Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-16
AMEs NAN, VETERAN OF TWO
WARS, FoREsEEs TROUBLE
wiTH MEXICO. )
TRANSPORTATION GREAT ::
PROBLEM OF. UNITED STATES
Lincoln Believes Government Must
Take Charge Of Railroads in Time OF
conf,ict-Army Of 100000 Should Be.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Foreign Nation
VIII Become involved.


!: he United States has insufficient
forces to properly scarry oar a pre-,
,racted campaign against the Mexican
republic in case OF war. what do You
/ Consider the sreatest difficulty which
the military authorities have to faceF
, This question was put to the veter-
an General Rush Lincoln and he an
hesits,inSly replied Transportation.
About fifteen minutes before this
question WAS put TO General Lincoln
wire report TO the Times office had
given the information that General
Funs,ons greatest difficulty al pres
ent WAS ,he securing o! sufficient
number ot car transports and he com
planned TO the war department thai the
railroads were not cooperating with
the army. The report conceded exact
~ with the opinion advanced by the
general and he proceeded to enlarge
upon his laconic definition OF THE
wars greatest handicap"
Transportation. efficient and we'll
organized, is the prime requisite for
the successful carrying on Of war.
Germany's strength lies III her mar
velous!y efficient methods Of trans.
portation. Withou; IL she would long
ago have suffered defeat What the
United States needs is government con-
, ,rolled railroads, SO that in time of
war their facilities may be turned to
the movement ot troops and the sup
plying of these troops with food and
ammunition. An army, no matter how
large and we'll organized, can be OF
no use unless i, is being kept we'll sup
piled with food. To supply more than
a hundred thousand men such as ia
probable will be assembled on the bor-
der within short time, will require
transportation facilities OF the highest
order. They do not exist, however,
and it will be the governments gravest
concern TO right these conditions. Seiz-
ure of the railroads In the event OF
war and their application to the carry
ing on of the war, seemS TO me the
only solution OF this problem.
Water will be another difficulty in
a campaign in Mexico. but the motor
fed this problem. Railroads could
never handle even this lone need Of
the army and unless the government
takes steps TO spur on their laggard
patriotism. motor trucks will have to
be depended upon entirely" g..
General Lincoln in no uncertain
terms denounced the slack methods
which have put the army INTO This pre-
dicament and again pronounced the
need of immediate legislation to Sc
cure a change in the TRANSPORTATION
problem which Is confronting the army
today.
Foresees War With Mexico. Il
Regarding the possibility of war
with Mexico the general said:
There is no doubt in my mind but
what the United States will be forced
sooner or later to intervene. The Am
erican- people are dealing with a
treacherous race and Carranza is a
true disciple of the breed President
Wilson's permission allowing Carran
zas troops the right to cross the Dor
der. looks ominous TO me. I do not
trust Carranza- His word can not be
accepted and should he see an oppor-
tunity to turn upon the United States
he will not hesitate to do so, Choosing
between Villa and Carranza, would
vote for villa, murderer that he is.
The obviously great need Of the
United States in this crisis is a larger
army. Volunteers to the number OF
100000 should be modified and trained
lHmedlateiy, read FOR any emergency.
The Mexicans when war has been de-
clared will not hesitate to cross the
border and again commit such out
RACES as perpetrated at Columbus. I'm
less a strong border patrol Is main
tanned these raids will be a source of
menace and annoyance. The Mexicans
have an exalted opinion OF their Prov
ess as fighters and are firmly con-
vinced that they can lick the United
States. just as they believe that they
whipped the United States in the
Mexican war .I....... :--.sa T.
And another thing. young man."
said the general. should Mexico de-
clare war against the United States,
not three months will eiapse before an
other country will be involved. and not
on the side Of the United States" The
undimmed blue eyes Of the old war,
rior looked seriously into those OF his
interviewer and the weight OF these
portentious words. coming from a
student Of military and foreign at
fairs. managed to bring sense Of OPP
pressive foreboding with them. II 10 a
sentence TO ponder. 49,
a ~