Omaha daily bee., 1916-06-28
Is History Repeating?

vi T. Mexican nluSS is proceeding doHS HlstOiiC
l. lines. The parallel between conditions as
they exist and they drove the United
States into war with Mexico in 1916 is so striking
that one can readily understand the belief OF
American army officers that whether or not the
administration is determined to avoid war with
Mexico, the issue will be forced. 1t will be re-
called that two of the greatest battles OF the
Mexican war, Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma
were fought before had been declared be-
tween the two countries, while innumerabe con-
ficts between the troops OF both sides had taken
place. By exactly the same methods and with
the same lurd appeals to Mexican patriotism the
Mexican leaders OF 1916 sought to unite their peo-
pie against the invader" The same deadline
which Trevino has drawn against Pershing was
drawn by Mejia, the Mexican commanding gen.
eral at Matamoros, against Taylor; but Taylor
was far from telegraph lines, and his only answer
to the Mexican bombast was that "the stream
will be crossed at once"
The recent insulting note of Carranza to the
American secretary OF state might very well have
been copied from Mejias proclamation of 1916
The doctrine then as now, was that the United
States covets Mexican territory, and that Mexico
to her honor must expose the breasts of
her citizens to the bayonets of American soldery.
AS matter of fact the one thing Mexican troops
never have stood up under and never will is
bayonet charge direct charge of any kind
made by determined and well-traned soldiers
bearing down upon them. But the procamations
hurled against the United States by Mejia, awe
inspiring as they were, were met by bullets and
not by notes. That presumably is where the
parallel would end if President Wilson could have
his way But all military opinion agrees that the
present situation is getting worse every day, and
there can be no outcome but Intervention or
ignomnous retreat. In the spring of 1916 as
finely equipped and disciplined body of Ameri-
can soldiers as Pershing commands was en-
camped on the left bank of the Nueces river,
under command of General Zachary Taylor. To
Taylor, as recently to Lansing, the following
proclamation issued in Matamoros by Mejia was
SENT
Fellow Citizens: The annexation of the de-
partment of Texas to the United States, pro-
jected and consummated by the tortuous policy
of the cabinet of the Union, does not yet satisfy
the ambitious desire of the degenerate sons
Of Washington. The civilized world has already
recognized in that act all the marks of in
justice, iniquity, and the most scandalous viola
ton of the rights of nations Indelible is the
stain that will forever darken the character OF
virtue falsely attributed to the people of the
United States, and posterity will regard with
horror their perhdious conduct and immortality of
the means employed by them to carry into effect
that most degrading depreciation The right of
conquest has always been against humanity, but
nations, jealous of their dignity and reputation,
have endeavored at least to cover it by the
splendor of arms and the prestige of victory. To
the United States it has been reserved to put in
practice discrimination, fraud, and the basest
treachery in order to obtain possession, in the
midst of peace, Of the territory of friendly
nation which generously relied upon the faith of
promises and the solemnity of treaties
1.-THE cabinet OF the United States does not,
however, stop in its career of usurpation. Not
only does it aspire to the possession of the de-
partment of Texas, but it covets also the regions
on the left bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte (Rio
Grande). Its army, hitherto for some time sta
brJetI &c aI, 10 olxo
possession of large part of Tamaulipas, and its
vanguard has arrived at the Arroyo Colorado,
distant eighteen leagues from this place.
IF the banks OF the Panuco have been i'm
mortalized by the defeat of an enemy, respectable
and worthy of the valor of Mexico those of the
Bravo shall witness the ignominy of the proud
sons OF the north, and its deep water shall serve
as the sepulchre of those who dare approach it.
The flame of patriotism which burns in our hearts
will receive new fuel from the odious presence of
the conquerors, and the cry of Lores and lgualo
shall be re-echoed with harmony in our ears, when
we take up our march to oppose our naked breasts
to the rifles of the hunters of the Mississippi
Until the long-looked-for day shall arrive,
when we enter upon the great campaign for the
reconquest of the territory of which we have been
despoiled. and to carry our eagles in triumph to
the banks of the Sabine, we who have the glory
to be in front OF the invaders must serve as an
impenetrable barrier"
- ms communication was brought by Captain
D. Jose Barragon, chief of squadron, who crossed
the stream to confer with General Taylor and
reiterated, as did Trevno in his telegram to
Pershing, that the Mexicans had peremptory
orders to fire upon his soldiers if they attempted
to cross and that the passage of the stream would
be considered declaration of war Taylor's
only reply to the Mexican threat was to cross the
stream, which he did without opposition. From
then on the campaign was continued. The Mexi-
cans were defeated in every important engage
ment the only instance of an approximately even
contest being the battle of Molina del Rev, and
little more than a year later General Min6e1d