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(More customer reviews)History, it has been said "history should not be written during its present time-frame. Time has to pass for passions to cool, propaganda to be exposed and for crucial documents to surface and be properly evaluated. "
Some suggest a full fifty years, ideally longer, have to pass before history can be correctly analyzed and accurately written. This book provides new data and interpretation of the events and personalities that clouded relations between the United States and Mexico for decades.
On March 9, 1916, United States territory was attacked for the first time since the War of 1812. There had been a few skirmishers before. A few Americans had been robbed and killed along the frontier. But the planned attack led by Francisco "Pancho" Villa on Columbus, New Mexico, a dusty border town enflamed the nation.
President Woodrow Wilson was furious and the "explosion of indignation and outrage that rolled across the country" compelled him to send an army expedition into Mexico under John J. "Black Jack" Pershing. The mission was simple, pursue those who had attacked Columbus, disperse them, and then withdraw "as soon as Villa?s band or bands are known to be broken up."
As has been noted, "Truth is the first casualty of warfare." For years, popular "history" created a glamorous "patriot" while ridiculing an alleged failed expedition. With the passage of time and dedicated scholars, a more balanced presentation has emerged.
Professor Hurst, using material from the National Archives and the Library of Congress, some of it not heretofore studied, presents compelling fresh information.
In summary, the expedition was a success. Villa, defeated in a number of encounters, saw his forces dispersed and diminished to the point that they were never again a threat to the United States. By early 1917 the troops returned to the United States.
The war clouds gathering over the two countries dissipated completely.
Secondly, far from being an admirable person Villa can now be portrayed as the cruel and horrid person he was.
Mexico was ruled by Porfirio Diaz from 1876 to 1910. Surrounded by a cadre of U.S. and European educated men: los cientificos, he brought peace, stability and prosperity to many. But not to the down trodden masses. Some felt he had deeded too much of Mexico's natural resources and economy to foreign interests. Fueled by growing nationalism and the unequal distribution of the nation's wealth many sectors of Mexico sprouted local leaders determined to overthrow the Diaz regime.
Removing Diaz from power did not bring peace or prosperity to Mexico. Instead the 1910 to 1920 decade was a bloody one with warring regional forces sweeping across Mexico.
Francisco "Pancho" Villa, from Northern Mexico, organized an "army" with himself as its "General." To many he was little more than an ambitious bandit desirous of ruling all of Mexico. To others he was a hero, clever, media savvy and talented. His military exploits varied between being remarkable to utterly incompetent.
Oddly enough it was the American media that portrayed him as a dashing hero, a patriot. In part, to criticize President Wilson in an election year and in part because Villa charmed the press. He went out of his way to see that they were treated royally. He was always available for interviews where his boyish charm produced yet another complimentary portrait. The Mexican media was not far behind. In a fractured nation there was a need for heroes and if Villa could tweak the noses of the Norte Americanos all the better.
To this day Villa's erroneous, complimentary, legendary reputation flourishes unabated. While the historical Villa is still buried in myth and fable.
The brutal side of Villa though known wasn't reported. Examples: A woman approached him on her knees pleading for her husband's life. When told he was already dead, she began to verbally insult Villa. He shot her and ordered the killing of 90 women prisoners, "their bodies were simply heaped in a pile..."
Another time seeking revenge on a group that had turned against him, he rode into their town only to discover that the men had fled. Villa's response was to have "their wives assembled and ordered his men to rape them all."
Professor Hurst's carefully researched book is a significant contribution to understanding this troubled era. Scholar that he is, Hurst is meticulous and balanced. His extensive bibliography provides sources for those who want to explore the matter further.
After word:
Francisco Villa was gunned down in 1923.
General Pershing went on to lead the United States during the First World War. President Wilson was impressed with his leadership and successes in Mexico
And The Punitive Expedition is still erroneously ridiculed as a bungling failed attempt.
More tragically, totally innocent people, both Mexicans and Americans, died along the way. Many lie in unmarked graves.
****************
Gustavo A. Mellander earned his Ph. D. from The George Washington University in Latin American history. He established Latin American Studies Departments at several universities and wrote the critically acclaimed, "The United States in the Panamanian Politics."
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