The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-13
WAR WITH MEXICO
SURE TO FOLLOW
FUNSTON INROAD
Carranza Chiefs Are Certain to
FrOwn Upon American Move.
War College Makes Plans for
General Intervention.
IN INTEREST OF HUMANITY
Stars and Stripes viii Restore
Peace to Nation.
u. S. Rule Would Be Real Bless
ing to Mexicans.
IN INTEREST OF HUMANITY
Stars and Stripes Will Restore
Peace to Nation.
BY WILLIS j. ABBOTT.

Washington, March 13.-The adj
ministration calls it a mere punitive
expedition and friendly act in aid
of General CarranZa, but the country
should understand that the movement
of troops ordered into Mexico, VIII, IN
all proba bility, mean the beginning of
actual armed intervention for the re-
storation of order in Mexico.
All the late news from the Mexican
side of the border is indicative of
resistance offered with the connivance
of Carranza chieftains, if not at the
command of Carranza himself.
Should General Carranza oppose the
action of the United States, it would
mean war and nothing less. And
hitherto that volcanic soldier-states-
American aggression upon his SOW
ereignty.
At the bottom of the collective ad-
ministration mind is a lingering doubt
whether the general will accept its
action iE a friendly spirit. His au-
thorized representative, Senior Are
dondo, who will be the ambassador
from Mexico as soon as Mr.. Fletcher
has presented his credentials to Car
rama as our ambassador to Mexico,
had his first knowledge of the expe-
dition from Fridays newspapers.
ArredondO Silent
A well trained diplomat, he dis
0
rotary Lansing, but pleaded absolute
ignorance of what view his chief
might take of the matter. That view
is, of course, all important.
The United States government has
recognized CarranZa, as the govern
ment of Mexico. 1t has served notice
to the world that the somewhat
shadowy administration of which he
is the head is entitled to general
recognition and following our lead
most of the powers have extended
such recognition.
If we should now, despite his pro-
test, prosecute an armed invasion of
Mexican territory, it could only be re-
garded by him as hostile act and by
the world at large as an act of war,
however numerous the presidents
that might be cited in its defense.
The president is thoroughly aware
( of this situation and though the or
ders at present issued to General
Funston contemplate the movement
of only moderate force, estimated at
$500 men, into Mexico, the secretary
of war has laid before the president
a statement of the available military
strength of the nation.
War College Plans.
The war college division of the gen.
eral staff has prepared a plan of cam
paign not merely for the capture of
Villa, but general intervention and the
I eSLdDllSIIIlenl Ol AHl6TlCdn dulHOTlIy
| throughout Mexico.
There is general feeling-it might
perhaps be described as a general
hope-in Washington that through
the action of Carranza or by natural
development, the expedition will re-
suit in effective Intervention.
No one believes that the destruction
of Villa will restore order in Mexico.
1t is not only American interests that
are involved but the interests of a
common humanity for which in his
| discussion of the submarine menace
President Wilson expressed such deep
concern.
! In parts of Mexico unravaged by
Villa, the conditions of restitution, OF
starvation even, are such as, in the
words of Senator Fall, ito make Bel
GUM seem like prosperous. con-
tented land
Senator Borah, who has prepared
resolutions for Intervention which will
probably be presented to the senate
! today, speaks of that Intervention as
being ordered as much in the interest
of the Mexican people as in our own
Blessing to Mexico.
1t may be true that in intervening
we shall be doing only what Villa is
striving by outrage to lead US to do
but even the end attained will make
for the advancement of civilization
and the good of the Mexican people.
His past record justifies the ex-
pectation that General Carranza will
take this action of the United States
in no peaceful spirit Should he pro-
test, the plans for the punitive ex-
petition will be at once changed into
more elaborate ones fitting a condi-
ton of actual war.
Weekly Bank CIearings.
New York. March 13.-Bank clea rings
in ha NIT Tod tot for fhn oraIi r,e