The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-03
A SOLDIERS WIDOW
From The Chicago Tribune

necessary 10 ride down band of MUIR
derers It was also necessary to give
the band several days start OF the pur-
suit. II so conducted It's negotiations
with government which we, but not
the Mexicans, recognize that the use
OF Mexican railways was denied.
Tho men rode and marched after
villa. Because the pursuit had been
30 delayed by military unreadiness
they rode at a pace which broke down
mon and horses.
They swcltered In great heat by day
and suffered in the cold at night.
Lieutenant Allison was sick. but he
refused to admit II. That refusal kept
him at his duty. but It did not keep him
from pneumonia. He had to give up
and he had to be sent back from Col
onia Dliblan to Columbus, N. M.
Ho was taken hack In an army wag-,
on. His temperature was LOG. The
army wagon trip took four days. There
are railroads in Mexico. but the United
States cannot use thcm. There is a
wh'skered Latin soul called Carranza
who says that the United States shall
not Use the Mexican railroad for the
transport OF troops.
Tho only asset which the whiskercd
Latin soul has Is the recognition the
United States has given him. Without
that he would he the victim of revolu-
ton. Oregon detests him. and Oh
RECON is strong. The United States
protects Carranza. Villa is the product
OF Carranzista arrogance and American
double dealing. This savage revolted
against the one and paid for the other
by the murders at Columbus.
Carranza. guilty in part for what
happened at Columbus and unable to
make any PREPARATION for 1t, confines
MS activities to hindering tho tardy
EFFORTS Of the United States. guilty also
IN part for what happened at Column
bus. to catch and punish the savage
whose natural feroclty has been made
inhuman by the treatment given him.
In keeping with these activities en-
barrassing the American troops, Car
rama declines to give the soldiers the
use OF such railroads as Mexico still
has and declines to permit them to en-
ter towns. The United States, the
creator of Carranza. accepts the moods
OF Its creation, accepts his conditions
and tolerates his insolence.
To return to Lieutenant Allison.
What did this mean to him? 1t meant
that In the torment Of pneumonia he
was carried to hospital in an army
wagon, tortured by day by the heat
and Just, distressed at night by the
cold.
For four days fine young American
soldier endured this suffering because
the American government prefers to
indulge the whims Of It's Mexican
creature rather than assert its control.
And what does 1t mean to Mrs. ALI
SOM 1t means that the fine woman
who could write srch letter as ap-
pears at the beginning Of this editorial
is a widow. Her soldier got his
chance He got 1t in an army wagon
when railroad might have saved him.
The only chance OF living that no had
was the railroad.
Lieutenant Allison did not give his
life for his country. He gave It to the
Mistakes OF his country. Mrs. Allison
lid not only lose her husband to her
.ountry but she also sacrificed to the
.istakes Of her country.
And that has been and will be the
.istory Of the American soldier. It has
cen the fate and 1t will be the fate of
american men and women who try to |
% manly and womanly things for their
ountry. But the case OF Lieutenant
llison and OF Mrs. Allison Is un-
sually cruel even in American mis-
'anagement OF the people upon whom
must depend.
Their sacrifice was to a weak doc
rine, to silly policy. to administra-
I've stubborness. 1t is a noble patriot
I'M that can forgive this. We presume
RS. Allison has this, but as she has
she shames the government under
.;ich she lives and under which her
isband died, and, moreover. she
.ames the nation for which her hus-
md died.
What has happened to Lieutenant
llison will happen to others in Mex
20. to the other sick and wounded.
nd the men shattered by gunshot who
~ to live through that trip in army
agons will send UP to the heavens
,ch volume Of curslng as never has
'isen before.
1t ought to be heard all over the
iuntry. The responsibility cannot be
ntered and isolated in Washington.
nc particular weakness which re-
ais itself in submission to Carranza
the weakness Of the administration,
tolerance of 1t is nationwide.
There would NOT be so much weak
ss in administrative and legislative
tEority in Washington II there were
rensth and determination elsewhere.
Consider the case in which we stand
CarranZa in this one matter of the
. Of railroads needed TO move as vol
supply tho troops and to get their
1T and wounded to hospitals.
villa raidcd Columbus because he is
gavag. and wanted revenge. Why did
ie want revenge? because after being
raated with consideration by the
.-1erican government and cndcavoring
show consideration TO Americans In
,@rn he found that the Americans
re his enemies. How did the Ameri-
aus make their support Of Cnrranza
test injurious to villa? By permitting
20 movement Of Carranza soldiers
Eer American territory to attack
lila. The American railroads were at
&c service of Carrapza to attack Villa.
American troops may not use Next
IN railways. but Mexican troops used