Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-10
OBJECTIVE.

General w. A. Mann, Cn1e1 OF the
militia bureau of the war department,
told the house committee on military
affairs recently, that about $4,000 men
are under arms in Mexico. He added
that If the United States had tried to
clean up that country they would all
have come against us"
German agents are busy 10Y in Mex.
leo, trying to unity the warning forces
for invasion Of the United States.
There lies the danger line. for if these
forces should be organized, trained
and differed by German reservists, re-
cruits would come to them in large
numbers and a formidable army would
try to capture the rich cities of the
Mississippi and Missouri valleys.
General Mann told the committee
the United States had 200, 900 soldiers
on the border and with Pershing's col
umn last summer, and they were all
needed to control the situation. There
were 1900 miles of border to patrol,
"and the enemy could have crossed
at any point"
According to that" remarked Mr..
Anthony, "if we had to protect every
foot of the border OF this country with
troops by a defensive patrol, would we
not have to have a million mem"
"We would have to have a great
many more men," answered General
Mann.
Representative Anthony vas trying
to lead the witness into an admission
that an offensive patrol would have
been better than a defensive one, but
General Mann held that that was a
question of military policy beyond his
authority.
Mr.. Anthony pressed the same line
of questioning when Secretary of War
Baker was before the committee. He
were not sufficient to patrol the border.
"a border 1900 miles long could not
be adequately s~afeguarded under the
conditions which existed there by
$4,000 men," replied Secretary Baker.
"Of course. If you have troublesome
neighbours" added Secretary Baker. ut
might be wiser to go over and exter.
inmate them, and it is a more expen.
sive policy to build a fence
Two hundred thousand e were
needed to control the situation slast
summer when the United States had
only to deal with the Villista faction
It Is apparent, then, that il Germany
succeeds in her exposed and admitted
plan of rallying all Mexico to a wal
of invasion, we should have to- deal
with a large and growing army. train
ed and directed by German officers
| We should then require large forces
not fewer than 500. 900, and 1.000,0 0c
would be better-part Of them tC
patrol the 1900 miles Of border and
a large mobile force ample to meet
and rout the enemy.
1t would be folly for the American
people to underrate the shrewdness OF
! German strategy. If Germany sue
! ceeds in organizing an invading force
the invaders will not make the mis-
take Of hurting themselves against
the deserts and mountains of Arizona
and New Mexico. They will strike
for the richest sections of the Missis
| sippi valley, They will plan to live
of the country and levy war tribute
from the rich and populous cities
They will seize horses and mount theil
soldiers: capture arms and munitions
wherever they find them and deal with
the inhabitants Of the raided regior
with all the rigor and terrorism thai
Belgium and parts Of France have SUI
fered.
And It would be folly to hold con
temptuously the fighting qualities o.
a Mexican army thus organized ant
led by German officers. There are
now in Mexico several hundred thou
sand men who have more or less felc
service. They are physically hard
ened, Injured to hardships and expos
ure, and know how to handle a rifle
Lured by offers OF boundless loot. they
would flock to Villa and other Mexican
leaders in great numbers and their OBJ
tective would be the rich and defense
less cities of the middle west.-Spo
kane (Wash.) Spokesman.Review.
~~IrN mir