Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1916-08-31
FRED FUNsToN's JUDGMENT.

The unattended but fortunate dis
closure OF Gen. Fred Funston's en-
phatic recommendation that Gen.
Pershings command be withdrawn
| from Mexico has revealed another i'm
portant phase of the Mexican situa-
ton which the administration had
earnestly sought to suppress Since
April Ii, Gen. Pershing's command
has been kept in Mexico, in constant
| danger from attack, not permitted to
advance, without achievements, to
the injury OF its health and morale,
| because Wilson could not
make up his mind, either to continue
| the pursuit of Villa or to withdraw.
In the effort to shift responsibility
for any military disaster which might
occur, Mr. Wilson and Secretary
Baker have persistently avoided ask
| ing the military authorities for their
opinion, but they inadvertently asked
Gen. Funston for his views in CON
nection with the proposed Mexican
conference and the gorgeous little
Kansan, without regard to how un-
welcome his words would be to Mr..
Wilson, came back with a fiat-footed
recommendation that the troops be
withdrawn from Mexican soil. The
administration tried vainly to sup
press the fact that Funston had made
this recommendation, but it leaked
out and knowing Funston they do not
dare deny it. Dispatches from Wash
ington say it was intended to suppress
it until after election.
Pershing, it will be remembered
was ordered into Mexico to break up
the Villa bandits" Mr.. Wilson said
Ito get Villa"-following the raid on
Columbus, on March 8. The punitive
expedition was brilliantly led and had
nearly captured Villa in the Sierra
Madra range when, on April II, the
Carranza forces at Parral treacher-
ously attacked the American troops,
killing and wounding several. The
Wilson administration Immediately
became panic stricken, ordered the
pursuit abandoned and "watchful
waiting policy adopted by American
troops in enemy country. In great
danger and at great expense, the
Pershing line into Mexico has been
maintained ever since, although If
he was not to go forward he had no
reason for being there and should
have been ordered back. Pershing
was then 500 miles below the border.
The retreat of the American soldiers
emboldened the Carranzistas again
to attack them at Carrizal, on June
ri, where two officers and a number
of troopers were killed. Arredoodo,
Carranzts ambassador, informed
President Wilson that the Carranza
soldiers fired by order of the first
chief"
Again the administration became
panic-stricken and Pershing was Sc
cretly ordered to retreat to Colonia
1870 miles below the border.
AS every military man knows, al
though few dare say it, Pershing has
been kept there for no reason what
ever save that Mr.. Wilson has been ,
unable to make up his mind and be
,ause he has feared popular criticism .
Il on the other hand, he appeared to
field to Carranza's demand that the ,
American troops be withdrawn, and /,
IN the other, loss of the belief of
iome of the uniformed voters, that
he has kept us out of war"
1t must be mighty embarrassing to :
he fixers at Washington to have a :,
iquare-toed. sensible general like d,
Funston telling the truth about j,
hings on the border. >