New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-14
Mexico and Preparedness.


were to overtake and bring back, dead or
alive. Pancho Villa and those of his fol-
lowers who murdered American soldiers
and civilians in raid on Columbus, n. NJ
Our army has not yet moved into Mex
leo. It has not moved because il was not
prepared to move. The adventure on
which it was being sent was too grave,
too hedged about with political and mill
tary uncertainties, to permit risklng IN
the Mexican wilderness the tiny force
which the War Department is able to col
lect for expeditionary purposes. Action
by our government to avenge the viola
ton of our soil and the murder of our
citizens by foreign brigands is hampered
by our inexcusable neglect of military
preparedness. We are obliged to recognize
the limitations imposed on us by our own
feebleness. We are compelled to let pru-
dence qualify decision, because we are tied
hand and foot by persistent blunders of
policy-because we have chung to the de-
fusion that craftsmanship is, in its es-
sence. a matter of hindsight, not fore
sight.
The government has had warnings
without end Of the dangers of the policy
of non-preparedness which it has followed
in dealing with Mexico. For the last
three years our southern border has been
insuficiently guarded. Rival Mexican
armies have fought along the boundary
line whenever they felt like doing so, and
have killed and wounded many Americans
as an incident to their operations against
one another Armed bodies Of Mexicans,
eUerillas or organized troops, have crossed
the line and committed outrages in our
border states.
In each case, prior TO that at Columbus,
the Administration had assumed long
suffering attitude and Mexicans naturally
came to believe that the United States
would endure almost any outrage rather
than risk utilizing its scanty military re-
sources in the way Of protest.
Two years ago we had the lesson Of
Vera Cruz. President Wilson ordered
Mexico's chief seaport TO be seized as
means of compelling the Huerta govern
ment to make reparation for an insult to
our flag. We demanded a salute and
Huerta refused it. Quickly weakening IN
his resolve to obtain satisfaction by force,
Mr.. Wilson resortcd to arbitration TO OBJ
tain it. lie lost on that issue in the
futile settlement at Niagara Falls. One
provisional government succeeded another
in Mexico City, but the salute was never
fired.
We withdrew from Vera Cruz without
glory. Our prestige in Mexico was low
cred. Numbering Americans and Selling
American property became a pastime for
the Mexican faction chiefs, because the
latter quickly recognized that the main
preoccupation of the Wilson Administra-
ton was TO evade its primary duty Of
compelling Mexicans TO respect American
citizenship.
Our little army returned TO duty on the
Mexican boundary even more inadequate
TO its task there than it had been before.
Ordinary precaution called for reinforce
ment of that army. But the President
thrust all the arguments of common sense
aside. In December, 1914 (after the return
of the Vera Cruz expedition, Mr.. CARR
son. then Secretary Of War, recommended
increasing by $4,000 the mobile army in
continental United States. We had then
(and still have) a mobile army of about
$4,000 men. Doubling the strength of the
mobile troops would have given us a rea-
&, IN
not enough for any serious attempt 20
exert military pressure on Mexico, but
enough, at least, 20 give security TO the in
habitants Of the border states.
But Mr.. Wilson ridiculed Secretary Gar
rison's suggestions. He told Congress at
the same time that Mr.. Garrisons report
was sent TO the Capitol that there was no
reason for alarm and no necessity for in
creasing the regular army. "Let there be
no misconception," he said. "The country
has been misinformed. We have not been
negligent Of national defence. We
shall not alter our attitude toward it be-
cause some of US are nervous and excited"
Acting on his advice and rejecting Mr..
Garrison's, Congress refused 10 increase
the mobile army. IL did not add soldier
20 the scattered, oyertaxed, inadequate
body Of regulars guarding the southern
border. II has not added one since. Mr..
Wilson's fantastic policy reversed in part
only, this winter in order 10 make his cam
paign for reelection easier) has left the
United States without sufficient mobile
troops available 20 defend the nations in
terests in any case in which these interests
may require an immediate resort 10 force.
IL was announced last week that the
punitive expedition 70 capture Villa would
be conducted with Or without Carranza's
consent, in accordance with the spirit Of
earlier special agrcemfnts for the imme-
diate pursuit Of Indian marauders Of the
(..r1,fs., l.s H..