The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1916. WILL AMERICA BE EMBROILED?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2718, 13 March 1916, Page 4

The Dominion. MONDAY, MARCH 13, 1916. WILL AMERICA BE EMBROILED?

The murderous raid by Villa's Mexican bandits on the town of Columbus may have a more direct bearing on the great struggle in Europe than is generally recognised. The situation, while full of embarrassments for the United States, is also of concern to the belligerents in the Old World. On the one side Britain and her Allies may well hope that the United States may find a means of avoiding war with Mexico, while Germany will be still more anxious to see the American Republic embroiled with her southern neighbour. Indeed, it has been freely stated that German intrigue and German gold have been largely responsible for- the rccent activities of Villa's bandits on the AmericanMexican frontier. The reason is obvious. With America 'engaged in active warfare or threatened with' war, she would necessarily require the output of war material now being supplied to Britain and her Allies, for her own needs. While the cutting off of this supply would be a matter of sbmo consequence to the Allies, it fortunately would be a much less serious thing to-day than would have been the case a few months ago. The tremendous increase in the number of factories and in the army of workpeople engaged in making war munitions in Britain has made the Mother Country practically indopendent of outside supplies, and has enabled her to assist her Allies as well. Nevertheless, American supplies of various kfhds are still of material value, and it would be a distinct gain to Germany if for any reason these were cut off. ,

The situation ' as between the United States and Mexico, as disclosed by our cable news, is an cxtremel.y grave one. To • appreciate this it should be borne in mind that the raid on the-town of Columbus has Come at a time when tho temper of the American .people has been inflamed by a long series of outrages by Villas bandits against the lives and property of American citizens, both in Mexico and across the border in Amcrica itself. In a general way most people know something of the terrible condition of lawlessness and anxiety which has in Mexico for some years past. The .United States and most of the South American Republics have endeavoured by the exercise of moral suasion to brinij about a settlement of the internal troubles of Mexico, and restore order, and social government. Without going hack to the early days of the struggle following on the Hueiita regime, tho course of more recent events may be briefly traced to sufficiently indicate the relations batwee.ii the authorities at Washington and tile dominating influences m Mexico. The present President, Carranza, with General Villa as the Commander-in-Chief of his forces, secured the dominating position in Mexico towards tho end of 1914. Villa, however, soon after disagreed with his chief, and entered into open revolt. Carranza won victory after victory against the forces of Villa: until in June, 1915,' President WilSOn\ steppcd_ in as mediator. Acting in conjunction with the representatives at Washington of some of the Republics of Central and South Amcrica, an appeal was drafted and sent to a number of leading Mexicans, proposing a conference of those directing the armed movements in Mexico, and" offering friendly and disinterested help. A- prompt/ acceptance earns from Villa, but Carranza rejected the proposals. • This of course, prevented the matter being pursued further, but in tho following September the representatives or the different Republics again met and on this occasion declared that the Carranza party was the only one possessing the essentials for recognition as the dc facto Government of Mexico. Thus formal recognition was given to Carranza, and Villa was turned down. _ by the United btatcs, and practically all of the south American Republics. By this means it was hoped to strengthen the hands of Carranza and assist him to restore order. Villa, however proceeded with his ravaging of the country and added to his offending ihc American Review of Ecviews i'or ifobruary last summed up the relations of_ the United States and Mexico in the following plain language : if'lff 7? r - the r 1 ? tates Government itself, it is cordially hated by all factions [in Mexico], Uio followers of General Diaz cannot forget that the Jladero revolution was directed irom our side of tho border. 1 he adherents of Hneita remember the constant snubbing and final i lu . pnsonment. KecogniUoii of the Carranza ! party was not intended as a graceful compliment, and its effect is more than outweighed by the long period of doubtfulness and hesitancy. Villa's hatred of Americans, always in evidence, is now without measure or bounds." Mexican feeling towards America may be judged from this. American j l'eeljng towards-Mexico, if it ia to be judged by American writers and cartoonists, is bitter in the extreme —the bitterness being heightened by the failure of President Wilson to cxact reparation for the outrages against the lives and property 0 f American citizens. The President has been attacked in the strongest terms for what has been regarded as the weakness of his attitude towards Mexico. Now Villa's villainy has culminated in tho raid on Coiumlnin > and the brutal murder of several

unoffending Americans, men, women, anc! children. Can Amcrica sit down under this outrage and calmly dictate Notes to Carranza demanding that redress which Carranza has already shown himself unable or unwilling to give f Or will the President be forced to take the law into his own hands <vid seek to inflict that punishment on Villa and his band of criminals which they' so richjy deserve? From the information to hand, it would seem that the latter course is being followed. American troops are said to have crossed the Mexican border in pursuit of Villa, and with a determination to capture or destroy him and, his band. Carranza may tj-cat this as an act of war. He does not love Villa, but neither docs he love the United States, and no doubt the agents of Germany, who have • already assisted him and other Mexican leaders with arms and munitions, will seek to induce him to actively resent the invasion of Mexican territory. He might even seize the opportunity to rally to his banner the various conflicting parties in the Mexican Republic, to make common cause against the hated neighbour oi the north._ The situation is one fraught with serious possibilities, for, weakened though sho may be by years of internal strife, Mexico is capable of carrying on a guerrilla warfare against,tha United States which would impose a heavy strain on that country and leave it little to •gain in the end.