Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-12-29
By GEORGE |. KlLMER.

~HE chief events in this country
during the twelve months just
closed have been the national
election and the situation on
the border of Mexico. The prospects
Of complications with Germany over
submarine warfare assumed serious
aspects early In the year.. The whole
country has had an unusually pros
porous year. The prices of all kinds
of produce and of many household
n-ecessaries have advanced, in Is
cases, beyond all precedent, with the
result that the cost of living has in
creased on an average of 33 1-3 per
cent or more.
Villas Columbus Raid.
The situation on the Mexican border
became acute early in the spring, when
a body of MeXicans led by General
Francisco Villa crossed into United
States territory on the 9th of March
and raided Columbus, n. NJ. Eighteen
United States soldiers were killed i'll
repulsing the attack. This foray halt
ed temporarily proceedings looking to
a favorable understanding between the
United States and the de facto govern
ment of Mexico headed by Carranza
1t was about this time that rival fac
lions in Mexico were aiming to defeat
Carranza's efforts to restore order
Following Villas raid, troops of the
United States army were rushed from
their stations inland to %re-enforce the
slender garrisons which the United
States had maintained at important
points on the Mexican border since
the outbreak against the government
Of Porfirio Diaz five years ago.
The Affair at CarrizaI.
A punitive expedition" was ordered
to cross the Rio Grande and eliminate
Villa and his band. On March Is Colo
mel Dodd and General Pershing were
on Mexican soil, proceeding south in
two columns, Dodd's in the lead. On
March 20 Dodd's column defeated 500
Villistas, killing thirty. Other actions
between United States troops of Perish
ing's column and the MeXicans fol-
lowed. Carranza Immediately began to
object to the presence of United States
troops on Mexican soil and asked for
their withdrawal. At the end of April
General Obregon met General III. L.
Scott and General Funston at Juarez
to discuss the situation on the border.
Nothing came of it. A month later
Carranza asked for immediate with
drawal, alleging bad faith on the part
of the United States.
The first clash between Carranzistas
and United States troops occurred in
June. On the 10th General Trevino
informed General Pershing that a
movement of United States troops
east, west or south from the positions
her occupied by them would be con-
sidered a hostile act. About that time
President Wilson called out the militia
of the whole country for service on the
Mexican border and notified Mexico
that American troops would remain
solely to protect the United States Dor
der. The neXt day two troops of the
United States cavalry were attacked
outside of Carrizal, ninety miles south
of Juarez. Mexican General Felix Go
mez was killed, also Captain @. T.
Boyd and Lieutenant Adair of the
Tenth cavalry. The affair resulted
from an attempt by the cavalry to
march westward in defiance of General
Trevino's notice of the 10th. Twenty
three troopers were made prisoners by
the MeXicans, thirteen killed and six
teen missing.
President Wilson demanded the i'm