New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-15


The present campaign may attain SUCH
proportions that the need for even
further increases may become lmpera-
tive.
Transportation Problem Grave.
TRANSPORTATION is said at the War
Department 70 be the chief obstacle TO
General Funston's movements. Inc
country into which the army is going
is almost without railroads, and the
lack o. water. food and forage viii
make it necessary to transport all sup
plies overland.
re army is now attempting 20 pur-
chase two trains OF motor trucks az a
cost Of about sl50,O0O Army officers
who have been clamoring for years for
adequate transportation facilities say
that had heed been given to these
rational demands Funston's column
could have been in Mexico days ago
ard the speedy termination OF the CAM
paign assured. As il is, General Fun
ston has been obliged TO mike all his
preparations since Friday, when The
President authorized the expedition
against Villa.
Il is realized in army circles here
that each day Of delay IN getting troops
across the border probably will add
weeks 10 the campaign.
Although officials are endeavoring
strenuously to suppress any hint OF
scandal, mutual recriminations are be-
ing INDUCED in, army men blaming
Congress and the Administration, and
Administration leaders limiting the
blame rests on the army.
Army Men Resentful.
From the army point OF view, it is
pointed out that the Administration
persisted in refusing General Funston
permission 20 cross the border on any
pretext until Colonel Slocum week
ago took the law in his own hands, and,
In direct violation of orders. rushed
his men after Villa several miles into
Mexican territory. With the orders he
had. it is declared General Funston
necessarily was unprepared for an in
vasion Of Mexico. and when the Adj
ministratiou. reversing its policy,
backed up Siocum's disobedlence with
an order TO pursue Villa, Funston vas
obliged to build an organization for
that purpose from the foundation up.
we are not al war said an oiheer
to-day, "and yet ii is necessary for the
border army TO be doubled before We
can ire a gun. The situation is not
new: the border has been threatened
for FIVE years. Foresighted people have
predicted all that time that this was
going 20 happen. We have maintained
a guard along the frontier. knowing 1t
was inadequate for the smallest opera
tion.
Calls Army No Match for Villa.
"The State Department has been
pushing out Mexican propaganda daily
ever since 10 recognized the Carranza
government. Villa has been reported 20
be on his last legs, begging to enter
the United States "a refugee. Three
DAYS before the Columbus raid the
State Department said Villa was going
toward Columbus TO seek refuge from
his relentless pursuers.
"And now. before we can send al eX-
petition in chase of this rebel, we have
10 ask Congress for 10000 more men
If the army is not bic enough to beat
Villa-and IL is not how could any
body charged with the public trust IN
Congress have supposed 1T was big
enough for anything ~
Administration officials caN attention
10 tho fact that Villa had been IN tre
vicinity of Columbus for several days;
that Colonel Slocum should have known
his exact whereabouts and movement,
and. finally, that the Villa band sue
ceeded in surprising Slocum's regiment
while a third of IL was on practice
march and the rest asleep. They say
that no amount of complaint from army
officers can blind people to the fact
that the army was negligent or ordi-
nary precautions.