
delivery of supplies to the front and
for the carrying away of the wound
ed.
Above all, there must be a railroad.
The railroad is the artery that sup
plies the life blood to the men at the
front. The slender steel thread must
he kept i'm running order. It's tracks
must be kept clear, its tunnels open
and its bridges intact. Marauding
parties of the enemy must be driven
back at any cost, and when they are
so successful as to damage the rails or
destroy a bridge, that damage and
destruction must be repaired in the
shortest possible time. a few days
delay might bring destruction upon
the fighters at the front.
Should the march upon Mexico be
decided upon, then would the general
in command look well to this engin-
eering corps. From Vera Cruz to
Mexico City there are two railroads,
both notable for their steep grades,
their many trcstlcs and tunnels, and
for the mastery way in which the
engineering problems connected with
them have been solved. one of these
would be chosen as the route for the
march.
But the Huertistas would not be so
foolish as to leave railroad intact for
the advance of their foes The Ameri-
can army. without doubt, will find
every bridge blown up and miles upon
miles of track destroyed. The army
will necessarily foot it all the 264
miles. fording streams. climbing steep
mountain sides and tramping stony
roads in the torrential rain that is sure
to come.
Picture to yourself the misery Of
these men, with ratiOns for day or
two in their knapsacks. with no mail
from home. no news from the rear
and no method of receiving supplies or
news. Picture them again. with those
last two days rations devoured. and