FA
T .G RO W-I N.G
P:A F EE I
ORT.H A-R.OLI
Established: Daily, 188S Sunday 1910..
CHARLOTTE, N. C, SUNDAY MORNING APRIL 19, 1914.
Price: Daily 2c; Sunday 5c
--t
'I.
-I
1;
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1
r
i
ighty Array Of
TR!0 OF PROMINENT OFFICERS WITH BADGER'S FLEET,
NOW ON WAY TO MEXIr WATERS
S
aUleships To Back
TO
A 7 e Well
THE
STE-S
NEWS
pg e ' sump ay
PAGES TODAY Gte;a it e r ' EDITION
1
The Army And
The
BACK
Navy
Up Unci e Sam
Must Act By This Evening-List ot BaZsff Sent
to Mexican Waters Time Has Passed to Tol
erate Huerta's Quibbling The President's
Statement May Go Before Congress
N AVAL FORCES CONCENTRATING ON MEXICO.
AT VERA CRUZ:
Tonnage
21,825
6,620
16,000
21,825
16,000
3,200
1,400
3,750
Fatlieship Florida ..
Transport Prairie ...
AT TAMPICO:
Battleship Connecticut
Battleship Utah
Battleship Minnesota
Cruiser Des Moines . .
Dispatch Boat Dolphin
Scout Cruiser Chester
ruiser ban r-rancisco
4,000
EX ROUTE ON ATLANTIC
Battleship Arkansas
26,000
Battleship Vermont
16,000
14,948 16,000
2,300
1,120
19,322
1,120
16,000
J,200
755
755
755
16,000
16,000
Battleship New Jersey ...
Battleship New Hampshire
km boat Yankton ........'.
Tug Sonoma
Fuel Ship Orion
Tug Ontario
Battleship Michigan
Protected Cruiser Tacoma .
Tug Patapsco .' ,
Tug Patuxtent
Tug Lebanon
Battleship Louisiana
Battleship South Carolina .
Sunboat Nashville
1,371
Entire flotilla of Torpedo boats, Torpedo boat destroyers and su
at Pensacola and Guanfanamn i
AT iMAZATLAN Mexico: Tonnage Armament
..luioei noiciyn , 3,183 17
Sunboat Annapolis 1,010 12
Sunboat Yorktown 1,710 14
Sruiser New Orleans 3,340 18
AT CORINTO AND ACAPULCO, Mexico-
Cruiser Denver 1.566 ia "
bruiser California
Supply Ship Glacier ........
EN ROUTE ON PACIFIC
ruiser Cleveland . .
Oruiser Maryland .
bruiser Marblehead
Cruiser Pittsburg
Sunboat Vicksburg .:'
Cruiser West Virginia
Cruiser-South ' Dakota
Cruiser Albany
Cruiser Colorado
Transport Buffalo
Collier Jupiter .......
Tender Alert ........
San Diego to
BY JOHN E. NEVIN,
Staff Correspondent of the United
Press.
Washington, April 28. The war ship
K'as rampant in the nation's capital
ionight.
All classes, soldiers and civilians,
expect hostilities with Mexico. Ifc is
:onceded one thing alone can prevent
t a complete backdown by General
Hctoriano Huerta, provisional presi
dent of Mexico.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy, American
charge at Mexico City, tonisht placed
in Huerta's hands the last word Of
the United States. It is an ultimatum
touched in positive terms. Mexico
must agree not later than six o'clock
tomorrow (Sunday) night to salute the
American flag. This salute must be
fte formal function demanded by in
ternational procedure. It must take
place at Tampico, where United State
bluejackets headed by a commissioned
officer in the full uniform of his rank
svere ignominously dragged through
l.he streets, common prisoners.
The letter of Rear Admiral Mayo's
anginal demand must be fulfilled or
Huerta and his people must bear the
consequences.
There can be no strings on Huerta's
acceptance. He cannot quibble over a
simultaneous salute, something un
heard of in naval procedure. Ntr can
he quibble regarding circumstances to
: u'round an enforced apology. Tem
porizing is at an end. President Wilson
aimself says so.
