The Mexican War

The Mexican war (TIME, Dec. 17 et seq.) was somewhat more briskly waged during the past week, although successes and losses on both sides were inconsiderable.

There were, however, two incidents of capital importance; one on the Government side, which can be termed the Texas Affair, and one on the Rebel side which can be named the Tampico Affair.

Texas Affair. President Obregon applied to the U. S. Government for permission to transport troops through Texas, there being no Mexican railway running from the West to connect the two northern states of Sonora and Chihuahua. In making the Mexican Government's request known the U. S. Government issued the following announcement:

The Mexican Government, through its embassy here, has requested permission of this Government for the passage of a detachment of the Mexican army, together with the animals and other material which usually accompany such a command, from Naco, Ariz., to some point in Texas, where they will reenter Mexican territory for service in regions in Mexico where American lives and interests are being threatened with grave danger by the forces in revolt against the Mexican . Government.

These troops will not be armed, but their arms and ammunition will accompany them as baggage. . . .

Similar permission has been extended in the past, the last occasion being in October, 1915, and again in November, 1915, when the de facto Government of Mexico, headed by Mr. Carranza, was allowed to transport Mexican troops from the Texas border through the United States to the State of Sonora, Mexico, where American lives and property were in serious danger from the operations of Mexican revolutionary bands."

Later, the troops passed through Texas on their way to the State of Chihuahua. (See NATIONAL AFFAIRS.)

Tampico Affair. General Adolfo de la Huerta, Rebel chief, decided to blockade the important post of Tampico on the east coast, about 200 miles north of Vera Cruz, headquarters of the Rebels. He issued the following decree :

ARTICLE FIRST--The de facto Government of the Mexican United States hereby declares the Port of Tampico to be blockaded. ARTICLE SECOND--This blockade starts on the 16th of January and will be undertaken by the squadron of the Revolutionary Liberators which has sufficient vessels to enforce it.

ARTICLE THIRD--All merchant vessels desiring to take refuge in the Port of Tampico are given three days' grace to do so, and all vessels desiring to leave said port are hereby given six days' grace, the time to be counted from the date upon which the blockade begins. After this time elapses vessels that wish to either enter Tampico or depart thence will be considered as enemy vessels. Such a declaration affecting Tampico could not fail to injure the interests of the U. S., as most of the oil from American oil companies in Mexico is shipped from that port. The U. S. State Department declared that de la Huerta's action was an unnecessary interference with commerce.