The Washington times., 1916-04-14
PARRAL FIGHT MARKS A CRISIS

Inc cldSn between n small ueJacn-
ment Of American troops and the
mob of Mexicans at Parral, demon
strates just what has been feared.
The mass of Mexican people, and
even the mass Of Carranzista SOL
diers, cannot be brought to regard
the American punitive expedition as
anything less than an invasion Of the
country.
1t is unnecessary to discuss, now,
the question whether Carranza ac-
tually consented, in effect, to the
movement of American troops over
the border. The Washington Gov
ernment, the American people, and
the Mexican people, all thought that
he did consent to it. Thinking he
had consented, the Parral mob
rose against the American soldiers
and tried to drive them out. The
situation would merely have been
worse if the Mexican mob had under
stood, as CarranIa now indicates,
that the American soldiers were
there without authority Of any Mex
lean government.
So we may expect, in view of the
Carranza protest against the SOL
diers' appearance in Mexico, that
conditions in other places will be
worse than they have become at Par
raj. There will henceforward be a
disposition to consider that alb Mex
leo is united against the invasion. |"
Carranza protests; the mob shoots.
The mob will consider that it has
the approval of constituted author
ity.
The situation has become far more
grave than at any previous time.
Even though Carranza's hold on his
people was weak, it was yet assumed
that to the extent of his power he
was willing to cooperate with the
United States. Now, however, he Is
giving encouragement to the rabble,
after a force of American troops has
been strung over a long and danger
GUS line, far into the interior Of
the country.
There are $4,000 American troops
actually inside Mexico, and $4,000
placed along the border. It is per-
fectly plain that this force is not
sufficient to handle a situation such
as has now arisen. Either the troops
already in Mexico must be with
drawn-if indeed their withdrawal
can be accomplished-or else more
must be sent in and it must be rec
ognized that war is on.
Washington has given recognition
to the Carranza government; there
fore to go on in the face of Car
ranza's protest, is to make war. Car
rama has refused the cooperation
expected from him in the matter Of
railroad transport. His own troops
have been so disposed that, in case
of a clash between him and the
American force, the latter will be
greatly outnumbered, and its COM
munications in peril.
President Wilson. has reached the
point at which it is necessary that
he shall seek Congressional counsel
as to future policy. He has been
indisposed to make a vigorous policy
in Mexico. Between him and Con-
gress thero has subsisted q snArp
difference of view. Congress has
been less vigorous than he in deal
ing with European matters, and
more vigorous in it's view of the
Mexican situation. '
For the American expedition to be
withdrawn from Mexico now, after
what has happened at Parral, would
give the ignorant Mexican mob the
impression that it had driven the
force out of the country. There
would be reason for that feeling
too. Carranza would have achieved
a diplomatic victory for his strange
policy of shift and double. The
United States would be a laughing
stock for the world.
The effect of such a development
upon our standing III the realm OF
larger international affairs need
not be suggested. Germany's rela-
tions with the United States are in
a critical state. Germany has dem
onstrated little respect and no fear
for the United States, from the be-
ginning of the war down to the
Sussex note. There must be q
showdown at some time; and in the
present state of matters in Mexico