Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-16
taIranza'S Failure to Art

| + tarranza : long communication 10 Wash
j ington is intended to be no more than an
invitation 10 discuss terms which the
American expeditionary force will be with
drawn from Mexico. there ought not to he
much difficulty in finding the answer. The
force will he Withdrawn when Villa is slain
Captured and the bandits he has con-
mandcd dispersed they will no longer he
capable OF ma king trouble on the border.
II is ridiculous for Carranza to speak Of
his ability 10 deal adequately with Villa and
his gang. unless ii is to he assumed that
ability is not accompanied by willingness.
The troops under General Pershing have pene-
trated nearly 400 miles into Mexico. meeting
on their way several dcta chnents Of Nillistas.
but cncountering no material evidence that
the ..rmies of the de facto government are
either able DESTROYS to cooperate. Re
ports Of battles between NilistaS and Car
rsnzistas have proved invariably on invest.
CATION 10 have been the products of some
ones Ovcractive ina cination
II CarranZa has 10000. even 1000.
mobile troops that he put i'm the field
against Villa. in whoe-hea rted cooperation
with The United States forces. there should
he small difficulty in putting down the last
vcstiee Of organized opposition. That result
achieved and the border suitably patrollcd il
might even he possible for the Washington
government TO abandon for the time its de-
mand for the production Of Villas body dead
or alive That would not he popular solu
ton Of the difficulty, but il is conceivable
II would rest, however. tho with
draw,l of the bandit chief to some mountain
rastncss where pursuit would he practically
hopeless. and the restoration Of peace and
order through the broad stretch Of country
now given over to pilagc and destruction.
The plain fact OF the matter is that Car
ranzs has held aloot from the American effort
10 punish an invasion OF American territory
and tho murder Of American citizens That
ofensc WAS scarcely less against the de facto
government OF Mexico than against The United
States That il could have been committed
and thar the perpetrators. or some or them
found it possible 10 escape. sufficient in
dicat ions that the Carranza authority was
and continues largely fictitious.
There can he no withdra wal Of tho cxpcdi-
tionary force that leaves the situation as il
was. Tho United States no longer will endure
the possibility Of night attacks on its border
towns and the aSsa SSination OF peaceful
citizens When Carranza can show he is no,
only prepared. hut determined. To maintain
order. The case will be different. but as yet
he has supplied no such demonstration The
best proof would he the apprehension OF
Villa.
In he meantime, the American pursuit OF
tho bandit chief must 20 on. even though it
invite farther dangers. The clash at Parral
OF The dimensions OF which the mcaScr dis
patches yet leave us in doubt. is an inica-
tion OF how real arc these dangers There
would be more hope of just and satisfactory
solution OF the whole problem il the char
aclcr and capacity OF Carranza were other
than they are. vain. nompons. wordy,
qucrulous old man, it is q browning mis-
such broken reed.