A BLOW THROUGH MEXICO

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 30 March 1917, Page 7

A BLOW THROUGH MEXICO

GERMAN OFFICERS LBAV3 STATES. PROVIDENCE, Fob. 9. The Providence Journal says to-day: "If Germany succeeds iu dragging the United States into war, her first blow against this country will be struck through Mexico. "For two weeks the German Ambassador, wqrking among his own consulated all over the United States as well as those of Austria-Hungary, has been superintending the start of more than three hundred officers of the German Army, both regulars and reservists, from American ports and railroad centres to Mexico City, where orders govthat a large number of German army erning their future activities will await them.

"It has not been generally known officers who have been captured by the Russians in the present war and have made their way here at various times through China, have been held in this country without any attempt being made to smuggle them back home.

"The Department of Justice lias had information for several months that several of these officens have been with both Villa and Carranza in Mexico. Since last Saturday there has been a wholesale exodus of these that have remained in. Mexiso City, and at least two hundred officers of reservists have accompanied them or gone in small parties by various noutes to the same ultimate restination. "The exodus of hundreds of German officers to Mexico a few days ago was followed immediately by instructions from the German and 'Austrian embassies to their Consuls to destroy all confidential papers relating to Mexican affairs, and this was promptly done. Last Monday, Consul-General von Nuber, Austro-Hungarian Consul in New York, himself euperintended the burning of all this confidential material,, and the same activity was shown in the office of the German Consul-General on the same day.

"When the order was received from the Embassies to send these officers to Mexico they were all notified at their boarding houses to present themselves at the consulates in New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Atlantia. A largo sum of money was withdrawn from the Transatlantic Trust Company, and was handed to these officers for their travelling and other expenses. At the same time a quantity of private papers, the property of the officers was lodged for safe keeping in the vaults of the Transatlantic Trust Company. "In what way it is proposed to strike a blow at the United States through Mexico is not at present fully understood,, but it is believed that if, after war with Germany is declared, any ef-. fort is made to maintain the same proportion of exports of foods and munitions to England as heretofore, a strong movement against the United States on the Mexican border will serve as the most potent argument to prevent a continuation of that policy."