THE MILITARY PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXIII, Issue 8831, 6 May 1914, Page 5

THE MILITARY PROBLEM.

ROUTE TO MEXICO CITY

COST OF A CAMPAIGN.

H There is no question that the United Ktates looks on intervention in Mexico X „ military problem 01 great magmKude. The idea that such a campaign ■would consist of a movement southward ■from the American frontier- is entirely ■erroneous. The natural objective is i Kexico City, and natural route io■\lexico City now is from \ era Cruz, ■just as it was when General Scott ■fought the war in 184«- Tnnnnn ■ Even for a force ot between 100,000 , Hind 200,000 men the mountain charac■L. of the country would make ad-K-ance difficult and afford opportunity harassment of tbeHnvaders at every n The possession of tlie capital ■tould be only the beginning of the cam■Sn for it is realised, says one AmeriKan writer, that however bitter the ■Mexicans now fight each other they ■„o»lji! unite in common cause against States. ■ lew' army officers venture .an opmon how long such a campaign would ■ast The long drawn out Phi ippino fersu^ii^^-i^ ES^drJn^^SScS HfreW? nectary to pacify the counKrv?nd\tamp out the guerilla warfare. woi!id be no Cuban war," army ofH- ILT frequently say. "The CubanKa" cost IWOOO dollars (£2OO 000) a The cost of fighting like the cost living, has since gratly increased. , H As to the number of regular troops if an expedition is to be sent. vary, but it may ho safely at 50,000 men ■ Legal 'opinion Hi vis been given that the. militia of the States cannot be sent out-of country. Under the law rnihtia be used only in national defence, not in war invasion. To ..raise the arms for an invasion of Mexio would be necessary to call for and to convert militia regiinto United States volunteers, as done in" the Spanish-American war.