Weekly journal-miner., 1916-08-30
ANOTHER SAMPLE OF WATCHFUL
 WAITING
PERSHING EXPEDITION KEPT IN MEXICO BE- CAUSE WILSON DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO.
Regular Correspondent.

tended but fortunate disclosure oi General Funston's emphatic recom- mcndation that General Pcrshing' : command be withdrawn from Mexico has revealed another important phase of the Mexican situation which the administration had earnestly sought to suppress. Since April II, General Pershing's command has been kept in Mexico, in constant danger from at tack, not permitted to advance, with out endorsements, to the injury ot its health and morale, because-Pres- ident Wilson could not make up his mind, either to continue the pursuit of Villa or to withdraw. In the effort tc shift responsibility for any military disaster which might occur MT. Will son and Secretary Baker have per sistently avoided asking the military authorities for their opinion, but they inadvertently asked General Funston for his views in connection with the proposed Mexican conference and the courageous little Kansan, without re- gard to how unwclcome his words would be to MT. Wilson, came back with a flat-footed recommendation that the troops be withdrawn from
 
 tried vainly to suppress the fact that Funston had made this rccommenda- ton, but it leaked out and knowing Funston they do not dare deny it. Pershing, it will be remembered was ordered into Mexico to break up the Villa band of bandits" Mr. Wilson said, ito get Villa'-following the raid on Columbus, on March 8. The puni- tive expedition was brilliantly led and had nearly captured Villa in the Sierra Madrc range when, on April l2, the Carranza forces at Parral trcacherously attacked the American troops, killing and wounding several The Wilson administration immedi- atcly became panic-stricken, ordered the pursuit abandoned and watch ful waiting policy adopted by Amer ican< troops in enemy country. In great danger and at great expense, the Pershing line into Mexico has been maintained ever since, although if he was not to go forward he had no reason for being there and should have been ordered back. Pcrshing was then 800 miles below the border Finally, he was secretly ordered to withdraw to Namiquipa, 26O miles be- low the border. The retreat of the American soldiers cmboldened the Carranzistas again to attack them, at Carrizal, on June 2l, where two off ccrs and number of troopers were killed. Arredondo, Carranza's anibas- sador, informed President Wilson that the Carranza soldiers fired by order of the First Chief Again the administration became panic-stricken and Pcrshing was secretly ordered to retreat to Colonia Dublan, l30 miles below the border. As every military man knows, although few dare say 1t, Pershing has been kept there for no reason whatever save that Mir. Wilson has been unable to make up his mind and because he has feared popular criticism on the ono hand if he ap- pcared to yield to Carranza's demand that the American troops be with drawn, and on the other, loss of the belief of some of the uninformed voters, that he has kept us out of war"
 Maine Prospects.
 Hon Ralph D. Cole returned from Maine today, where he opened the Republican campaign, enthusiastic over Republican prospects. NIT. Cole declares that Republicans and former Progressivcs are working hand in hand: that there is perfect loyalty to Hughes and absolute coordination or ohort He is loud iH his praises of the Republican candidate for governor, Carl Milliken, who commands the re- spect and support of the people and who is making an excellent campaign. Maine has always been noted for its patriotism,' says Mir. Cole, and the men who shouldcrcd a muskct in 60 and '61 arc filled with indignation at Wilson's weak and vacillating and un- patriotic conduct of our relations with Mexico. You find magnificent spcci- mems of American manhood in Maine, men who are Americans first, last and all the time, stern, manly, rugged, and ii makes their blood boil to hear of American men murdered, American women outraged and American sol diers treacherously shot down while the president of the United States,