Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-06-20
MEXICAN BLUFF STARTED SOMETHING

General Alfredo Ricaut one of Carranza's leaders
started something when he served notice on General
Parker that he would attack the American punitive eX
pedon that crossed the Rio Glande under Captain An
dersOn in pursuit of bandits who had ralded Texas
ranches unless they returned across the line Another
Mexican General served notice that if General Pershng
moved his forces in any direction except toward the
American border he would be attacked by the Caanza
forces.
The force under Anderson returned because it had
accomplished what it crossed the border for and not
account of any threat and General Peshng paid no at
tenton to this notice. except to intimate to the Mexican
leader that he could pop his whip as soon as ne felt like
it. for he would stay in Mexico until ordered out by his
Uncle Samuel He had made no moves for some time
nor had he contemplated making any in the immediate
future but he wanted it understood he would move
where and when he pleased.
This Mexican "ultimatum' was no doubt made for
home consumption, and it not expected that the
United States would take it at its face value That IS
where the Carranza government made mistake.
The bluff was called Sunday; and Monday there was
ready in the United States nearly an hundred thousand
men ready to meet any move the Carranza gang might
make They will go down to the boundary not for the
purpose of making war on Mexico unless she forces them
to do So but to protect the border and put stop to
bandits crossing the line and rading peaceful American
homes. ~ .,
The United States has been long suffering and full of
patience with her unhappy neghbor, and desires only
peace for herself well for the starving and helpless
Mexcans This she will have but it looks as though she
Will nave TO ngnC TO get H. lIele SeelS W Ue u OII
way for the reason that there is government in Mex
icO but instead many Independent chiefs OF armed
bandits of whom Caranza is the strongest but placuca
ly no better than the Others
The answer to the Mexican bluff is the assembling of
100000 ready to start at moments notice 10 resist
any movement the bandits Caranzas any other can
make AT the same time tWenty-four war vessels are
either on the Mexican coast their way to to assist
in making the MeXicans be good.
1t looks like war was inevitable, and that there will
come peace at last through intervention. President Wll-
son. however is still hopeful of avoiding this but the
Mexican sentiment is such that an attack by Caranza
troops is almost certain within short ume ana then
nothing but war can follow.
The administrations of both Taft and Wilson have
been very patient with Mexico, and this nation has at
tempted in good faith to act the part of big brother to
the smaller republic on the south This attitude has mo-
doubt been partly justified by the fact that the officials
at Washington know that the troubles in Mexico have.
been largely fomented by American and other large,
capitalists who have valuable properties there. They
want stable government in order to safely develop
these properties and exploit their interests and are
aware that the Mexican people at the present time are
incapable of self government The want the big stick OF
Uncle Sam brought into play to confirm and protect their
property rights No doubt of the Mexican chiefs
who are giving the most trouble just are in the pay
of these American and English interests The govern
ment quite we'll assured of this fact but this knowledge
does not relieve the border make the situation less
acute
Still those best informed on the Mexican question have
thought for several years past that only the United
States can bring peace to Mexico The Monroe doctrine
precudes action on part of other nations and the world
looks to this country to solve the problem We can do
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