Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-11

General Francisco villa, the George
Washington of Mexico. must have gone
crazy
That is. the only exclamation which
Lester =. Barlow. of Los Angeles. WIN
was for a year and half head of the
Villa Ordnance Department. can give of
the actions of the General during the last
few days. Mr.. Barlow says he thinks the
privations the General has suffered have
affected his mind.
81 do not approve of the present ac-
tions of Villa and | want to see him run
down and killed" said Mr. Barlow. at
the Colonnade Hotel, 18th and Chestnut
streets, today. But ! can youcl for his
past loyalty to the United States was
serving with him when he did everything
to cooperate with the United States. lie
is the only Mexican leader who has ever
been in sympathy with American prog
reSsiviSm."
Mr.. Barlow declared that the Govern.
ment should compel all Americans to
leave Mexico at once. for If they do not
do so within the next 10 days they will
be unable to get out.
He blamed the present crisis on
"watchful waiting" and says that the
United States lost its last opportunity to
win Mexican respect and confidence in
October, 1914, when it refused to recog-
nize the convention of Agnas Calientes.
At that time all parties threw down their
arms and held a 40-day conference. Villa
himself remained at distance so he
would not influence the convention
villa is absolutely sincere in his consid-
GRAFTON for his country" said Mr.. Barlow.
"He was staunch patriot and good
man when | knew him. The talk about
him being a drunkard is not true. In the
year and a half l was with him, never
saw him drink once. Friends who have
1snn fNrt ORC 90, Ia mn tnIHp aI
liquor What he is doing now is either the
result of a diseased mind or an effort 70
bring peace to his country through Amer-
can intervention
Mr. Barlow is of the opinion that the
MeXicans have given the United States
every possible chance to bring about
peace. but the Administration by its
''watchful waiting" policy has created the
present crisis
The entrance of L. S. troops into Mex
leo will mean a war, according to Mr.
Barlow, who says that all parties will
unite, 100000 strong, to fight the Amerf,
cans. He said the Government should
not wait, but should send battleships to
Vera Cruz at once. He says all military
authority should be given to Generals
Wood. Funston and Scott at once, and
that the President, Secretary of War
Baker and Secretary of the Navy Daniels
are not as competent to handle the stua-
ton as the three generals.
THE war, which 1 believe the entrance
of United States troops into Mexico will
provoke" Mr.. Barlow said, will be a war
of few big battles, but many massacres.
The MeXicans are good fighters. reckless
and inconsiderate of what may happen.
They can live on little, while our troops
need the best provisions and care in the
Mexican climate The question of trans
portaton will be a determining factor IN
deciding the length of the war"
IF the Mexican is the fiend he is pic
tured." he added. 'it is because nothing
has ever been done for him. He Is the
result of unjust treatment by foreign in
terests. Perhaps if / had interests in
Mexico I'd be narrow in my opinions, too
AS it is, | have tried to be fair after see
ing the MeXicans point of view tor a year
and half"
Mr. Barlow is in this city now in con-
nection with a secret aerial torpedo de-
vice he has invented and which the Gov
ernment is investigating. 1t will be test
ed at Sandy Hook in few months. HIS
model is being copied at the Frankford
Arsenal.