Impression sketch
of Uncle Sam leaping across the border fence with Mexico to chase (Pancho) Villa - by Jamie. From an
original image that can be seen at: <https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:VillaUncleSamBerrymanCartoon.png>
[Accessed: 15 March 2016]
Included in the
league of neutral countries,
Mexico paused
in the possibility of a war
Across her borders, with the United States
Of America -
inverted by a localised crisis
With political
revolt from the Porfirian era.
An 1876 coup by Porfirio Díaz, both villain
And hero, failed
any stability of succession -
Yet Francisco Madero democracy sparked
Revolution - whose
liberal election success
Led to
controversy and 1913 assassination.
Mexican failures
continued with revolt
Against a return
to Porfirian order - others
emerged; Emiliano Zapata, a peasant leader
And rebel fighter
- as Venustiano Carranza,
Supporter of
Madero made political complexity.
Non-military
Carranza became Mexico’s
Head of state
from May 1915 - amid reform
Carranza maintained
Mexican neutrality.
Yet with such
unrest at the foot of America,
Relations had
been strained by intervention.
April 1914, prior
to any European war, events
Of la decena trágica led President Woodrow
Wilson to
authorise a seven-month occupation
Of Veracruz -
that further reinforced Mexico
Not to take any
side with the United States.
Within their
Spanish culture Mexicans held
Dislike of
gringoes - Tuesday 14 March 1916
Poised potential
United States Mexico war -
In granting
President Carranza's government
To cross borders
pursing their raiding bandits.
President
Wilson’s memo would avert a clash
Of politics,
unlikely to halt a slow of followers
To the rebel
bandit, Pancho Villa - who had set
To raid border
town Columbos - a fear to be
Mexican troops
deserting over to Villa's banner.
The belief grew
that the gringoes would
Invade their
country - this had materialsed
By fact of 12,000
US troops on the border -
Poised to carry
out the war secretary's plan,
In a possible
three-year Mexican campaign.
Divided opinions held
by American people
With opposition
to any such war, due
To their army
being held in the task - likely
Acting as a
message to prompt Germany’s
Kaiser, who might
gain a Mexican ally.
President Wilson's
intent had been to focus
On capture of
Pancho Villa, whose ability
Might rouse North
Mexico in his resources
Of fighting
talent - The rebels having taken
To the mountains, in
use of sniping tactics.
All hung in
balance between Villa's charisma
And Carranza's
ability to convince the people,
That once Villa was
captured, the US would
Leave their
territory - with more to go 23 March
was set for 4000 US troops to enter Mexico.
was set for 4000 US troops to enter Mexico.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1916. United
States And Mexico - Big Campaign Expected - Troops Ready To Start. The Daily
Telegraph, [online] 15 March 1916. P.9.
Col.4. Available at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/12193873/Daily-Telegraph-March-15-1916.html
[Accessed: 15 March 2016].
Source: File:
Mexico in World War I. Online. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico_in_World_War_I> Accessed 15 March
2016
Source: File:
History of Mexico. Online. Available at:
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Mexico#Porfiriato_.281876.E2.80.931910.29>
Accessed 15 March 2016
Source: File:
Francisco I. Madero. Online. Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_I._Madero>
Accessed 15 March 2016
Mann, J., 2016. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal
communication, 15 March 2016).
#WW1 #WW1centenary #WW1poem #GreatWar #WW1centenary #worldwarone
#worldwaroneremembered #WW1Mexico
No comments:
Post a Comment