The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1913-02-13
Many Ships Ready.

rushing under full steam for Mexican
ports-four on the Atlantic and two
on the Pacific. The first should ar
rive at their destination Friday: the
last Sunday.
Ten other crack fighting ships Of the
Atlantic battleship fleet. swinging at
anchor seventy hours off at Guanta-
namo, are ready for sea. They have
approximately 5000 officers and men.
Five other smaller craft in Central
American waters are within call OF
the wireless. The navy's plans today
show:
Georgia. 15.000-ton battleship, Cap
tain Marbury johnson. due at Vera
Vermont. 1s,ooo-ton battleship,
flagship of Rear Admiral Fletcher,
commanding the second division of the
Atlantic fleet: Captain Harry Mel. p.
Huse, due at Vera Cruz SATURDAY.,
Nebraska. 15.00O-ton battieship,
Captain Spencer S. Wood, due at Vera
Virginia. 5,ooo-ton battleship, flag.
ship of Rear Admiral Usher COM
manding the third division. Captain
Colorado. 14.ooo-ton cruiser. flag
ship of Rear Admiral Switzerland,
commander In chief Of Pacific fleet,
Captain William l. Gilmer, due at
Mazatlan, Friday.
South Dakota. 14.0OO-ton armored
cruiser, Captain Charles p. Plunkett,
due at Acapulco Sunday.
Within call to supplement this force
are the cruiser Denver, enroute to
Acatutla, Salvador; transport Buffalo
at Corinto, Nicaragua: cruiser Des
Moines. enroute to Bluefields, Nicara
qua. and due here Sunday: gunboat
Nashville. cnrOute to Puerto CorteZ,
Honduras. and gunboat Annapolis. en-
route to Amapala, Honduras.
The battleships Wyoming. Utah.
Florida, Arkansas. North Dakota,
Michigan. South Carolina, Minnesota,
Idaho and Ohio, seventeen torpedo
boat destroyers and many auxiliary
craft of the Atlantic fleet remain with
Rear Admiral Badger. commanding
the Atlantic fleet at Guantanamo.
All That Can be Done.
1t is the feeling of the administra-
ton that these plans are all that can
be done at this time and that suf-
fictent number of warships have been
dispatched, not only to observe devel-
opments. but to practically create
neutral zones at ports where they lie,
in which American and other foreign
ers in Mexico may find safety
1t has been suggested in some quar-
ters that to land troops in Mexico
would be such an act Of war as can
be justified only by resolution of
congress. Many military officers fail
10 sec any distinction between suci,
landing of troops on foreign soil in
case of anarchy. and the employment
of marines. for the same purpose as
was done in Nicaragua recently.
To meet the constitutional objection,
in case the transports were sent to
Vera Cruz. 1t is understood that the
commanding officers would be in
structed not to land troops except
upon congressional authorization.
Their presence on the coast. 1t Is felt.
would doubtless have strong moral
effect upon the contending factions in
Mexico and more than weeks time
Just where they would he needed in
case danger to foreign lives and pro.
perty should become more imminent.
To Induce Americans to Leave.
Unless one side or the other
achieves decisive victory. in the city
of Mexico, within the next day or two.
1t Is probable that Ambassador Will
son will be instructed to try to induce
the American residents of the capital
to go to the ports or other places of
safety. and the representatives. of
otueI ioIeieH hltiouS are cApeeteO u
do the same. One great element of
danger in the situation arises from
the presence in the city of Mexico of
about 1900 foreigners. whose home
governments are known to be in re-
ccipt OF many heartrending appeals
tor assistance. Recognizing the d.
position Of the United States govern
inent to extend the same protection
to these Europeans and Asiatics az to
is own citizens. so far none Of the
diplomatic representatives Of the for
eign powers in Washington has done
moro than make a few inquiries at the
state department. as to the actual sltu-
alton in the Mexican capital.