El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-30

THE state department is IN awkward fix. It had prom
sed the Mexican government 70 make arrangements for
the ssage of Mexican federal troops through United
States territory crossing the border from Sonora and re-
crossing FL Paso, to reinforce the troops opposing Nla
in Chihuahua Then protests so vigorous that the
state department has felt obliged to call halt on Mexico
and hold the troop movement IN abeyanoe for the time
being.
Obviously the state department diskes to grant the
Mexican governments request when the border is SO much
against it. the other hand ii is hard say TO the
request from Mexico City. For acting secretary Of state
Polk has pointed out the United States government holds
Mexico accountable for the preservation Of order and the
safeguarding Of life and property Of American citizens IN
Chihuahua In Of that policy Mexico apt 10 can the
United States inconsistent IN refusing permission 10 ao"
passage troops to do what the United States insists
be done That be the Mexican view Of It. The Mex
ican government considered Washington inconsistent
other occasion when shipments Of arms and ammunition
were enlarged notwithstanding that Mexico contended it
impossible TO suppress brgandage without them
Protests from the border not based any sympathy
for Villa there is American in Texas, New Mexico or
Arizona who does not long Villas execution he does
proclaim himself Americans remember too well the
Columbus raid and the Santa Ysabel massacre dictated by
villa the murderer and bandit The fact that Villa lat
terry has been numbering Americans is not proof Of
peane but rather that he is playing policy under
the utege Of the polished and capable Gen Felipe Angeles
But the fact IS that villa has shown himself able to do
very much as wishes and central Chihuahua,
where there Americans and American interests and
there IS fear that he may be provoked TO commit new
atrocities troops to oppose him sent through the
United States His savage mind would forget dictates Of
policy il IT seemed to him that the United States again
sion, much is laid the Of federals
through United States territory in 1916 which
was followed B. the raid on Columbus, New Mexico
Border residents, many Of whom have property interests
in Mexico OF have relatives other friends there have not
the viewpoint Washington The state department
has the idea that reinforcing the federal troops Chhua
hua safeguarding foreign interests against villa for
that s the representation Of the Mexican government To
people the border does follow that foreign life and
property VIII be protected by charging the forces under
the Carranza government IN chihuahua Mere establish
Of larger garrsons would be suent protection
For reason, since the days Of Da federal troops
Mexico have chosen for themselves role Of passyity
awaiting attack The offensive nearly invariably has been
n the hands Of the rebels Being they stri7ed
hard TO get in They have fought with determination
generally, than the defending garsons. They have had
higher spirit Of combat; therefore, they have been better
fighters, for Lack of munitions and lack men
have been their most serious handicap They have had
rely for munitions, almost entirely what they could
take from the ederas One chief after another has taken
the field in Chihuahua the past years with bag Of
falss and pistol and within year has had big armed
following aided by artillery.
villa is getting little more power his forces IL
crease and since he las again brought brains to his aid
Alone villa is swashbucking bandit skilled only IN slap
dash srmshng- He nearly overthrow the Carranza gov
eminent because he followed the advice Of skilled mill
tay II conducting his battles His own role was to IN
fuse his men with fighting spirit He broke his own back
the battles of Celaya and Leon because he had grown 50
big N his esteem that he dsdained the plan Of combat
outlined for him by Gen. Angeles and insisted on dashing
bandit tactics n attack Oregon who solidy