WAR

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2130, 23 April 1914, Page 4

WAR

—»-,—l>^, —... Is spilft of ail Use efforts of Preridkst WitfiON' to avoid anmid intervention in Mexico the.first, shots in what; may prove :i long and ti-otrliln-sumo way have now been finjd, ami

Vora Cruz hae been captsn'cd by the Amiji'icnii' fuixoß. Ko ono can nceiiHc tho Washington nuthorUk'-ss of rushing wcklossly into tho ctmllict. Far nearly a year they have resisted the pressure of a considerable body of public opinion in their own conntry, and the urgent demands -of otuer Powers for tho protection of the lives and property of foreigners. Tlicy resolutely tofused to resort to force, and, though matters went from bad to urorso, still tlroy refraificd from taking decisive action until Jit kstHuERTA created s>. crisis by 'arresting a number of Amcricrtß marines at Ta.rapjco attd declining to sajute tho Amaricaii flitg as an expression of regrot. The claims of national honour have now compelled tlie United States to draw the sword. If it hud not done so its prestige throughout the American Continent would haw suffered a severe blow. How far tho American Government intends to proceed, with its naval and military operation's has not yc*been disclosed; but -when once a conflict of this character has commenced it is difficult to draw ba-efc. If America is eventually compelled to seriously enter on the _ task of conquering the Mexicans, it will indeed have a formidable undertaking ahead of it. Up to the present <ape:?atioiis have been confined :to naval blockades. in which the Mexicans have to fight Under serious disadvantages, The veal struggle will begin when the American army invades tho country, and all the difficulties of gwer-riOa Warfare against trfiops which know every inch 'of tho land will have to be overcome. Such a conflict would put tho fighting qualities and the powers of of the United States forces to a severe tost. It is only within the 1-iisi year dr two that tho_ army has been gi«m a composite- organisation with a regular chain of command, and has thus been changed from a number of sepafate units into a permanently consolidated jSgljting machine. It has ■hardly had" time to become thoroughly accustomed to its new fo.rftl and may have to gaia its experience iri actual warfare. If. the United State has to deal with Huerta alone the conflict will probably tic sh&rt and decisive, as he will certainly ha crushed between tho Americans andthe rebel forees; but if HtEttTA ? s ontkavour to secure Hi© help -gl Car-U-ANZA and \ r tt,-M apainsfc the invaders meets wiMs sucecss, a lonjf and tediosts sfcru-jrsle may hb expected. This is jti-sfc wfa'at Piiksibent Wilson wants to avoid, an-cf he has esp'ressly sta-ted that Aifidrica has no iiilcjition of fighting ike Mexican pco))le. But what if the Mexican pconle combine to fisht America I t The-. Mexicans certainly have very little love fertile Urtiteil States, and w»r'!«ts been. doßoriW. as thttir national pahie. Soldiering pays better than working, and it is ouite possible that Hi-ehta and liis foes may agjve tb bitry the h.itclu* and combino tlioir foress j.n orfe to resist the Aiuerkan tmops.