![\"President](\"http:\/\/blogs.shu.edu\/ww2-0\/files\/2016\/12\/mexican-flag-280x210.jpg\")
President of Mexico, Manuel \u00c1vila Camacho, declared war on the axis powers on May 22. From Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n
General Salvador Sanchez, chief of the Mexican army\u2019s general staff, said that \u201call measures have been taken\u201d to prepare for a war crisis.<\/p>\n
The Navy Department has taken control of all lighthouses and other aids to navigation to use them in the interest of national security. Troops have begun to patrol the capital, Mexico City, and other cities \u2013 the Mexican army is now responsible for public order during the war.<\/p>\n
Troops reportedly began moving to strategic zones to protect railway bridges, tunnels, communication lines, war factories, airfields, oil fields and pipelines. The oil wells on the Gulf and Pacific coasts are vulnerable to Axis submarine attacks, which has been seen happening to Dutch installations at Curacao in South America.<\/p>\n
Due to Mexico\u2019s previous title as a neutral country, a high population of Axis citizens reside there. As a result of this, small detachments of troops have been patrolling important Axis establishments in the country.<\/p>\n
U.S. officials suspect that the Mexican government will soon seize funds and properties belonging to Axis nationals (mainly Germans) in Mexico.<\/p>\n
It is also expected that the Mexican Congress will enact new measures against Axis aliens. About 6,000 Germans, 4,000 Japanese and 2,000 Italians may be sent to the United States to be placed in existing internment camps \u2013 especially those who have made it known that they are Axis sympathizers.<\/p>\n
Camacho declared war under article 29 of the country\u2019s constitution, which states that in the case of \u201cinvasion or grave disturbance or anything else puts the nation in great danger or in conflict,\u201d the president can declare war on another nation to protect Mexico.<\/p>\n
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