Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-09-01

son became frightened and abandoned
Vera Cruz, whereas Mr.. Mckinley did
not abandon Manila. Mr.. Wilson's opera
tions were war just as much as Mr.. Nc
Kinleys. But Mr.. Wilson was beaten in
his war 1t was war which was en-
tered into pointlessly and abandoned ig-
nobly; 1t was a war which failed; a war
which did damage both to the Mexicans
and ourselves, and which in its outcome
reflected infinite dishonor upon our ma
ton. But it was a war. nevertheless.
Again. in March last, Villa made raid
into American territory. He was a ban
dit leader whose career Of successful in
fanny had been greatly aided by Mr.. VIII
sons favor and backing. He was at the
head of Mexican soldiers, whose arms
and ammunition had been supplied to
them In consequence of Mr.. Wilson's re-
versing Mr.. Taft's policy and lifting the
embargo against arms and munitions into
Mexico. They attacked Columbus. New
Mexico, and killed a number Of civilians
and number Of United States troops.
On the next day the President issued an
announcement that adequate forces
would be sent in pursuit of Villa with
the single object Of capturing him." On
April Sth, the announcement was made
from the White House that the troops
would remain in Mexico until Villa was
captured. 1t was Furthermore announced
in the press dispatches from Washington
that he was to be taken dead or alive"
Fine words! Only-they meant nothing
He is not dead. He has not been taken
alive.
On May 18th, the pursuit of Villa was
formally abandoned. On June 1st, the
official figures of the dead and wounded
during this futile expedition were pub
lished. and they showed that the
killed and wounded included 116 Unit
ed States soldiers and 95 American
civilians. Since then the Mexicans have
killed many more; l notice, for example,
in the press, that at Decatur. Alabama,
there has just been buried Claude Bates,
an American soldier, who died July Ath
of wounds received two days previously
in a fight with Mexican bandits. Every
week l have seen press statements or the
killing of American regular soldiers or
American civilians on the border. 40
not know the total number of these kill
ings since June 1st; but they include the
Carriza1 massacre. However, even before
June 1st, in this futile expedition against
Villa, more Americans had been killed
and wounded than in all the fights by
land and sea during the Spanish War,
save only the battle of Santiago itself.
In other words, during this murderous
peace" of Messrs. Wilson and Carranza,
in less than three months more American
blood was shed than in the destruction or
the SPANISH fleet at Manila, and than in
the destruction of the Spanish fleet OH
Santiago; and than in the taking of Ma
Mia. and than in the fight at Guaslmas; !;
in short, in all the operations COM
bined during the Spanish War, save only
the actual battle of Santiago itself, Ana
vet there are persons who seemingly take
comfort in speaking of one set of opera
tions as being war, and who praise the
other set as being part of our policy OF
peace"-the bloodstained peace of Messrs.
Wilson and Carranza.
Wilson's Own Statement.
You do not have to accept my state
ment of conditions in Mexico. Accept the
official statement of President Wilson's
Secretary of State to Carranza on June
Goth last. which runs as follows:
"For three years the Mexican republic
has been torn with civil strife; the nVes
of Americans and other aliens nave peel
sacrificed: vast properties accumulated
by American capital and enterprise nave
been destroyed or rendered non-prouuc-
tive; bandits have been permitted TO roam
at will throughout the territory contle-
uous TO the United States and to selze'
without punishment, or without effective
attempt at punishment, the property OF
Americans while the lives OF cltlzens OF
the United States who Ventured to re-
main in Mexican territory or TO return
there to protect their interests have been
taken. in some cases barbarously taken,
and the murderers have neither peeh ap.
pretended nor brought to Justice. II
would be difficult to find in the annals OF
the history of Mexico conditions more de,
plorable than those which nave eHls,eu
there during these recent years vi cisi
war IT would be tedious to recount m
stance after instance, outrage aIter out-
rage. atrocity after atrocity, to illustrate
the true nature and extent OF the "loe-
spread condition of lawlessneSs ana w, ~
last nine months in particular the IRON
tier OF the United States along the lower
Rio Grande has been thrown into state
of constant Apprehension anu SurIhoii us
cause of the frequent and sudden incur
sions into American territory and depre-
dations and murders on American SOIL py
Mexican bandits, who have taken tne
lives and destroyed the property OF
American citizens, sometimes carrying
American citizens across the lnternatlonal
boundary with the booty seized Amerl.
can garrisons have been attacked az
nioht. American soldiers killed and thetr
equipment and horses stolen. American
ranches have been raided, property
stolen and destroyed, and American
trains wrecked and plundered.
."The attacks on Brownsville, hel
House Ferry, Progreso postoffice: and Las
Palades. ali occurring during September
last, are typical. In these attacks o.i
American territory Carranzista aoneL
ents. and even Caranzista soldiers, toon
part In the looting, burning ana kli!ns' @
Not only were these murders cnaraE,.. cn-s,Uaa
ized by ruthless brutality. but unclyii,,1eo
acts Of mutilation were perpetrateo'
RuthIessly Brutal Murders.
And this is Mr.. Wilson'S own oincia.
account of the peace" he mas secu'eo
In Mexico! In this official statement
President Wilson gives the final result
of his policy in Mexico for the past thFee
years. 1 call your attention to the 1act
that he states that the attacks on the
four enumerated American towns IN sep
tember last were typical" and says
that sin these attacks on American ter
ritory there were Carranzista adherents
and Carranzista soldiers, who took part
~ tho burning and killing. Not only were