El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-20

~ WASHINGTON, which president Wilson and
Nv secretary Of state Lansing described IN dispatches
the national capital being bewidered by the
situation northern Mexico One dispatch from the border
describes Villa overwhelmingly defeated and his scattered
remnants fleeing every direction while another message
of Villa attacking Chihuahua City. In looking first
and then at the other of these apparently contradictory
advces the administration Washington knows not what
TO believe. II does not know whether Cen Pershng's
expedition may safely withdrawn Reading dispatch
the inference that the of bandry
finally broken leaving the border fairly secure from attack
The that Villa might capture Chihuahua
City take Juarez and staightway create menacng situation
at our very door.
It is this strange situation which placed Washington
in quandary delayed action OF any kind If Washing
ton knew which let Of advices to credit solution of the prob
lem would be little simple.
As fact, both dispatches may very well be
true allowing few days difference in time between them
What Washington needs to bear in mind is that Villa
despicabe bandit that he IS possesses the high military
of not staying beaten when he is beaten Trounced
today, he is apt to press stiff attack tomorrow Beaten
then be may scatter his to the four Winds only
Teassembe when pursuit ends and deliver else
which may result in the defeat of the enemy
footing of The defeat Of the enemy his satisfac
ton: the loot his tangible reward
This then, should clear up the apparent discrepancy in
accounts which Washington finds bewdering" This is
the first time Washington has been bedered, but it
almost the first time the fact has been admitted.
Americans without single exception will welcome the
of Gen PeIshngs little army
to the border. The original movement into Mexico, upon
the definite orders get Villa efectualy dsperse his
bands Vas generally approved The punitive expedition
seemed the time be the only short of general
military intervention full Mexico that
could by the United States government following
violent invasion of this nations elemental rights
been sustained Even if be held that sovereign rights
invaded since Villa represented government the
primary duty and right of self protection gave ample
for the original movement.
But the expedition did accomplish either of the pur
poses for which The failure due solely
ignorance vaciation and unwsdom the part of
civil administration Washington and in the slightest
any fault of field officers of the expedition
the military department of the government The
supreme bunder made after the Parral fight
American troops ordered to retire just the very
moment when they had Villa trapped and knew that their
task would be finished if they let alone.
Since that day, the expedition has been tied post
Ordered to abandon its original AIM substitute orders
given it, of any positive All it had do
to insure its safety hostile country, refrain
from provoking conflict and perfect its units all mill
tary arts It's record is cear but the of the Washing
government be described in two short words Bunk
and Bungle.
So intOlerabe had the situation become many months
ago. that generally agreed that the American exped
ton would be withdrawn if Caranza and his official
associates would only stop talking about it. The situation
was ridiculous, yet wholly in accord with the familiar
facts OF human nature: The United States greatly desired
withdraw its forces but declined under any sug
gestion of pressure from Mexico. This deadlock lasted for
long time but the end the United States gave
in the expedition will be withdrawn spite of CaTranzas
nsstence if not because OF 1.-THE two propositions differ
slightly psychologist basis though effect they iden