Rio Grande

The Rio Grande appears as the destination of militia sent by Woodrow Wilson during his confrontation with Huerta. Its brief mention connects the river to the novel’s account of U.S. political action toward Mexico, without depicting a military engagement there.

Political Reference

In a compressed account of Wilson’s actions, he is described as denouncing powerful interests, refusing to recognize Huerta, and sending militia to the Rio Grande. The river thus marks the stated destination of that force; the passage gives no further details about its deployment or what happened there.

Narrative Significance

The Rio Grande functions here as a concrete place-name within a summary of policy and military action, rather than as the setting of a developed scene. Its reference ties Wilson’s decision to a specific location while leaving the consequences of the dispatch outside the passage.