The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1916. BELLICOSE MEXICO.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1916. BELLICOSE MEXICO.

The announcement that the Mexican Government in Yucatan has declared war on the United States will not greatly ruffle the feelings of the world at large. The act is apparently that of Carranza and his associates, who can scarcely be entitled to be regarded as a Government, though as a dominant party in turbulent Mexico just now they, in accordance with custom, usurp governmental authority. Not content with the turmoil that exists in their own country, these filibusters appear to be seeking spoil over the border, but if it were not for the damage and destruction to life and property, the declaration of war would be almost Gilbertian in its absurdity. The special cable from Washington notifying the formal resort to hostilities states it is hinted that German influence is at the bottom of Mexico's action, but it is far mo'.'e likely that the Carranzistas have been influenced 'by their resentment against the intrusion of the United States Government into Mexican troubles. Above all, however, must be considered the inherent love of the Mexican bandits for pillage and plunder, it being a dominant factor in the ordering of their lives. It would have oeen a perfectly rational act if the declaration of war nad been made by the United Stites on Mexico, but we know that the United States is absolutely unprepared for a war of any kind. It is stated that all the troops. America can spare are now on the Mexican border, and we are told that the States' militia has been called out, but whether they are equipped or not remains to be seen. Undoubtedly the declaration of war was made at the most inopportune time for America, in view of the approaching presidential election and the posible troubles that may arise in connection therewith. From one point of view a war against the United States would perform useful service, for it should convince the people of the folly of unpreparedness and the degrading effect of th'e President's peaee-at-any-price policy. This is not the, first time these I two countries have been at war, for if

we go back to the middle of the last century (1847-8) we find them in conflict. Since then Mexico has drifted deeper into the slough of internal strife and become known as the storm centre of armed rebellions. It is the irony of fate that President Wilson, after his prolonged but humiliating effovts to avoid being mixed up in the present European struggle, has now to face a war with his Mexican neighbor. The Mexicans will now have the opportunity for carrying on those guerilla raids they so dearly love for the sake of the plunder they secure, and there is little doubt they will make the best, or rather the worst, they can of it. Such an excuse for the worst form of warfare is abhorrent to civilisation, and we cannot but deplore that in these days it is possible. Unless the United States Government adopts prompt and effective means for dealing with these desperados? there will be much bloodshed and pillage. Had the United States been prepared Cnrranza would never have had the presumption to act the role of bullv, and the lesion is one that should, in the end, be productive of good results.