The president dictated the nation's
Position shortly after noon today in
the following language: "
General Huerta is still' insisting
iU-on doing something less than has
been demanded and something less
ti'an would constitute an acknowl
edgement that his representatives
vert entirely in the wrong in the in
anities they have put upon the gov
s' nment of the United States. The
P"csident has determined that if Gen
? ;! Huerta does, not yield by six
j -lock Sunday afternoon he will take
V matter to congress Monday." ,
, ibis statement followed the receipt
'Qunded when he deciphered G'Shaugh-
'vhich he notified this government
'at Huerta contemptuously insisted
iiai he would not salute the Ameri-a-"
flag unless a simultaneous salute
accorded the Mexican flag and
dictator's own representative.
Krcretary of State Bryan was dumb
' ;,nied when he ciphered O'Shaugh
report. At that time the pres
vas playing golf on the links
country club in Virginia, almost
: ie shadow -of Arlington cemetery,
''out a moment's delay, Bryan, ac-.'-"'anied
by Secretary Tumulty,
' in a high powered automobile
links. Tumulty afterward ad
"' ,! that the speedomoterwas kept
". 'ie 70 miles an hour mark in the
' 'ash across the long ride and
the military road that skirts the
' mae. The president was met on
edge of the links. The car mere
Men
948
286
1,099
1,048
988
200
160
373
300
1,030
1,053
906
1,053
' 300
40
240
40
805
309
40
40
40
1,053
805
182
bmarines
Men
. 303
160
190
345 '
309
900
100
SIDE:
34
18
46
32
14
-4,050 40
SIDE :
Armament
44
10
44
.26
44
10
' 2
8
8
37
46
39
46
1,560 18 309
4,050 40 " 900
1,475 . 16 252
4,050 -, 40 900
1,125 ' """ ' 12 '- 160
4,050 40 900
4,050 40 . 900
1,121 18 346
4,000 40 900
19,360 20
,20
larines at
await orders.)
ly hesitated. Bryan and Tumulty tum
bled into the big car of .the president.
Chauffeur Robinson received no or
ders and needed none. , He admitted
afterward that the trip back to the
white house was . the fastest he had
ever piloted with the president as a
passenger. Streaked with dust and
perspiration, the president rushed into
the white house while Secretary Bryan
made for the state department. With
in eleven minutes the nation's ultima
tum to Huerta was on its way to
O'Shaughnessy. The president left
for Hot Springs tonight, leaving Sec
retary Bryan "sitting on the lid." The
trip to Virginia was necessary and
anxiety for Mrs. Wilson was' the mo
tive that prompted it. The president's
wife is there, slowly recovering from
a severe shock to her. nervous system,
caused by a , fall in the white house.
She has been expecting her husband
for three days. He was to bring her
home. He decided that he would not
subject her . to nerve-wracking appre
hension, but would hurry there as fast
as steam could carry him and return
immediately so he could be back in the
white house on Monday morning ready
for the stern- task that may add an
other bloody page to our, national his
tory. Huerta may back down. There is no
way of gauging the old Indian fighter's
plans. But the president has faint
hopes . that the demanded reparation
will be ; made. He is now well nigh
convinced that -the dictator hopes to
save his own face by plunging Mexico
into war with a foreign nation, a pro
gram that in the past has solidified
the warring elements of that repub
lic. x
The plans for the future action of
the United States are only tentative.
The flower of the navy comprising the
Atlantic and Pacific fleets will be as
sembled in Mexican waters almost im
mediately after the president address
es congress if it develops that he will
have to do so. It is ready for "fight
or a frolic." For that matter, so is the
armv. And both branches of the
united services are hoping that the
former will prevail. -
The leaders of congress have their
arrangements made for the joint ses
sion if it is needed. There-can be
no hitch here and the president will
find a united legislative body lined up
for any program he may suggest.
The big apprehension tonight was
for the fate of the Americans now in
Mexico if hostilities come. ' No one can
say what the constitutionalists will
do but if past history is to be depend
ed . upon they will unite with the fed
erals against the United States.
