Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1917-04-20

The army Is unsuited Ia the work
of policing the border. The patrols
seldom ever see anything. They go
in numbers and claiter along at such
rate that those evilly disposed
simply remain conveniently IN hiding
until the patrol passes when they
know they will have many hours of
darkness to complete their nnlaw-
iul tasks. The distances are obvi-
uu-ly too great for infantry 10 coy
er in patrols. In other words, the
army l. able 10 protect itself. hut
not that parr of the border that lies
without its lines 1t takes the army
too long to get into action. The fault
/, not with the officers and men, as
80 MANY believe. but with the system
thai was perfected to meet the larg-
cr que. non. of national defense In
fact, using the army To hunt down the
bandits of the border. is like using
~lrdgc hammer to crush an ant
Either the army should br mcrea ed
81 the extent that it, system viii en-
brace wider areas, "r the work
should he turned over tu r"n~Iahu-
larry. which. more mobile. could .lyc
continuous protection with - much
mailer number of men 1t this
time the army is being concentrated
rather than dispersed. and for that
reason We can expect little con~idcra-
ton IN Ihi, thinly settled section
Neither can the state be looked to|
for ANYTHING like adequate protect
ion through q well organized and well
nticcred constabularv. The next
hest thing i- q large number OF state
troops. the cost of maintaining winch
would be- borne almost wholly bv the
federal government. But the lrgi--
'l,nrc. through lis lack of apprecl-
alton of The services OF such force.
has failed 10 take the steps that
he federal Government require
Local "ace nftlccr~-depuy her
IFS -cauH"t accomplish the results
desired, \ large number of the men
available for tins work are of infer
."r intelligence, and not being III
rnrtlv controlled by officer, oi train
ng, lhrN Ire merely licensed "gun
'"icr> and nearer menace To- pub
Ir safety than the bandits they might
he paid 10 eliminate. The ,hcri,.
himself has a man size lob in another
field altogether \ "home guard"
composed of citizens, NAV have great
intelligence IN lis ranks. hut It l. the
worst wak"Shift for protection of
all. II l. well Ia remain safely under
the bed when Tom. Dick and lIarr,
are on the streets looking for some
thing 10 -hoot at Leaving aside the
matter of plain good intentions. the
home guard l. a menace because of
lack of tralnig and discipline. aud
for thc-r +" reasons and the further
on" thai the home guard Equipment
Is INADEQUATE. it Is easy To- see that
the community that put, it, trust in
such an arrangement will wonder
how il happened when the enemy
makes AN attack.
There are three choices that pre-
sent themselves as feasible: First.
q "''mcrou~ and well organized CON
,'nhuIaN under state authority Soc
ond. heavy regular army garrison.
that could cover the border with an
"nlguard. or continuous line of small
d'ia"hln'nt> maintaining the sentry
posts aud patrols according 10 the
principles laid down for the pro.
lection If an army while operating
m hostile country; third. state
troop under federal control used in
'hc same way as suggested for the
regular troops.
One Of the weakest. vet most ems
lily corrected of faults of the bord-
or patro, has been the lack Of intel.
Ii-cure of what was happening ac-
r"-- the norder. The I-Strand barb
wire fence that marks the interna.
h"nal Inc has been like high stone
wall Behind it in safety have the
'Hnor".- raids on American com
"m.'lc- been planned by Mexican
bandits. Then there j. the matter
OF communication between the dl,.
trrcnl ro-i> along the border. # Will
'" remembered that Il was the mid.
.'.r 81 the forenoon Ltfore the .auod
I'n CO.. cavalry at the Gibson line
ranch heard of the Villa raid ON
'lrmhp- Had these troops been
""nn"ctod with headquarter. bv -
1e'd telephone the detachment Ger