Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-02-07
SITUATION BAD
Intervention in Mexico
Hinted at
Gen. Howe Makes Statement Before
Committee Probing Affairs Of
Southern Nsishbors-Says Left to
Control! Of People Future 10 Hope.
less

Ell Paso. Texas, Feb. 6-Major
Gen. Howe. commanding in the Ell
Paso district, testifying here today
before the Senate sub committee in
vestigating the Mexican situation
said he regarded conditions in Mex
leo as "intolerable." He said he be-
lieved the Mexicans left to them
selves would be unable to improve
the condition.
General Howe expressed the opin-
| ion that affairs in Mexico had grown
steadily worse in the last ten years.
and that left solely in the control
Of Mexicans" the future of that
country was hopeless" The gen.
eral said that so far as he could
determine the Mexican government
during this ten years had not done
"one genuinely friendly thing toward
our government and people,"
The appearance of Gen. Howe was
with the approval Of the war depart
ment. His publicly made statement
was supplemented by one in execu-
} tive session, which was not made
public
The conclusions Of Gen. Howe
we're contained in short statement
he read to the committee, but its
presentation was preceded by a sum-
| mary Of the reports he had gathered
Of American casualties on the Amer
lean side attributed to Mexicans since
1917. 1t accounted for eleven killed
| and seventeen wounded.
Following is Gen. Howze's state
ment:
FL Paso, Texas, Feb. 6.-"Of and
on during the four years I have had
peculiar advantages Of being able to
see and to know the things, SO far as
concerns American and foreign own
ed property. which have happened on
this side of the Rio Grande, and in
| Mexico.
II will not undertake to describe
them.-they are too numerous and al
| ready we'll known. My conclusions
ought to be sufficient. The intoler-
able conditions which have covered
a period Of nearly ten years have
continually grown worse and I am
convinced the apex of shamefulness
and horror as viewed from the Amer
lean conception Of justice was reach
ed last fall a condition which still
exists.
The Mexican government during
this 10 years Of critical time has
never, as far as can determine, done
one genuinely friendly thing toward
our government On the other hand
the Mexican government or it's peo-
pie has done no end Of discourtesy,
contemptious and offensive things of
large importance to our government
and our people.
THE result has been an increased
estrangement and an increased ha-
tired against the people of the United
States. There are no end of reports
showing that Americans are being
murdered or captured and released
IN payment of ransoms. Foreign
owned property is being conf1scated.
Mexican bands are committing hor-
rible crimes and in isolated places
continues to make raids upon the
PCA ooAS Ahu piOpcTty VI american
citizens located on our side of the
border.
Everywhere in Mexico as far as
can be observed. there is lack of
progress. Murder, rape and destruc-
ton prevail. From our point Of view
there is no evidence Of constructive
craftsmanship.
I'VE. who closely observe, believe
the future Of Mexico so far as it af-
fects 10. is utterly hopeless II left
solely in control of Mexicans."
Col. Francis Glover. General Howe's
chief Of STAFF. also was a witness.
He was asked regarding the fighting
in Juarez, on June 1915. 1919, when
Villas men captured the city and
situation that resulted in American
troops crossing the international
boundary. Col. Glover testified that
the bullets which fell in Ell Paso were
from both Mexican armies but the
mn ior}fv vrero those fred nv Cor