- Ordinarily the subjects of a bellig
erent country are accorded time to get
to safety. But this might not J)e the
case if Huerta decides to defy the
United States.-.The charge is expect
ed to get out of Mexico" City as soon
as possible and to take with him the
American colony there : It is. known
that a train has been held subject to
- - . , . '
' , . - - .. . , .. . .
: 0t$l 2 '? ' " H
VCAPT-RUSH g-REAR ADMIRAL BOUSH SrCApimSLOC
Washington, April' 18. When Admiral Badger arrives at Tampico he will
have the following fighting ships under his command; Battleships Arkansas,
Captain Roy Smith commanding, 33 guns; Louisiana, Captain John John' H.
Gibbons, 24 guns;-New Hampshire, Captain Edwin. A. Anderson, 24 guns;
Michigan, Captain Albert P. Niblock, 8 12-inch guns; Vermont, Captain Geo.
W. Kline; 24 guns; New Jersey, Captain Joseph L. Jayne, 24 guns; South
Carolina, Captain Robert' L. Russell, 8 12-inch guns; Connecticutt, Captain
John J. Knapp, 24 guns; Kansas, Captain William B. Fletcher, 24 guns;
Minnesota, Captain Edward Simpson, 20 guns; Ohio, Captain Josiah S. Mc
Kean, 20 guns ; : Dolphin; gunboat, Lieutenant Commander. Ralph Earle, 2
guns; Nashville, gunboat, Commander L. A. Bostwick, 2 guns; Tacoma,' cruis
er, Commander Nathan C. Twining, 10 guns; Chester, cruiser, Commander
W. A. Moffat, 2 guns; Solace, hospital ship; Hancock, transport.1 Under
Rear Admiral Fletcher at. Vera Cruz there will be: Battleships Florida,
Captain-Williani -R, Rush, 26 guns; Utah, Captain Louis S. Vanduzer, 26 guns;
San Francisco, vmine depot ship, Commanded William K." Harrison ; Prairie,
transport. On these vessels are 6,000 bluejackets and 3,000 marines available
for landing duty. " V. - - . . . ;
his orders on a siding for many days.
The Americans can reach safety if
they can make Vera Cruz as Rear
Admiral Fletcher with his warships is
in a position to take and hold that
town on an instant's notice.
But the Americans may not make
the seaport, and : if they-have to stay
in the capital they may be subjects
of attack.- Fortunately they are well
armed. More than 1,000 stand of Krag
Jorgensen repeating rifles. with 25,000
rounds of ammunition are stacked in
the American embassy. And nearly
every American in the capital knows
how to, use a weapon. , . ,
But there are many Americans in
the interior rof "Mexico" who will not
be so well - off.-' They ; will ; not have
the protection of a duly accredited
official. They will not have modern
arms. - And they;will ;be subject t the
whim of a savage' people who can be
depended ,upon - to wax exceedingly
wroth when they r learn that America
is last a hostile nation.
Villa - Consulted?,
. Torreon, .Mexico, April 18. A , con
ference that, is believed7 to have, a
bearing on the Tampico incident and
the . difficulties between -- the United
States and'Genr Huerta-was held here
late today between Gen.' Francisco'
Villa and C. .II.- Hamm, United States
consul at Durango. Hamm arrived un
der . instruction's ffrom the,- state , de
partment, but "he" -refused to discuss
his mission, .'r V." , . r;
1 The five Americans who ; were cap-;
tured by General Ortega when : the
constitutionalist - troops r captured . San
Pedron last Monday night were
brought to Torreon today. It develop
ed that, instead of being . , American
newspaper and magazine men as they
were reported,'-the men are filibuster-
ers who.hadibeen traveling with Gen.
Velasco's : army operating -machine
guns. They admitted they , had said
they were . newspaper . men to : save
themselves from execution. They have
offered to join' Villa's J army. "
Vera Cruz Quiet.
