The Washington herald., 1916-04-06

in Mexico City have had their nerves
played on so much in the last two or
three years that they have become pretty
well frazzled. Hysterical is exactly the
word to describe the state Of mind OF
nearly all my countrymenshere.
They are all pessimists and calamity
howlers.
II they would keep their mouths shut
and mind their own business there
wouldn't be half as many scares as there
are. As a matter OF fact, there Is no oc-
casion for a scare down here and hasn't
been for a long while. But the Ameri-
cans in Mexico won't have It so. They
gossip continuously and foolishly and
start rumors that are soon accepted as
facts and spread a contagion OF fear all
over this country, and the United States
as well.
OF course in the two troubled districts
there Is danger. Life and property are
not safe up In the northwest near the
border where Villa and his outlaws have
been operating. Nor are they safe in the
state Of Morelos and the surrounding
neIghborhood, where ZapatR and his
forces are still strong and active. But
in all the large cities and in three-quar-
ters Of the country districts an American
Is just as safe as he Is In Canada
Contagfon of Fear.
During the recent scare here resulting
from Villas raid on Columbus and the
fear that war between the United States
and Mexico would follow II American
troops went into Mexican territory, the
Americans in the city went fairly on
their heads. In = few hours. the whole
there was not the slightest reason for It
was ashamed OF them.
The women, I am sorry to say, were
the chief cause OF the rapid spread OF
this fear cOntagion. They started ridi-
culous stories and exaggerated each
one ten times In tho telling.
When I tried to reason with any OF
my fellOw-countrymen and beg them
TO be calm they shut up by saying that
I was new to the country and did not
know the Mexican character.
They just naturally insisted on being
scared and piled down to Vera Cruz in
great confusion and discomfort, with
out stopping to think that there was
no chance for them to get away from
there for several days and no place
there for them to stay.
One rumor that started was that
American marines had already landed
at Vera Cruz and that street lighting
WAS going on. It was obviously i'm
possible for marines to have landed,
when there was nothing for them to
land from When I pointed that fact
be needed and the remark that the ma
rines could get there somehow.
Another rumor, when the scare was
nearly over, was that an American COL
ored regiment had crossed the border
without getting permission, been met
by Mexican troops. and in the night
that followed a dozen or SO had been
killed on each side.
OF course, this sent the exchange
way up again and gave the scare q
fresh start. There was absolutely no
foundation for II. and II was all false
except that some AmsRioan troops had
crossed the border. However, they
were working harmoniously with the
Msxicans in the hunt for villa
This knew. as I was in Qusretaro
at the time the rumor started. and in
Cen Obregon's ofrice when he received
= report from the commander of the
punitive expedition against villa say
ing they had captured one of the VII
IistA leaders who took part In the CO.
lumbus raid and asking what WAS to
be done with him.
"show, Then Shoot Him"
I heard Gen. obreson myself dictate
Z telegraphio reply to the effect that the
prisoner was to be taken to the American
authorities for Identification and then
shot told this to my rsbbit-hearted
comtrymen, but they poohpoohed at Il
and said I was the victim Of Mexican
wfles and that OF course the battle had
taken place because somebody had said
so who heard 1t from somebody who al
ways knew what was going on and that
war was sure to follow in a few days
and that we must all get out OF the
country at once or be massaered In cold
blood. So they all began to display
English dags; hung them over the houses
and doorG stuck them up on their auto
mobiles and pinned little ones on their
coats. There was also another rush 20
Vera Cruz. Being scared has become
chronic with them. 1t seems as though
they had to be frightened to be content.
It really was sickenlng, and as have
not hesitated to say so or minced words
In saying It I presume I am very
unpopular person In the American colony.
I know personally all the Mexican high
oficials from Senior Carranza down and
they have assured me over and over
again that at no time have any Ameri-
In the least danger.
I firmly believe that to be true.
The government found Il necessary to
put q censorship on the kilograms and
cables going In and out Of the country,
for these same excitsble compatriots Of
mine were sending and receiving the most
Inflannnatory Of messages. All the scare
in the dispatches was ruthlessly eliminated
by the censor In the hopes that Il would
quiet matters.
Aise Affects the Mexican..
You see, all this hystsricaI war talk OF
inssrvsntipn and massacre Affects the
kszssas e SW - as AnssteaAs cad