The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1914-04-24
DEC
Will HAM A
HARD UCCIE
Former Train Master in Mexico
Does Not Smile at Talk n
- + Of War. s Ri. 4.
EXPRESSES FEAR FOR E :@
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
Says Rurales Will Pick Off Our
Men; Predicts GUERILLA War
fare Throughout.
From Tuesdays Daily.

From Tuesdays Daily. >==:s@.. =:
AM. Dafoe, chief dispatcher of the
Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific Railroad
company at Virginia, who formerly
was train master Of the National rail
road in Mexico, disagrees with per-
rons who predict that the United
States will have little trouble dis
losing of Mexico if the two countries
Engage in war.
ut will be no trick for Uncle Sam
to bottle up the Mexican ports, but
when it comes to interior fighting this
country will face an entirely different
proposition" said Mr.. Dafoe this
morning.
Mighty Poor Warships. -.
"Mexico has five or six warships
only and they are mighty poor. I
have seen three Of the battleships in
anchor at Vera Cruz and they do not
compare in the least with the great
warships Of the United States navy.
We can sail down there and capture
the ports and the Mexican government
probably will think little of it. Huer-
ta's government will play for a bigger
game, l think. His plan no doubt
will be to get out armies into the in
terror, where from the mountains and
foothills the guerellas will pick our
men off right and left. If the war is
carried in the interior a guerilla war
fare might be carried on indefinitely
with the American armies suffering
great losses.
Rurales to Be Feared.
"The Rurales will be the hardest
proposition the United States will
have to deal with. They are trained
fighters in the employ of the Huerta
government. They are hired for the
ole purpose of fighting and they will
go the limit. The Rurale is born
lighter and he has been given every
thing he needs to go ahead with by
he government. He is a powerful
Mexican Indian Rides in the saddle
splendidly, knows how to use his arms
and is mounted on as fine horsefesh
IS one cares to see. When the United
States troops meet these fellows they
will know what real fighting means
The Rurale means business and the
minute we attempt any fighting inland
we certainly will hear from him.
have seen many of them in their khaki
uniforms and big sombreros and they
sure look the part Of the real Mexican
fighting man and soldier.
Won't Protect Railroads.
~ do not think the Mexican gov
eminent will loose any time protect
ing their railroad property. Instead
hey will destroy miles of road in any
effort to tie up the Americans. If wal
is declared and we get into Mexico We
will see one Of the biggest struggles
in the history Of this country. I hon.
estly believe. 1t is no comic opera
proposition as this country most like.
iy will find out"
Mr.. Dafoe was with the Nationa
railroad five years and has Travelled
extensively in that country. He says
the railroads there are as we'll equip
ped as they are in this country ane
that many Mexicans have supplantet
Americans in railroad service. Whe1
the Mexican government first tool
over the National it established train
ing schools for the men under compe
tent instructors and gave orders fo1
rs many Mexicans to be- employed a!
possible. While the Mexicans Learned
:ailroading rapidly they have neve:
developed into dependable employees.
Huerta a Bad Man.
Mr.. Dafoe has seen Huerta OF
various occasions and describes hin
rs just the sort Of man as the gov
eminent at Washington has come t,
consider. He says man who resem
bled Villa at one time worked on tn,
National railroad and he believes h,
was the present Rebel leader. Mr.
Dafoe does not think it strange tina
Villa has obtained such a stronghold
in Mexico. He says that any one VIII
appears to be leader, fighter an,
can buy plenty of Mexican whiske,
FOR the Indians of that country cal
soon establish following of men VIII
will fight for him until someone els
comes along with more tempting of
fer. -.