Vera Cruz, April 18. Vera Cruz was
quiet tonight, but the electrical un
dercurrent of tension -was-evidenced
when a fake report was circulated that
the Arkansas and other ships of the
Atlatic .fleet had arrived at Tampico
this afternoon. .-.:, -,- J
Reports received today stated 700
refugees had left Tampico on a Nor
wegian steamer and would arrive here
tomorrow. - - - ': ' -- '
South Dakota Sails.
Puget Sound, Navy L .Yard, Seattle,
Washn., April 18. The armored cruis
er South Dakota-under command -of
Captain Wi 'W. Gilmore sailed . at 1
o'clock this - afternoon t with Colonel
Joseph W.' Pendleton, U S. M. C. and
his force of 350 marines. The war
ship has been ordered to San Francis
co to await further orders.
The arrival . of the marines from
Bremerton leaves' but . one force of
fifty men to do all guard duty ; and
man the post. . v ' - '
Orders were also received to work
three full shifts on rthe' cruiser Albany
so that she may be 'put in readiness
for action as soon as-possible; -
EAGERNESS SHOW
ESI
By BERNARD RUCKER,
Staff
Correspondent of
. Press.
the " United
Aboard U. S. S. Arkansas, via Wire
less, April 18. Gay crowds waved a
farewell to the ships of the Atlantic
fleet today as they passed. Palm Beach
today toward Tampico.- The beach of
the famous winter resort was thronged
as the vessels swung by, but , the. ships
were too far out for the crew to hear
the cheers-which undoubtedly greeted
the fleet on its v!ay to force an apology
from "Mexico. " , .
The dreadnought South Carolina will
join the fleet off Key. West; early tomor
row. Rear " Admiral". Badger has been
ad vise d that Rear Admiral' Fletcher is
proceeding from' Vera' Cruz-to Tampi
co and 'will arrive there Wednesday
'. The twowi!' then hold a conference
and1 probably determihe the, future dis
osition of the - warships under , their
command. . ' . . .. -.
Official orders remain unchanged.
The four battleships are proceeding to
Tampico-with- every man - and . officer
keenly anxious - f or action." The crews
are -bubbling : over -with -enthusiasm.
Drills .are held constantly and 'the
men enter into themwith the greatest
zest. Rear Admiral Badger wlU not dis
cuss his plans further than' that he is
headed straight- for . Tampico. What
l ; TffcSS, tlre' .n,
one on board ?. knows.
DANIELS REVIEWS WORK
OF ADMINISTRATION.
Cleveland, O., . April .r. 18.-Review-ing
. the . Wilson - administration in an
address at the - Jefferson dinner here
tonight, Secretary of the Navy Jo
eephus Daniels declared that the Underwood-Simmons
tariff was "not dic
tated by. textile , magnates," and that
under, the new: currency law "it is in
conceivable how any artificial panics
such as that of 1907 can occur."
, "The democratic program for the
present session, of congress," contin
ued Secretary Daniels, "will- add to
these constructive acts? as rural cred
it banking system and anti-trust
measures , for ' the throttling of mo
nopoly and the . opening of the free
avenues of trade." - .
He 1 boasted that the ; democratic
party enacted more constructive legislation-
in the last year than the re
publican party . in flie past two "de
cades, referring, also to " the" income
tax law. : , ' ;
"Special privilege was contrary to
Jefferson's- teaching," Daniels stated.
"Our call is to enlist against privi
lege," - he continued. : Dividing , praise
of Jefferson with praise of . President
Wilson, .Daniels said : "Jefferson was
the first forward looking democrat
and Wilson ie the last." " ' ,
Bin
PRESIDENT WILSON
Wheels Are Greased Oor Swift
est Action Monday Should
Developments Call For War-
like Measures Joint Ses
sion Will Be, Held For Mes
sage. Sentiment In Both Houses Prac
tically. Unanimous Legisla
tive Brnach Will Heartily
Support Executive In Any
Course of Action He May
Select. .
Washington, April , 16. Congress
late today made plans to back up
President Wilson in, Mexico whether
for war or peace. Machinery of both
houses was. set in motion' for a joint
session Monday if; President Wilson
should deem ' a war. message neces
sary. -" ; '-".. i .
