Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-14
ARMY OFFICERS WHO EXPECT
INVASION OF REPUBLIC
STUDYING HISTORY.
GENERAL GRANT LEAVES
VALUABLE INFORMATION
Participant in Scott and Taylor Cam
paisns Tells Story Of Campaign
Lee. Mcclellan, ssaurssard and
Other Netabtss Took Part in la,
vasion in Early Day.
Especial correspondence.]

Especial Correspondence
Washington. May 14.-Some OF the
army men. who have visions Of partici-
patton in campaign to Mexico City,
have been reading up lot on all
manner OF Mexican lore Of late. Espe-
cially. have they been studying the
campaigns Of Generals Scott and Tay-
lor in the first Mexican war. The stor-
les Of these campaig MS furnish a wealth
81 valuable information for the army,
providing it is to be called on to go
20 Mexico City and. perhaps, to restore
law and order IN Mexico
The last Mexican war was not merely
war followed by vast conquest Of ter
ritory but 1t was a training school for
the officers who fought the great war
between the states. Such officers as
Grant, Lee. Mcclellan, Beauregard,
Bragg, Pemberton, Phil Kearney and
many others that might be named got
their real training in the art of war in
that contest.
Grants Story Valuable.
Grant himself has told much Of the
story OF the Mexican war and some
of his statements are worth consider
understood that few officers went into
the civil war with more experience in
hard campaigning to his credit than
Grant. He was second lieutenant OF
the Fourth infantry. which is now at
Vera Cruz. when the Mexican war
broke out. Before the war ended, he
was promoted to first lieutenant He
saw practically every engagement Of
the campaigns Of Scott and Taylor with
the exception of the battle of Buena
Vista. fought by Taylor. When the
Mexican war broke out. Grants regi-
ment was with General Taylor. It re-
manned with Taylor thru all the fight
ing and campaigning until after tn.
capture of Monterey After that. the
Fourth infantry was sent to join Gem
eral Scott and made up part Of the
force that landed at Vera Cruz. Grant
was with his regiment thruout the
fighting that followed all the way to
Mexico City. He was rcsimental
quartermaster and at every stage of the
Mexican campaign saw hard service.
Moreover. he conducted himself with
credit. as the war department records
disclose.
Evaded yellow Fever.
AS Grant tells the story of the Mex
lean war, General SeoftShad no sooner
got his troops into Vera Cruz than he
cast about to get them out of there, be-
cause 1t was in the spring of the year
and the time when the visitations OF
the "vonito" or yellow fever were
most dreaded 1t was not long. accord
lngly. before the little army got away
from Vera Cruz and moved into the
nigh and healthy lands about Jalapa.
The result was that the troops enjoyed
good health and for the most part.
had little trouble with the yellow
fever.
General SCOTS route to Mexico City
is the one which the army will probably
follow. the experts say. However, it
was a route marked by many places
favorable for defence. And there was
much hard fighting. One of the big
factors that enabled the American
army to win under Scott was the bril-
liant work Of the engineers. At Cerro
Gordo. where the first battle after
Vera Cruz was fought, the Mexicans
held q position which it was imprac-
ticab1e to take from the front. The en-
gineers. such officers as Robert E.
Lee, Mcclellan, Beauregard and others
who attained fame in 1875, went far
around the mountains to the right, cut
roads over them, had artillery dragged
up and let down the cliffs by hand, and
struck the Mexicans in the rear. This
was but one sample Of numerous bril-
liant engineering operations in the
campaign. If there is another cam
patsn to Mexico City there will be call
for further work Of the same sort, tho
the difficulties Of reconnaissance will
be greatly lessened by the use Of aero
planes.
Omen Road Not Esssnt;aj
More or less talk has been INDUCED
about the need of big force to keep
the road open between Vera Cruz and
Mexico City II the army has to go
there. The keeping of this road open,
however. 10 probably less essential than
might be supposed. True, it would be
desirable. But the army that goes to
Mexico City can live sf the country II
it has to. SCOTS army found it simple
enough to obtain plenty Of supplies en-
route and there is no doubt Funston
could do the same If he had to. No
body probably knows this better than
Funston and nobody would be more
willing to take q chance on 1t.
scott's army Of conquest, the army
that marched to Mexico City in 1s47,
was only about 10000 strong. At times.
because of the expiration Of enlistment
OF course, II a march to Mexico City
becomes needful, Funston. or whoever
commands, will have more than 10000
troops. But there is little reason to
doubt that 10000 American troops
could do the task, II properly supplied
with artillery and ammunition. and
properly led.
Scott and Taylor overcame Mexican
armies several times as great as theirs
and it is the testimony Of good officers
then that the Mexican soldiers many
times fought hard and WELL They fight
we'll today, but neither in morals or
efficiency or differing can they rival
American troops.
10 That What Were Coming To7
imagine the feminist home rather
as large block of flats in a garden
over common restaurant; the staff
IS directed by an elected manageress
and her deputy competent
kitchen staff, under a we'll paid chef,
prepares table d'hote meals for the
lazy and q lengthy Ia carte bill for
the fastidious. Everything
that can be done to throw the business
Of the household upon salaried staff
il dons.-W. Z. George.