THE MEXICAN MENACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 May 1917, Page 5

THE MEXICAN MENACE.

INVASION OF PACIFIC COASTI San.Francisco, April 9. There is evident fear all along the Pacific Coast that a German-Mexican army will invade the American States of the Pacific littoral. A telegram wat received in San Francisco a few hours before tho Bailing of the Antipodean mail steamer containing tho following significant passage: A total of 12,742 more Mexicans crossed the international bridge here (El Paso) during the'past fpurteen days, than returned to Mexico, according to offioial reports received by Government agents. The unusual number of Mexicans, a majority of Whom .were men, has caused an investigation of reports that Mexicans were being sent to £1 Paso and the border from tho interior of Mexico by German agents." A German aggregation in Chihuahua City,went to Villa with a proposal to make a joint attack on the United States upon the expected declaration of war by .the United States against Germany.

From Laredo, Texas, comes a report that tha military party of Mexico is stronglyt pro-German, and advocate the entry or Mexico into hostilities' against its northern v neighbor with all that such entry implies. Tfie "reports -brought from Mexico City to Laredo assert that German influence and money hsve been active amo% cert9{«""of-'-tlre"ini]itary party and .that certain members have ii contemplation and preparation plan.B, J JKH\ an extra active inflation : o|' the bordar 3 States after the United States has been goaded int* making the first hostile move. It is also asserted thaf these, plans contemplate the fomenting of .j. revolutionary movement in Guatemala and the burning of sh« oil .wells in the Tampico district, from which the large part of the -British naval fuel is drawn. General Maximilian i Klaus, a GermanMexican commander, has begun the recruiting of 3000 Germans, whose v duty it will be to force hostilities with the United States in Chihuahua and Sonora. Germany is alleged to have promised the Mexican military chiefs Texas, Arizona and New Mexico in the event of the proposed alliance should it prove successful, and also British Honduras, bordering on Yucatan. It is plain to see that the United States will have to send an expeditionary force to "choke off" the anticipated coup of these German intriguers operating from Mexican headquarters. Recruiting is proceeding briskly all over the United States, particularly in the Eastern States, where patriotism was awakened earlier than in the West.