New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-25

| But the Columbus massacre lolCeu
= its hand. The Service Of humanity
in Mexico-that is, blind tolerance OF
any outrages which the Mexican
revolutionists wished to commit-had
to be suspended for fear of an ex-
plosion of just American indignation.
Villa attacked Columbus on March
@. The next day United States
troops were again ordered into Mex
leo, with instructions to pursue the
administrations ex-favorite and to
bring him back "alive or dead"
War was begun on the recognized
government of Mexico; for that gov
eminent had already declared Villa
an outlaw and vigorously asserted
its own ability to track him down
within Mexican territory.
There was the usual pretence of
making war without calling it war.
The Administration announced that
the expedition dispatched into North
ern Chihuahua was operating under
an understanding with Carranza
permitting each government to pur-
sue outlaws across the border into
the others territory. But no such
agreement or understanding was
ever reached. The Administration
was compelled to admit subsequently
that it had not received permission OF
any sort from Carranzas govern
ment to pursue Villa. Mr.. Wilson
violated Mexican sovereignty when
he sent our cavalry across the border
on March 10. He has been violating
it ever since by maintaining Amerl-
can troops, without Mexican consent,
on Mexican soil.
The Presidents deluded followers
have kept on shouting: "He kept us
out of war" But the falsity of that
claim has been demonstrated by the
Administration itself by decision
coming from the chief law officer of
the War Department. Brigadier
General Crowder, the Judge Advo-
cate General of the Army, has ruled
that a state of war exists in the Mex
lean territory occupied by United
States troops. He said in a recent
opinion:
at is thus apparent that I'M
der the law there need be no for
NAL declaration of war; but that
under the definition of Vattel a
state of war exists, so far as
concerns the operations of the
United States troops in Mexico,
by reason of the fact that the
United States is prosecuting its
rights by force of arms and in a
manner in which war is usually
conducted. / am there
fore of the opinion that, while
war is not recognized as existing
between the United States and
Mexico, the actual conditions un-
der which the field operations in
Mexico are being conducted are
those of actual war;"
They are exactly the conditions
under which the Administrators
military operations at Vera Cruz, in
Hayti and in the Dominican Repub-
lie have been conducted. They con-
stitute war, because they are an en-
ployment of armed force on foreign
soil, in defiance of the political SOW
ereignty existing there, and with the
purpose of asserting political rights
or securing political advantages.
Mr.. Wilson's fourth war still con-
tinues. 1t has brought about various
armed clashes with Mexican bandit
groups and two clashes with the or
ganized forces of the Carranza gov
eminent. American soldiers were
killed at Parral and at Carrizal. Now
there is a state of armed truce, pend
ing the result of the joint conference
in session at Atlantic City.
But what has been the net result
Of this eight months war? More
American lives have been sacrificed
and very costly mobilization Of the
state guards on the Mexican border
has been made necessary. But we
are apparently no nearer than ever
to a real solution of the Mexican
problem. 1t is evident that that
problem can never be solved with
advantage either TO Mexico or to our
selves if Mr.. Wilson's present fan
tastic policy Of waving American
rights in Mexico is to be Endorsed at
the polls and thus become more or
less permanent. 1t was not worth
our while to go to Vera Cruz or to
pursue Villa into Chihuahua if it
continues to be understood that we
will resent only such injuries as are
done to Americans by Mexicans who
cross our border, and that we will
allow to pass unnoticed the vastly
graver injuries done to Americans
undar Mavican i,Irisdiction hv Meyi-