Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-14
THE WAR WILL
LAST 10 YEARS
SAYS BUTLER
Head of Methods
Missionary Work
in Mexico Tells of
Conditions There
Reports Of knti-AmeTlcan Out
RACES Greatly Exaggerated

New York, May 1S-(SpeeiaD-That
war between the United States ana
Mexico if begun now will probably last
ten years was declared today by Dr.
John W. Butler, for over thirty years
head of Methodist missionary work
in Mexico.
DR.. Butler has Just arrived IN New
York from New orleans TO which port
he was brought on the steamship Mon
terey from Puerto Mexico he states
that there were 63T American refugees
on board the Monterey which has
capacity of 222. The party of twenty
one Methodist missionaries were as
signed one cabin with two berths.
Two or three of the fifteen ladies' IN
the group occupied the cabin each
night. and the rest of the party slept
on the deck sometimes with ana some
times without mattresses.
The refugees were not allowed 10
bring any trunks out of Mexico ana
many had to be helped with clothing
and equipment upon arriving IN New
Orleans.
"If our people go to war with Next
co now" says DR.. Butler, history VIII
return the verdict of General Grant
regarding the war of 1917. General
Grant said The Mexican war Is the
most unjust and unrighteous war OF
modern times.
"Our war with Mexico, If once start
ed. will not be over inside of ten years
T think no one doubts that within sew
enty-two hours after war was declared
our gun-boats could take possession
of every port on the Gulf and Paelhe
coasts, and perhaps in few months
they would take possession OF the
leading cities. But there is vast ter
rltory stretching from the Rio Grande
TO the Guatemala line which is very
mountainous and broken with deep
rayines. Guerilla warfare could be
carried on there indefinitely.
run a. line across from Vera Cruz
to the Pacific, a distance of less than
three hundred miles in straight line,
and YOU will repeatedly encounter
mountains 5000 to 10000 feet high and
valleys almost on a level with the sea.
All this territory is very familiar to
the natives.
1.-THE first enemy our boys would
meet would be the fevers on the coast.
The next would be the pulmonary
troubles of the high lands. These two
things alone would claim more VIC
tins than the battle field. All the GUS
toms houses of Vera Cruz would not
pay our debt for the next twenty
years"
DIR. Butler states that the reports
of anti-American outrages in Mexico
have been much exaggerated. No
American has been hurt in Mexico
City, although property has been
damaged.
Just after the taking of Vera Cruz
we were awakened in our house in
Mexico City one morning about four
O'Clock by the sound of the breaking
of glass. Lifting the curtain We saw
a group of ten men breaking with
crow-bars the glass windows of Am
erican stores and houses along the
streets. They came to our house, saw
the church notices on the door and
passed on. We later found that the
windows and some of the furnishings
of every American building except
ours around the entire square, had
been destroyed.
1T received a threat signed by three
names but paid no attention TO it ex-
cept TO hand it to the chief of police.
"A party of Americans from Aguas-
caIientes on their way to Mexico City
were held up and suffered indignities
and rough treatment at the hands of
federal troops. An American consular
agent who was with them, is now in
Washington registering a complaint.
1.-THE majority of the Americans in
Mexico are of one mind in the opin-
ion that all the present trouble might
have been averted by granting some
form of recognition to Huerta. The
only hope left is that something may
come of the Niagara Conference. That
is not probable since both Huerta and
Wilson are determined on the ques-
ton of recognition. Huerta will not
eliminate himself, nor is he apt to
fee the country. I know Huerta and
believe that he will not leave Mexico
until he is carried out feet first