AMERICA AND MEXICO.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16267, 28 June 1916, Page 5

AMERICA AND MEXICO.

EFFECTS OF A CONFLICT. MEXICANS WELL EQUIPPED. HOW TROUBLE ORIGINATED. Sohe interesting observations on the relations between America and Mexico were made yesterday by the Rev. Dr. J. H. Hughes, who has just returned to his home in Auckland from Rome, Georgia, U.S.A., where he has been stationed for the last two years. Dr. Hughes was previously in America for a period of 14 years. He _ said that from the outset the American authorities had been under a misapprehension in regard to the military strength of the various revolutionary factions in Mexico. The latter had a large army of trained soldiers well versed in guerilla warfare, who were equipped with ultra-modern weapons of war, and had large _ supplies of ammunition, whereas America was in a state of unpreparedness as far as war was concerned. Dr. Hughes said there were vast oil fields in Mexico, and as the ships of the British and other navies employed to a very large extent oil fuel, a conflict between America and Mexico might probably lead to serious consequences. Trouble had commenced between America and Mexico some two or three years ago, when the former country demanded that Mexicans in America should salute the American flag. There had been several affrays in consequence of this mandatory order. At present, said Dr. Hughes, all the American forces available were concentrated on the borders of Mexico. He was of opinion that the whole of the forces in Mexico would presently unite to wage war against the United States. Where President Wilson had erred was in counting on 1 the gratitude of Carranza, whom he had officially recognised. He had also failed to calculate the great antipathy which Mexicans felt for Americans. A great many people in the United States were inclined to think that the trouble between the two had been fomented by religious differences but really the great mass of the people knew 'ittle about it. America, had instituted a recruiting system in anticipation of hostilities, but the response had not been of a particularly satisfactory nature. The militia had been called out, but a large percentage of the men failed to answer the roll call.