The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-06-20
Intervention May still BE
AvePted.

A. the Governments intention is to
use the modified National Guard for
patrol duty on the Mexican frontier.
Il Il to be regretted that the call was
not issued directly after the Column
bus raid. No dependence could be
placed upon the ability Of the Chr
ranSa forces to prevent attacks by
bandits, and the international line
was too long to be policed by avail
able troops Of the regular army. Fur
thermore. the tide Of racial hatred in
Mexico had not risen to flood at that
ume, and even Mexican patriots, look
ing at the Columbus affair as an out
rage upon a friendly nation. were not
disposed to resent the pursuit Of
VILLA and his bandits by our Amer
lean troops.
Three months ago the National
Guard could have been assembled in
the various States for duty on the
Mexican border. when wanted by Gen.
eral FuNsroN, without exciting the
war fever In either country. Grad
ually the regiments. when called for,
could have been distributed along the
Rio 0rande and brigaded with the
regular troops. The border would
then have been we'll protected. and
the danger Of raids like that in the
Big Bend country would have been
minimized. It Is because only a few
men to the mile were available that
the Mexican bandits began to snipe
the American patrol and attack set
tlers. But the inevitable summons of
the National Guard to duty was put
OF from day to day. although Mr..
WILSON had ample information about
frontier conditions. General Scorr,
the Chief Of Staff. certainly did not
neglect to tell him that from Browns
Vile to the Pacific the international
line was 1000 miles long, and that on
the Rio Grande alone the regulars
were not in strong enough force TO
keep Mexican bandits o. and watch
Mexicans In our W towns where
they are in the majority.
Mr.. WILSON seemed to fear that II
he called out the National Guard
when the first need Of II was felt
armed Intervention would be precipi-
tated. But It was much more likely
that the MeXicans. who were not then
worked up to n frenzy OF racial
hatred. would have been impressed
With the futility Of defying the United
States. When Mr.. WILSON did make
up his mind to act a rupture with
the Carranza Government was immi-
nent and the Mexican population had
got out OF hand. II Is our belief that
the truculent note demanding that
American soldiers withdraw alto
gether from Mexican territory would
never have been sent If the patrol Of
regulars on the border had been reen-
forced by the National Guard three
months ago.
Armed intervention may still be
0NtTteu II lIt 'dIIIIlEi 'pN'l Ililtlll
keeps It's head. On our part nothing
will be done to provoke the Mexicnns
to make an attack upon General PER-
SHINES force. There will be no re-
cession. of course. from the policy Of
keeping American troops in Chihua-
hua until the Mexican Government
shows It's capacity To police its own
territory. Good faith on the part Of
General CARRANzA and his advisers
should make Il gentlemen's agreement
possible. He must he aware that the
calling out of the National Guard In
the States Is not a war measure, and
war with this country is the last
thing he wants, There Is no reason,
then, to despair of an honorable way
out from the complication caused by
the Carranza note and the logical
reply { o II from Washington.