Evening star., 1916-07-09

Mexico. This, IL is said. was one Of
the favorite methods of politics Of the
late president Of Mexico. Porhrio Diax.
to arouse the national spirit and to
convince all Mexicans that the self
constituted leaders were hurting back
the invader.
-
The old subsidized press OF Mexico
for years teemed with anti-American
articles. Sometimes when little
movement to oust Porfrio Diaz and his
associates from power seemed Inn
minent, II is recalled. and documents
at the State Department will prove. the
most, alarming stories of United
States plots and purposes suddenly
appeared in Mexican newspapers At
tention was centered on the patriotism
of the governing ciasses OF Mexico.
and the latter gave interviews an
nouncing that the United states dare
not invade Mexico as long as they
were in power
This was very much like the stories
that are being printed in Mexican news
papers today. to the effect that the col
ored people in Texas have ''risen,"
taken possession of the government and
are moving on to Chicago and wash
ington and New York. sweeping all be-
things today they did years ago along
that line
But in the old days, In Mexico. the
relations between the United states and
by the rulers of Mexico TO retain an in
1uence and grip on Mexico.
The republic of Guatemala was an
other tool Guatemala early became an
government The first ruler in Mexico.
after her independence. the Emperor
Iturbde. whose descendants now live In
Washington. conceived the idea of con-
of Central America and annexing 1t. His
troops were defeated by the united
armies of Guatemala and Salvador.
Mexico. however. obtained a large por-
Chiapas. Of which I have written above.
Down to the present time, too. II may
be stated. in the opinion of many Qua
temaltecos, Mexican governments have
continued their policy of irritation and
menace to Guatemala. When Gen.
Rufino Barrios was president Of Qua
temala and James G. Blaine was Secre-
tary of State of the United States. Mr..
Mariscal. the then Mexican minister of
foreign affairs of Mexico. developed a
quarrel with President Barrios over a
boundary dispute. He sent an ultima
tum to Guatemala, as a result of which
President Barrios placed his country on
warlike basis and prepared to resist
invasion.
Mr.. Blaine at that time was very
much interested he said, in maintaining
the solidarity of the five states of Gem
trail America, with view to their ulti-
mate union as The United States of
Central America" single republic and
Mexican troops cross into Guatemalan
territory the United States would re-
gard it as an unfriendly act
That ended that. Other Incidents after
8~1
tween the United States and Guatemala
has been traditional Once Porfirio
Diaz, while President of Mexico. threat
ened Guatemala, after Estrada Cabrera
threat of invasion. President Diaz
mobilized a large force and sent il to
the boundary. President Cabrera re-
sponded by mobilizing the Guatemala
law, are very much like the National
Guard of the United States Cabrera
sent these to the boundary and Dtaz
dropped the subject.
That was in 1906. and it was the first
occasion upon which attention was
centered upon the Guatemalan army
and the rapidity with which its re-
serves were mobilized and marched 20
the frontier. The Guatemalan army is
looking outfit.
l particularly observed that they do
not have pieces of cloth wrapped about
the locks of their guns to keep the
dust and sand out, as the Mexican
troops do. Correspondents in Mexico
have often wondered what happens To
the Mexican troops. in a surprise action.
while they are getting the cloths o.
their guns unwound and ready to shoot.
At any rate. ever since 1906 the army
of Guatemala, when 10000 well armed
and well drilled men were distributed
along the Guatemala Mexico boundary
most formidable of any in Central
America. Its capacity for forced march
ing and rapid evolution has attracted
the attention of foreigners. and for
eign military attaches make a point OF
being present at its maneuvers.
All are armed with Remingtons and
carry 120 rounds of ammunition per
man. OF artillery, Guatemala has every
machine guns. Enormous supplies of
reserve ammunition are kept in the
fortresses of San Juan and Matamoras,
in Guatemala City.
Guatemala, under system Of a short
obligatory period with the regular
troops. This system has never inter
fered with the agricultural or indus
relieved the government from main
tanning a large standing army.
The fact that Guatemala has well
trained men at her command, her mill
tary officers believe, has saved lot
of trouble at the hands of alleged Car
ranzista bandits and raiders on her
border. They get What For" when they
try it,
Except for the fact that the jails were
filled with bandits and raiders from
Mexico. the border Of Mexico and
Guatemala is peaceful-the peace OF
armed peace, as l saw it.