Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-30
THINKS WAR INEVITABLE.
Mexico City Newspaper Man in Brat
tleboro Gives Interview-Full Prep
aration Very Necessary.


George E. Hyde of Mexico City.
Mexico, correspondent there some
years for the New York Times and
formerly connected with the Mexican
Herald, a newspaper published in that
city in both the English and Spanish
language was in Brattleboro Friday
and Saturday. He is recuperating
from long illness contracted in Vera
Cruz, where he was at the time of the
American occupation, and was here on
his way to pay visit to Paul Hud-
son of West Halifax, former editor of
the Mexican Herald.
Mr.. Hyde is by no means optimis-
tic over the situation as revealed by
the newspaper dispatches. lie said that
he sincerely hoped that the United
States would not attempt any actual
step Of warfare until fully prepared.
From his intimate knowledge of the
Mexicans he said that to send a few
thousand troops into that country,
leaving Il small command here and an
other there to garrison important
points on the lines of communication
would be suicidal.
The Mexicans, 80 per cent of whom
arc so illtcrate that they cannot read
or write more than their names and
70 Ter cent of whom cannot do even
that, will never fight i'll open battle
against anywhere near equal forces.
1t will be constant guerrilla warfare
and one that, spread over country
as large as Europe if Russia were
eliminated from the comparison, will
mean a long and unsatisfactory job.
He offers no solution of the question
except what he believes is the desire
of every officer in touch with the ac-
tual situation, that the government
muster at least between 100000 and
100000 men and make quick, sure
and positive business of straighten-
ing out the affairs of that nation at
least so far as they concern the Unit
ed States MIR. Hyde believes that vol
untecrs should be called for who
would total more than the present
National Guard force that has been
called to the front.
Mr.. Hyde said that in his opin.
ion there was no question but that
war was inevitable and that the differ
ent factions in Mexico were remark
ably well prepared except, in me
The prospect that the various mill
tary leaders in the several states of
Mexico will unite against a common
enemy he does not regard as probable.
lie says that there is too much petty
jealousy and lack of confidence in each
other. He believes that each of them
with his followers, once war is de-
clared, will return to his individual
territory and there fight his individual
battles with prospect of assistance
now and then from ncighboring lead
ers.
He says that there are Americans
who have lived in Mexico City so
long that they have no desire to re-
turn to the United States, who will
remain there under any or all circum-
stances. Besides them are a few young
men willing to take chances for what
is excellent pay, but the total num-
Der will not exceed $50 and may not
Mr.. Hydei expecrs to'-Icpotst in new
York in a few days for duty. He says
he is willing to return to Mexico City
if his paper considers it the best
thing to do, but personally he believes
that he would be able to get material
to his paper just as quickly and as
completely if he went in with the first
American column as he would be able
to do if he attempted to precede it.
He has no fear of arrest as spy
for he was born in Mexico City of
American parents and has been con
nectcd with newspaper work there l6
years, being well known to men of
different factions who hold high rank
in official life.