"Get Villa and Get Him At Once!"

It was like some crazy dream. Pancho Villa and his cross-border raiders rode into the town of Columbus, New Mexico, in March, 1916, blazing away, burning the town and escaping back into Mexico. Elements in the USA sprang to arms and gave chase with a "Punitive Expedition" including George Patton on horseback, bi-planes, trucks, telegrams and Buffalo Soldiers. At some harrowing points during the nearly year-long operation, American troopers crashed into Mexican federales and nearly provoked a second Mexican-American War. Pancho, meanwhile, at odds with the federales and Doughboys, escaped capture.

Only German U-Boats provided cover and a way out for the Americans: entry into the First World War, heading "Over There" to Europe. Out of the frying pan, into the fire . . .  Meanwhile, Mexico's sense of nationalism, if anything, was bolstered; perhaps most significantly, the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States was ratified in February, 1917, just as the last US troops were leaving Mexico.

Isn't the recruitment poster above quaint?  Like so many others, it coaxes volunteers using patriotism and a sense of adventure:

"COME ON, BOYS, BE READY TO SHOULDER THE TRUSTY SPRINGFIELD" . . . "THE BOYS ARE NOW CROSSING THE ALKALI DESERTS AND JUNGLES OF MEXICO." WHAT FOR?  THE GOVERNMENT ORDERS ARE GET VILLA AND GET HIM AT ONCE!  . . . The Flag, Old Glory . . .

At the outset of any conflict, it works every time.

Today's Rune: Breakthrough.