The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-01
HUNTING DOWN VILLA.
An Essay in Satlrical Comment on
News From the Front.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUH-Sjr. The
ews per dispatches from the Mexican
border printed from day to day are sug-
gestive Of the %country's attitude on pre-
paredness. and must ofer comfort to
the nti-preparedness Society. When
the Mexican bandits made their raid
on Columbus, attacking the town and
its camp Of soldiers. many people were
much surprised. and the authorities In
| Washington seemed to feel that 1t was
really necessary to think over what had
happened and to consider whether some
thing ought not to be done. To take any
| action that might threaten war would
not do, of course. That was the n
thing to be avoided. The country Is
| making money now, and no one except
a few ~soreheads would like to have that
agreeable occupation interrupted. still,
Washington was really annoyed. and We
were told that preparations were being
made to punish villa for attacking a
peaceful town. firing It's buildings. loot
ing it's stores, killing United states
soldiers and killing American citizens
Including. perhaps. women II chii-
dren. villa really ought to be punished
and we must prepare to send an expe-
dition.
This decision was not reached at once.
The White House took time to think Il
over. and after its orders were issued
the troops at Columbus n elsewhere
were obliged to prepare. They had TO
put up their lunches and All their belts
with cartridges. Some repairs to arms
may ave been necessary, and perhaps
some to tentage and horse equipment.
However. days went by. and at last the
expedition started.
From somewhere in Mexico. or some-
where else, cheering dispatches began
to come back that preparations were
being made for n brilliant dash. Gem
eral Pershing was preparing to go mere.
there and to other places to cut on
villa. while Colonel Dodd was prepar-
ing to 20 around the other way and
block up sone canyon or other. The
way in which the different bodies Of
troops began to get ready was encourag-
ing to patriotic Americans,
Now letters come back from soldiers
telling OF the hardshirs OF the ca mpaign.
One officer IL said to have reported that
his head got cold every night. An
other officer. no names were given. de
clared that II was a difficult march. and
at night II was very uncomfortable To
sleep on the hard ground without cots
Others said they had been unable to
shave for two or three days.
To our peace loving citizens these
hardships appeal seriously more seri-
ously, perhaps, than they woul to the
men Of any of the half dozen nations
OF Europe who for eighteen months az
so have been fighting in the trenches
Though new to the present generation
Of warriors ~ the United States, I sus-
pect that the fighters of the old World
have become accustomed to the lack o'
cots To- sleep or and to going for some
days without being shaved.
I could wish that some young and
! active ppr man would scissor Du'
n lot Of these dispatches from Mexico
and. pasting tho cuttings together, in
tcrview some veteran OF the civil war
or some old timer who crossed the
plains from the Mississippi 10 The Pa
cifc coast in tho days before the trans
! continental railroads. The comments OF
the veteran or the old timer should h
given in detail. y. HoLBErN SMITH,
NEW YORK. March 81.