Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-23
THE MEXICAN SITUATION

History is making rapidly down about the Rio Grande
and the Muse in charge of the making of it is running
high with the brakes swinging loose. The situation has
gone from bad to worse until the worst at hand Just
what it will be will be known probably within fortyeght
hours, possibly much less than that
The latest dispatches last night showed the border
abaze with excitement and the wires between Washing
ton and General FunStOns Headquarters working over
time. Up to that time the only reports concerning the
battle if it be called that between the American
detachment and the CaTanza forces in which there were
number OF deaths on each side were from Mexican
sources and therefore utterly unreliable though Of
them to the effect that the attack made the
Americans because they had not obeyed orders not to
travel in any direction except toward home, and that it
was made by order Of General Oregon the Mexican
secretary of The other reports deny this and lay
the blame for the trouble on the Americans
Of course believes this latter story for it does
not square with the MeXcans statement that the troop
ers were lured into an ambuscade where machine guns
were concealed and where the fight took place 1t is not
reasonable to suppose the troopers would get into such
place for the purpose Of making attack.
At Washington, word from General Pershing, or some
other reliable American source awaited for on this
depends what action will be taken IT, probable,
the MeXcans deliberately attacked the American troops
but one result can follow and that is war Indeed the
dispatches yesterday indicated that the officials at
Washington had little hope of any other termination of
the incident.
The preparations going on are further proof that this
is expected The militia is being rushed to the border as
rapidly possible and thousands Of horses and mules
Delng purchased Tor use by the army Inc militia is to
be used ostensby along the border to prevent further
raidng, but it will be handy in case of need.
From the orders given yesterday to the national
guard of Missouri Kansas and California, it may be eX
peced that the Oregon contingent being ready will be
among the next to follow to the front. While we are
preparing the MeXicans are equally busy Yesterdays
reports to the effect that $4,000 had enlisted in one
state alone and that at all points in the country recruit
ing being carried on.
OF course, there be but ending to the war and
that the speedy defeat of the MeXcans The first real
battle will change the Mexican opinion that the grngos
will not fight There should be but two real bat
ties and the rest will be guerilla war chasing of small
bands through the mountains and starving of these into
submission This will take time but if we start in the
job will be done thoroughly that it will leave lasting
impression and will not have to be done over again.
Caranza has been trying to enlist the South Amer
can republics his side but it seems they understand
him better than this country did, for they objected to his
being recognized in the first place. and have but little
sympathy for him now At the same time it is liable to
cause cooling of the friendship being formed with our
southern neighbors but the settlement of the affair and
the handing back Of the country cleaned and repaired
to a substantial government, will perhaps remove in
great part this feeling Whether it will or not it is too
late to take into consideration any extraneous mat
ters, for the first job to clean out and then clean up
Mexico