The commonwealth., 1916-04-18
THE PRESS ON THE MEXICAN SITUATION.


might be dangerous; therefore the ar
nv has no Intention Of capturing him.
The First Chief may amuse himself to
his heart IS content by ranting and
snorting in Mexico City; the army does
not object But the army knows what
is good for it's health, and a real effort
to round up Villa is not in the class1-
fication.
The fight at Parral is another evi-
dence of the looseness of Carranza 8 /
control over his own forces. There !
was afforded an excellent opportunity !
to pot a few gringoes, and the Carran-
zistas promptly went to it. What the
First Chief might think of it was pure
ly an academic question.
The truth is, there has never been a
real government in Mexico since Huer-
to collapsed; and there is less real gov
ernment there now than ever before
If the United States doesn It catch
Villa, and nobody knows it better than
the commanders of the alleged Car
rama troops. More than that, not only
will Villa be allowed to go scot-free,
but he will be marrying the border again
in few weeks. The administration
Funston s orders; if anything they are
too narrow in their scope now, but If
we are to judge the future by the past
Funston will make thorough job OF
! bo oil fo
judgment.
! We have small hope of ever getting
any satisfaction out of Venustiano
| Carranza. He is about as hopeful
specimen as rattlesnake. Neverthe
less, we certainly have no disposition
to criticise the administration for ex
hausting every other expedient for
bringing him to reason before resort
ing to force, provided such course
does not interfere with the chase of
the fugitive assassin. If Carranza is
desirous of having a diplomatic conver-
sation, Uncle Sam should accommodate
him by all means; but the old gentle
man had better not lay down his gun
while he talks.
We are sure that the President is
trying to do only what is just, without
regard to any considerations but wheth-
er he knows it or not, has steadfast
resolution in this latest phase Of the
Mexican problem has done more than
any event of the past year to work
confusion to his enemies.-Greensbor
Daily News.
Nothing to be Gained by Turning Back
, It is gratifying to know that Presi
) dent Wilson has no intention to with
draw the United States troops from
Mexico at this time.
| Perhaps Senator Stone is right il
saying that there must be Withdrawal
or intervention. Perhaps those au
: thorities who predict immediate EN-
!, broilment with Carranza s forces ar
: light. On the other hand, neither O.
be captured, or driven out of the coun
: try. Carranza' S note was evidentl,
|, written for home consumption. It wa
j. a request, not a demand, and it was
t drawal Of our troops, but for the be
f ginning of negotiations concerning tn
d withdrawal. The New York Times 0
y yesterday called attention to a fac
e that many of the alarming rumors con
a cerning the alleged hostility of Ca,
|, rama s followers are demonstrab bl
t false and cited the amicable meetin
d between Pershing and Luis Herrar
II -Herrara, who only a few days be
+ fore had been reported as having gon
over to Nllla-as an instance in poin
4. Things may turn out better than no
- seems probable.
t. But whether they do or not ther
a can be-assuming that the America
e people are acquainted with the esse1
II tial facts of the situation-no excus
4. for withdrawing our troops from Me-
d leo until they accomplish the wor
e, which they set out to do Our soldier
a are there on an absolutely justifiab b
u errand. The attack on Columbus lei
v this nation no alternate but to, folio
a up and destroy the bandits responsible
v for it. There have been several SUI
H. gested explanations Of that attack. A
al of them, however, imply that it W;
intended to force the hand of tt
a, government IF the United Stat
to should weakly give up the chase no,
hn hot aRb
10 attempts to involve this country in tt
lie affairs Of Mexico would be made. I'll
he same motives that inspired this ra
as would inspire others. Intervention,
.; Senator Stone says, may result if v
x keep our troops in Mexico, but it wi
,d surely come later if we withdraw the
G. now. 1t it has got to come-then tt
I'd sooner the better.-Baltimore Sun.