Semi-weekly herald., 1916-04-27
COMMENTS ON OUR CHASE
AFTER BANDIT VILLA
Nation Against Withdrawal.

| NATION Against Withdrawal
| Louisville Courier-Journal The
Wilson administration until recently
has blundered in its Mexican policy.
Surely it has come to some realiza-
ton of this. Surely it has learned
something from what has gone be-
fore. And it would gravely mis-
judge the temper of the American
people if it should assume that with
their approval it could withdraw the
troops from Mexico now with Villa at
large or his fate in doubt.
A Canadian View.
From Montreal Star: IF President
Wilson permits himsels to be dragged
into costly, cruel guerilla warfare
in Mexico at this time-caught in
trap baited, we imagine, by German
bought bandits, and sprung very
probably by German inspired
statesmen-he will stand in history
as another melancholy example of the
helpless pacifict who exhausts ev-
cry device to avoid war when it would
be right and wise, only to find him
self in the end, tripped into useless
war under the worst conditions cul-
minating possibly in another Gordon
martyrdom in a Mexican Khartoum.
The Greatest Object Lesson.
st. Louis Star: AS an invasion the
irruption into Mexico was the widest
and most reckless military expedition
ever undertaken. Its safety depended
entirely upon the friendly co-opera-
ton of the de facto Mexican govern
ment. As an invasion of hostile
country it was a military absurdity,
an army suicide. Now Carranza, who
has never co-operated and would not
even so much as permit us to use a
railroad for supplies, has asked us to
retire, and we are helpless to decline.
We have no troops with which to sup
port those in the field, and if they
must fight they must withdraw and
concentrate upon better base of sup
plies than they have at any strategic
point south of the line. If they do not
fight they must withdraw entirely.
Never was such an object lesson CIV
en- of the impotency of the United
States as a military power. And yet
we have otherwise good citizens go
ing about the country preaching the
doctrine of unpreparedness.
Save Our Face" First.
| Cleveland Plain Dealer: America S
| -,
complished. To withdraw now would
be to invite fresh outrages on botp
sides of the boundary. 1t would, fur
ther, advertise the United States as {.
gutter the world over.
No one believed the pursuit of Villa
would be either short or easy. 1t m ),
develop more difficulties than are now
/, apparent. Yet we laid out the task
for ourselves. The burden is ours
and dropping it now would be cowar.
dice.
There is but one thing to do, and
that is to keep after Villa. 1t is all
right to help Carranza "save his face
but we must lose our own in the
process.
Is America Prepared?
Sioux City Tribune; Is America
prepared to fight for humanity I?
Asks president; Yes is the thunder
ing reply.News Headline.
The reply, sorry to relate, is the
only thunderous thing about the
whole situation.
| Every soldier with the exception
of scant 4,000) in the United States
army that was within the borders of
, the United States when the Villa raid
took place is now either in Mexics
or on the border. Everyone admits
their numbers are not sufficient even
, under present conditions.
| Should Carranza throw his soldiers
into the scale against them-where
would the United States get rein.
forcements?
i March II, four weeks ago, congress
authorized the recruiting of 10000
men to bring the regular army up
to war footing. Up to date only o.
800 have been secured-or ne-eighth.
Il