New-York tribune., 1921-02-13

war. For some years there las been
an embargo on BOTH money and arms
Tor Mexico. "fhe financial blockade"
was established by Washington to in
sure the payment of such claims as the
United States might in tho future have
against the country and also to prevent
the injection of additional European
complications into the situation.
Prohlbitive measures TO prevent the
sale OF arms and ammunition to Mex
lco have been instruments which the
Washington government has used in
the past TO assist one faction against
another More recently the prohibi-
tion was enforced as war measure,
but 1t has been continued.
Army Being Reeautpped
The extent to which this has been
carried has eifectually prevented
Mexico from obtaining munitions from
any source except by contraband. 1t
has even prevented the Mexican gov
ernment from purchasing raw material
to be used in the manufacture of MUM
tlons, to say nothing of the machinery
necessary for that manufacture. The
European nations also have abstained
from selling arms 10 any Mexican fac
ton
Reorganization of the military forces
under these conditions has been vir-
tually impossible. However, much has
been accomplished. BY slow process
OF local manufacture and repair, or by
the more costly means of contraband,
q part of the army has been
reequipped. 1t is much more difficult
matter to smuggle heavy equipment
than small arms and, because of this.
the Mexican army is to-day virtually
without artillery. Ten years ago Mex
ico had one of the most efficient ar
tillery organizations on the continent,
possibly superior even to that of the
United States. To-day it is doubtful
lif she has single piece of heavy
ordnance which would stand a scien-
tifc test.
The difficulties of reorganization
from the point Of view of personnel
have been extremely complicated. Many
personal antagonisms have been created
which few months of discipline has
not been able to eliminate Each com
manding officer recruited his own men,
and they have not had the type of
training which make it possible to move
officers from one place to another as
the needs of She service demand. For
the same reason it has not been able to
move troops from one part of the
country to another at will.
Both the De la Huerta and obregon
administrations have been trying to
cut down the enlisted aud commissioned
strength of the army and to eliminate
much of the expense which it entailed
TO the nation. Hundreds OF officers
who had been on the pay lists for years
without rendering any service to the
country have been dropped or have been
placed on half pay in the reserve. 1t
mas not been possible to carry this to
extremes because of the possibility
tnat many of these officers might Join
/ the ranks of the revolution. A con-
siderable number have done so.
Army Cut Down Gradually
The mastering out of irregular rev.
olutlonary forces has gone steadily
I forward. The government could not.
/ however, throw these men out to shift
Tor themselves, and it has been neces-
safy to pay them sort of bonus to
enable them to return to work. In con-
sequence Of this the effects of the re-
ductlon of the army have not become
apparent SO far as the budget is con
cerned. In many instances It has been
possible to establish agrarian colonies
10 employ the men so mustered out on
roads or in forestry work. but this hos
been a slow task
IN dealing with any new revolt Gen
eral Obregon must take all of this into
consideration. He is selecting the men
VINO are to take the field against the
small bands which have appeared with
great care as ia tneir previous records
and particularly with care as to their
personal attitude toward him and his
government. The handicap thus nlaced
upon him is obvious.
Under the supervision of the gen.
eral staff, a measure recently has been
prepared which provides for universal
military service in Mexico. This meas
ure mas the support of. leading military
men, but it is doubtful whether it can
be put into effect in Tine to assist in
dealing with probable developments in
the near future. 1t l. estimated that
1t would give Mexico an army of
100000 men, which is far beyond her
requirements.
To the casual observer it seems i'm.
possible that another revolution could
take place in Mexico He is ikelv to
wonder if the men who are attempting
60 start one do not realize the danger
OF international complications. TO the
man who has seen Mexico during the
past eight years, however, it is COM
mon knowledge that the men who are
implicated in the new movement know
little or nothing about the possibility
Of complications.
Many of them cannot read and do
not see the newspapers. Furthermore,
their experience has been that they can
do what they please with impunity. For
eight years revolution has followed
revolution in Mexico, and to the aver
age Mexican there is no apparent rea-
son why another is not in order.
Whether General Obregon can weather
the storm is a matter of opinion. 1t is
generally believed however, that if he
cannot, there is no man in Mexico at
present who can. 1t is also clear that
the stand of the United States must be
made perfectly clear and its coopera-
tion assured if Obregon is to have q
chance.