Resolutions were drafted and prep:
arations made to unroli'red tap at. top
speed Monday. ' ' ' - ::" : ... -. "
i The leaders of both bodies conferred
late today. r' " . .
If the president decides to present
his massage--and'it will be a personal
message if at all the following pro
gram has" been agreed upon.
Promptly at noon Monday, Demo
cratic Leader Underwood will offer
a resolution . in . the house calling a
joint session, probably from one , or
two o'clock or at some time to. be
named by the president. This resgolu-
tion wiji be perfunctorily adopted and
sent to the senate to be offered there
by Senator Kern, democratic leader,
and as speedily passed. . ' '. . '
, Whatever requests the . president
makes upon congress will be embodied
in resolutions already tentatively pre
pared today and offered simultaneous
ly in -both houses' after the joint ses
sion is dissolved -probably before the
president reaches the White House; on
his return from the Capitol.
These resolutions as tentatively pre
pared provide foFWree requests from
the. presidentra tight blockade on
MexicOi -landing, of marines and inter
vention with , all forces of the amy
and' navy," and an emergency appro
priation of money.
The resolutions to be introduced by
committee jchairmen would be referr
ed to the appropriations committee.
Immediate report would be made
from the .committees. Sentiment is
practically unanimous in both branch
es to sustain the- president in any
course he elects., By Monday evening
he would " be clothed ' with' every au
thority necessary. . v ; . ' "..
Members of jboth foreign affairs com
mittees of . congress .held themselves
in readiness today, and will tomorrow,
for summons to meetings, which may
be hurriedly called. - Chairman - Flood
of the house committee, married this
afternoon, left tonight on his honey
moon, but arranged to keep in touch
with-all developments and will return
Monday if needed.
How. promptly congress can - act in
any . emergency .was pointed out by
members today as evidenced in the
congressional, support of President Mc
Kinley, in the Spanish war. Within a
few. moments, after war -was declared
against, Spain, ; congress voted $50,
000,000 to be used by McKinley - as
he saw . fit. i . . ' ,
HOUSE TO CHIP IN .-- r , "
FOR WEDDING PRESENT.
Washington, April ; 18. Following
their precedent established when Miss
Jessie Wilson married : Francis B.
Sayre, house members today, agreed to
"chip in" toward a wedding present
for Miss Eleanor Wilson. Republican
Leader Mann started the movement
for - funds. A conference was held on
the house floor and leaders of all par
ties decided to -band together for a
joint present from the house. It is
expected to raise nearly $2,000.
Oi'ltrnn fiAWTTIia . TITO O 4" V a f rkTTV i-kf . ll ft
present suggested by MannTA diamond
lavelier, selected .. by Representative
Mann, was presented by the houre to
Mrs. Sayre. At th conference today
Mann was named. chairman, and Rep
resentatives Page of North Carolina,
Lloyd of Missouri, Dor emus of Michi
gan, Burke : of South Dakota : and
Chandler of New York, members of a
committee to receive contributions
and select the present. Mann sug
gested that each member give $2, but
it was decided to ."take off the limit."
,, .. . r i r. . f. .i .i K J .
;'; - ;
ENCOURAGING BUT NOT FINAL
Washington, ' April 19. (Sun-
.day) Secretary Bryan announced
at 1:20 a. m. that the message
received from Charge O'Shaugh-
'nessy at Mexico was "encourag-
ing but' not final." It ;was assum- w
ed that it . merely referred to
Huerta's consideration of the . uK
timatum. ; . A ' :
Secretary Bryan refused, to
make any further comment re-
garding the message: It. was a
short one and was received at the
state department, translated from
code and sent to the secretary at
his home.". , ,
jt. - ' :. , -' ' "." "
Prepa? ed Fo) War
TEN DAYS' EVENTS.
April 9 Paymaster Kop? and w
w bluejockets are arrested in Tam- w
w pico harbor by ,Mexican federal ie'
w while loading gasoline into" Dol
w phin's wbaleboat, flying American
flag. " . . .
