The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1914-03-26
WILL Be WARS WORK
sNvAsioM OF MEXICO ~ Aneaa.
CAN vRooes WOULD sG NO
PICNIC.
MANY DIFFICULTIES IN WAY

osz'ssas wsSsd Nst stsks Al o. o~s
osetas. aN6 campaieN a1ieht D
eeese~ssa for Ae~tiss
oy GEORGE CLINTON.
Washinston.-Aany army o0csss in
Washington who have had long service
say that II the American troops are
oessrsd into Mexico 70 straightsa out
ths conditions there the task viii 10
vars work and not . pleasant sxcur.
ssoa. - some people seem thought
lessly to hold.
There are about 1900 troops within
striking distance OF northern Mexico.
This. heavily reinforced. can be made
Into An army corps big enough to
cope with any force which Mexico can
throw quickly into the field; but the
oimcuity will be that the Mexican
probably will not throw ono big armed
contingent into the open to gain or
to lose all In one battle.
The last time the troops were sent
70 tho Mexican border In any great
number was in tho fall Of 1891, when
Caterino e. Cara and . company Of
followers made . raid from Texas
across the Rio Grande and took Mex
lean military post, putting the com.
mandant snd . large number Of en-
listed men to the sword. Cara and
MS band then retraced their steps
Into United States territory. taking
TO the chaparal along the lower Rio
ofande. where they continued to CON
duct . hlibustering warfare and To
commit robbertes on both sides Of the
nvef.
1t vas believed at the time that
TARA was In league with . political
party in Mexico. and that he intended
To incite . revolution in the south
ern republic. the object Of which was
70 drive Daa1 out Of power and to
take up the reins Of government. The
Mexican oficials asked the United
States to arrest the nlibusterers, who.
using American territory ~ . base,
were making forays into the territory
of Mexico.
W eApVtuV"VDs
There are several oficers Of the
army who have been ordered to Texas,
possibly later to 60 with the forces
into Mexico. who had a part In the
attempt Of this government to re-
press the activities of the Cara rev.
olutionists and to arrest the leader
and his followers. These onicers
know the nature Of duty which will
meet them in Mexico. II 1t happens
that the American soldiers shall be
called upon to take the field against
the combined federals and constitu-
tionalists.
The Rio Grande rolls its yellow
length lazily along the border for
many hundred miles. Its chaparral
and desert bordered banks for many
yeArs have been at times the scene of
strife. In places the tangled trails in
the mesquite and prickly pear thick
cts have been the lurking places of
white ruffians warning against prop
erty and life on both sides Of the bor-
der. Westward and southwark of the
river the sandy and rocky stretches
years ago were almost constantly trav.
ersed by hostile bands of Indians.
1t took the troops Of the United
States government. which were thrown
Into the field in 1891. nearly two years
to round up and capture the band of
CATERING E. Cara. The nature OF the
country where the bandits operated
was particularly adapted to conceal.
ment, and In large measure 1t is
the same kind Of country in which
some bands In Mexico are conducting
their operations. OF course towns
have been attacked and the open coun.
try has been traversed by the men
In rebellion against the Mexican gov-
ernment. but the almost impenetrable
hiding places and, in some cases, the
almost impregnable natural forts are
not far distant from the scene of &C.
tion.
Might Continue for Years.
The army Of defense in such a case
needs only to be small to hold OF an
army Of offense, and. moreover, the
Mexicans. after defeat in open battle
will divide into bands. and by conduct.
ing \ guerrilla warfare. can hold OF
the end Of defeat for months and DOS
sibly for years. unless the counsel Of
the leaders prevail and they think
the better course Is that of sur
render.
Many difficulties Of the country in
which the American troops must oper-
ate II they invade Mexico is known
to the American military authorities.
Some of them have campaigned in the
country.
The difficulties Of the situation and
tho troubles that will come in an at
tempt to round up an active and elu.
sive foe are thoroughly appreciated by
the military authorities in Washins.
ton. 1t is not probable that they are
pleased to have the country think that
the troubles can b ended quickly n
tho army crosses into the territory Of
the southern country.