The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-12
United States Government Is Rushing Marines to BIua-
 fields to Give Aid
AMERICAN INTERESTS
 WILL BE PROTECTED
Government Transfers the Authority For Moving Ships From Navy Department to State Depart
 ment to Get Action.

Washington. December 11.--(Special.)-- The state department was informed defn- itely today that zelaya was about to crush the insurgents in the Bluefields province and immediately military prep- arations on an extraordinary scale were made to check the effect of a Zelaya vic- tory
 Orders were telegraphed for the as- senlbling of TOO marines at League Island. ships were ordered to concentrate at Bluehelds and 8 hurry order to Admiral Kimball makes 1t likely that the marines on the Prairie may go to Blueields to confront zelaya's victorious troops in- stead of going to Corinto.
 The only contingency that would pre- vent the marines from being ordered to Bluelelds would be the possibility of an anti American outbreak at Managua in case news of zelaya's victory was tele- grapheu to the Nicaraguan capital. In that event 1t has been arranged that all the available men from the vicksburg, Yorktown and Albany shall land regard less or consequences and march to Man agua, where there have already been htcater 1oi otiiy against Ahc AiucFiC<tN diplomatic presentatives there. but the publication of placards intensely anti American in expression
 The preparations of today are scarcely dlstios uishable from acts of war. even while Congress is in session. A
 shrewd Move Made.
 | The government made a shrewd move l mi fvu v,.sFa rod ,..4t-, moving the ships from the navy depart msnt to tbe state department The latter Department has as it's function specifically ''the protection of American interests | abroad Thus the launching of 1750 ma- rines armed with machine guns, auto matic Colt ana three-inch field pieces { Is net regarded as act of war, but that the lnls force which may be used for invasion is held to be necessary on account of the large number of places in Nicaragua st which American interests ace to be Iaiected.
 In this connection. and in view of the orders today recapitulation of the forces operating aeslhsl zelaya on the part of the American government Is necessary 1 On the west coast there are the cruisers 1 Buffalo. Yorktown Aloant. yieksburg and rho New Orleans ready to join them.
 On the east coast the Des Moines, Ta- ocma. Marietta. Eagle and the Dixie The Prairie vii join them in a few days
 Marines Within Call.
 l There are s5e marines at Panama, zoo at Colon and these will be joined shortly bv .o9 more, making toia. oi 175t marines for offensive and defensive operations
 To these may be added at least 300 men from the nine ships, leaving of course, sufficient crews on board The total of marines and bluejackets will thus amount to 26o0 men which on neces- sity could be increased to 5000 These forces are all armed with the most ef- fective guns and ammunition for land ing parties from ships of war or trans I ports.
 The action of the state department was taken late this afternoon and was or such character as to indicate that the department had not given out all the information which 1t had from Blue- nelds. When the state department or dered the Dss Moines to Bluefields yes terday 1t indicated plainly the need of the largest ships and the highest com mander at that threatened point 1 It was stated at the navy depart ment that if by some accident Com mander Shipley. should not receive his | specific instructions he will take what ever measures he thinks necessary l Neither the state department nor the | navy department believes that he would | hesitate to go ashore with 150 men at | least If Zeiaya's forces should enter Bluefelds.
 Danger of Clash.
 The state departments news was un- doubtedly from one of the ships com manders at or near Bluenelds. The dis patch was communicated first to the President and then the conference fol- lowed. It is not stated officially but I 1t Is hinted that if Zelayas forces should enter Blnefelds and assert their abil- 1 ity to preserve order 1t will prevent neither the landing of American forces nor their remaining on shore indefin- itely. It is admitted that if small force l of Americans were in Bluefelds and Ze- | layas victorious troops should be there also there would he always imminent danger of clash. Altogether the sit- uation tonight is one of great import ance and one which both departments are determined to keep in as close touch | as possible.
 l Governor Creel of Chihuahua, Mex is expected to reach Washington tomorrow or Monday. At tho state department it 1 is officially denied that any knowledge | exists as to the purpose of his com ing. He will be given respectful hear | ing on anything that he may have to | say with regard to the Nicaraguan sit uation but the state department will commit itself to nothing so far as Mex l leo Is concerned. t