April 9 (afternoon) Rear Ad- & ,
miral Mayo demands , that Mexi- -?
can .. general disavow arrests, St
w send suitable apology, raise Am-
erican flag to a prominent pcsi-
-J!- tion ashore, and salute with 21 w
-X' guns. ts '
; April'll and 12 United State &j
w negotiates with Huerta through ;
w O'Shaughnessy; Huerta 'vacilla-
w tingly evades responsibility but .
w disavows action." w
April 13 -No salute fired. Pres-
w ident starts Atlantic and Pacific
,
w ,
w .
w fleets steamin? southward; ad
mits that salute demand will be
X enforced. , .
April ..14 More - negotiations
through '" O'Shaughnessy, Huerta ; either branch of the service have
w insisting that - he -.had already doubted for a moment that sooner ot
apologized, and that this should later force would have to be used. Th
close the incident. J result of their planning and careful .
April 15 Huerta asks , preparations is found in the fact re
O'Shaughnessy whether salute . vealed tonight that within a few hours
would be returned; is told "that. after the word is given in Washington,
this is. the. routine procedure." the. army of the United States could
April 16 Huerta asks whether j begin operations.
the United States will fire aj While, it is, of course, impossible for
-7? simultaneous salute to that sound- . any one in private life to speak "bj
ed by Tampico fortifications; re-'', the book" of the exact plan of cam
ply is, "It will not." lpaign the secrets of which are guard
April 16 (afternoon) Bryan w
and President : Wilson character-
ize situation as "hopeful but still
unsettled."
April 17. Huerta insists salute
.must be simultaneous, reply is, States will place an embargo on Mex-
"TK7r cionl -in Movn'c nriffinnl 5feiCO.
demand." Bryan still optimistic;
other cabinet officials pessimis-
tic. r
' April ilSTT-Huerta contemptous-
ly; reiterates simultaneous salute
" or none. President Wilson sends
ultimatum: "Agree to Mayo's
original demand by 6 o'clock Sun-
'day,-,3or l appeal to congress on
- Monday.". . - -. , - . - -
OPPOSED TO TWO -
BATTLESHIPS PLAN.
Washington," April 18 Representa
tive Witherspoon, of Mississippi, this
afternoon in the ' house bitterly oppos
ed .the two battleship program in
the naval appropriation bill as a
"useless waste of public funds." He
said former President Taft and Sec
retary of the Navy Daniels had pro
nounced the navy magnificent and in
sisted that there was no use adding
to it.. : .
BLAZE DESTROYS TWENTY
. SUMMER RESORT COTAGES.
- Warsaw, Ind., April 18. Fire com
pletely destroyed twenty cottages at
Lake Winona, a summer resort.
Dynamite was ineffectually used in
an attempt to check the flames.
CHINESE LOTT ERY .IN
- CANAL IS SUPPRESSED.
Colon, April 18. The authorities
last night ; suppressed the Chinese
lottery which is alleged to have
caused ruinous losses to canal work
men as well as to other classes.
TO BE E
FOR TROUBLE
By United Press Staff Correspondent.
"Mexico City, April 18. President
Huerta welcomes . war. The news of
the , approaching American fleet has
caused no . excitement in the capital.
The government tonight takes the at
titude that it is highly pleased to
know that it will have an opportunity
to greet the . armed forces of the
United States."
The above message sent in code to
evade the censor was received at the
New York office of the United Press
at 12 :30 Sunday morning. It . was the
second code message' received from
the United Press staff correspondent
in Mexico City. The first, received
Friday, when translated said that
Huerta desired war and was seeking
to bring it about. The message re
ceived thi-' morning, although in code,
evidently had been abbreviated by the
censor. - -
W irA-ss i. 1 1 A n ft Jl Jl JV J . A . -4 (11
W E ATH ER FOR EC AST :
- Washington, April 18. North
Carolina, ' increasing cloudiness
Sunday; showers and cooler in
afternoon or ; night : in interior.
