The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1916-03-22
VILLAS CAPTURE
WON'T END STRIFE
Necessary For Our Forces to
Wipe Out All Bandits.
MANY TROOPS ARE NEEDED.
Unless the Job ls Thoroughly Done the
Border Will Remain In the Same
Chaotic Condition-Call For Soldiers
Showed Just How Unprepared United
States Army is.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.

y
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington, March 2~1.-[Special. i
Going into Mexico Is neither a picnic
nor child's play. On the eve of EN-
barking upon the movement our states
as well as our military men realiz-
ed that it was n great undertaking.
Chasing bandits through the noun
tains and chapparal and at the same
time keeping a line of communication
open will mean q large operating force.
1t may also be expected hat mistakes
will be made; hat the bandits will out
wit our generals; that there will be
disasters, and, in fact. that it viii be
anything but a holiday excursion.
For n number OF years there has
been talk Of Intervention and nearly
everybody who has given the situa-
ton serious thought has reached the
conclusion that only by Intervention
and virtually establishing n %protecto-
rate can Mexico be assured of peace.
That kind or an Intervention would
not mean the chasing of bandits so
much as the pacitication of the best
portions OF Mexico at first and then
gradually bringing the remainder of
the country under the same conditions.
What Is to Be Gslned7
Further than the punishment of VII
In nothing is to be gained by the pres
ent movement. After Villas capture
our troops win return. The border will
be in about the same condition, the
destruction of one bandit leader will
not bring peace to the country nor in
sure the safety of American lives and
property in Mexico.
In spite Of the purely altruistic at
fitude of our government Ii is probable
that most people would be better sat
isied if there was more punch in the
movement and knew there was to be a
general cleanup In Mexico even II 1t
meant n permanent p~rotectorate over
that portion OF the border near the
United States.
Army on Paper.
1t was i'm discussing the water pow
err bill that the senate learned some
thing about the United States army.
Myers of Montana started II by say
ING there was no hurry about prepar-
edness as there were 100000 men In
the army, and they could take care of
Mexico. OF course that brought out
the facts. the pitiful facts, that by rea-
son Of the army being scattered In the
Philippines, Hawaii, on the canal zone
and Of course the force in the coast
d~efenses, there were less than 10000
men available for the Mexican expedi-
ton.
Wanted the West TO Agree.
While the Shields dam bill was be-
fore the senate most of the time was
occupied by western senator's. who
seemed unable to agree on what they
wanted for their section. When the
water power bill was being pressed
Hoke Smith urged the western men to
get together. saying he wanted to help
the west and would vote TO consider
the water power bin and thus try to
find out what they wanted.
'Wil you listen?" asked Clark of
Wyoming.
Il will stay and listen" replied
Smith.
Il merely wish to inform the SEN
ator." observed Thomas Of Colorado,
that If he does we will entertain him
for a great many weeks"
The Old Question Again.
Discussion OF increases for the army
and navy and the general subject OF
preparedness has caused a great deal
of letter writing by constituents and
replies by members of congress-.
Il am for preparedness for defense,
but not for aggression Is what a
great many members have written TO
those who have urged them TO support
the presidents program.
That is just as safe as declarations
for an adequate" navy. No one can
say how much preparedness Is neces-
sary for defense nor distinguish be
tween defense and aggression.
Defense might mean keeping on our
own side of the Mexican border. Ag-
gression may mean the pursuit OF the
Mexican bandits into Mexico. The
trouble is that we have no dictionary
which defines these terms. Each man
must determine for himself what Is
adequate"
Time No Object.
President Wilson sent for leaders In
congress and told them that he wanted
business hurried and that there was
urgent necessity for taking up the mill
tary and naval bills. And this is the
way congress responded:
The senate spent the entire day In
talking about whether or not 1t would
consider a bill and hen voted to take
1t up, Notwithstanding the fact that
many senators virtually served notice
that 1T would be talked to death.
The house spent the entire day on a
bill to amend the juvenile court law
for the District of Columbia and did
not finish 1t. That bill should have
come from the committee In perfect
shape and passed in half an hour.