' Monday-probably fair in west por-
tion with showers in east ipor-.
tion. ' - - '
: : : ; ; t. ' -
-ir-n-wif vififii is ir-K r-ar -wwicir-wsrwar -ifiririf
.'Slowly" But Carefully the Fight
ing horces ot - uncle Sam
Have. Been Whipped Into
Shape An Estimate of the
Size of the Force Which
Could be Mobilized.
Should Hostilities Result Army
Could be Swelled to 80,000
Men Without Any Impair
smerit of Service What Will
Happen if Worst Comes tc
Worst in Mexico.
Washington, April 18. The army
and the navy ar ready for war.
Not in the least concerned with th
fact that the dinlnmatir ne-enrips nf the
administration have been working foi
iweive mourns to prevent hostilities
with Mexico, the experts of the wai
and navy departments have gone ahead
steadily, preparing their plans for a
Mexican camDaien. Few oflicers v in .
ed carefully by the war college, the ger,
eral staff of the army, and the heads
of the navy are understood to believe
there will be no- repetition of the meth-
ods used in the Cuban war. The United
The first move would be to throw's
cordon of ' battleships around every
port of the southern republic as s
blockade. , Other ships will patrol both
coasts, until not a steamship or boat
of any kind can land a cartridge or
rifle.. . In this the United State s will
look to the world powers for assist
ance. -All -the - powers it is- expected -would
tacitly, at least agree to the
blockade. . '- ; - .. ; : ':
Unless attempts are made by any
third power to break the blockade
there would be no naval engagements.
One battleship of Unqle Sam's could
take care of. the entir Mexican navy,
consisting of a handful of converted
yachts and tugboats. The activities of
the navy will be confined to blockading
operations and the landing of marines
at Vera Cruz and any other port which
the army might eventually need as a
base. .
The boundary line between the' Unit
ed States and Mexico extends for a distance-
of about 2,200 miles from Mata-
moras to Yuma. Along this border and
along the gulf south of San Diego, will
be thrown a line of 150,000 or more mi
litiamen, or border guards, whose only
duty will be to defend the American
border towns, prevent raids and smug-
gling, and to protect the various bases
of supplies. : ,
The first heavy work will be done
by the regular army, forces, aided by
such irregulars as may have special
training m the kind of fighting there
will be such, for example as the
First Cavalry Voluteers, familiar as
the Rough .Riders. This' organization
which has kept itself intact since 1898
believes that it will be the nucleus of
an awny division which will be led inc
action by Theodore Roosevelt, their
first lieutenant-colonel, commissioned,
by Woodrow Wilson, democrat, as a
major-general. j
The regular army has available for
service as a moDiie iorce in Mexico
about. 65,000 men of all arms. This does
not include the 20,000 coast artillery
nor the soldiers now in the Philippines, .
Hawaii and the Canal Zone. Within
a month after hostilities are declared,
this force would probably be increased
by recruits and drafts upon coast artil
lery to 80,000, without any impairment
of efficiency.
There are 10,000 infantrymen at Tex-
as City and Galveston. They will pro
vide the first army of invasion, it one
is used. One - day's notice would see
them on the transports bound for Vera
Cruz. The same notice would see every
regular soldier on this continent en
route to the border. These plans are
made. They have baen tested. It only
required six hours to start for Cuba
in the last intervention and it will not
take so long to start for Mexico.
There are upwards of 5,000 men on
the border from Brownsville Texas to
San Diego,. California. They are ready
for invasion from the north if that is
finally . determined upon. . ' '
The navy will proceed to .occupy
Campeche, Vera Cruz and Tampico on
the east and Guayamas," Manzinillo,
Culican and other important west coast
ports.' , - -
Transports with regulars will be
rushed to these towns and garrisons
established without, it. is believed, any
real fighting. If the constitutionalists
support Huerta, they are expected so to
do, land invasion will be made through
the five northermost states, Tamauuli- .
pasNuevo Leon, Coahuila, Chihuahua,
and Sonora. Regulars will advance to
the capitals of those states, take, them
and the principal cities and hold them,
until the militia, organizations can be,
whipped into effective shape for field
work.- . .:
The principal movement will be that
thrnneh Vera Cruz and on to Mexico
City. For this an army of from 50,000
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