Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-02-13
Taft May Send Special Message
Stating Facts as They Ex-
ist in Mexico.
TROOPS AND SHIPS READY
Fleet Hurrying to Ports-Mar
ines Can Be Landed to Pro
tect Americans-Inter-
vention Last Resort

Washington. Feb 12-President
Taft and the cabinet are in accord
that Congress shall share the re-
sponsibilty FOR any Intervention in
Mexico daY of conferences between
the President AMI his advisers ended
with the understanding that should
conditions in Mexico City become so
much worse as TO demand the land
ing OF American troops, Mr.. Taft will
lay before both houses of Congress
the full facts OF the situation In a
special message.
To-day every preliminary was ar
ranged for the action which might
follow such n course. Thirty five
thousand men of the army, navy and
marine corps were put in rea iiness
for movement
The first brigade of the first army III
vision Just created in the reorganization,
1900 men in all and the nucleus Of an
expcdtionarY force Of l5,0oo was put on
marching orders ready to entraiu for
Newport News, Va. where army trans
ports wait under steam. The first brigade
is composed of the Bird infantry at Madison
barrac cks and Oswego, the 5th infantry
at Plattsburgh, and the 18th infantry at
| Between 300 and 5000 marines of the
| Atlantic battleship flee, and at the
Guantanamo naval station. were prepared
| for immediate movement to Vera Cruz
where they might be kept aboard shir
ready for landinr to blaze an avenue OF
escape TO Mexico City for foreigners As
they did at PekinG.
SIX dreadnouEhts with approximate
ly 5000 tackles and officers now are
rushing under full steam for Next
can ports. four on the Atlantic an
two on the Pacific. The first should
arrive at her destination Friday, the
last SUNDAY.
Ten other crack lighting shiu- ol
the Atlantic hattleshp fleet swing in-
at anchor 20 hours Off Mt Guantanamo
are ready for sea. They have approX
imately 1000 officers and men.
Many military officers fail to Sc,
any distinction between landing troop!
on foreign soil in case of anarchy, anC
the employment of marines. for th'
same purpose. as was done in Nicara
qua recently.
To meet the constitutional objection II
case the transports We're sent to Yer;
Cruz fl Is understood that the command
ing officers would he instructed not T.
land troops except upon congrcs. iona au
thorizaton.
on" great element OF dangcr lu INC sit
uatiua arises from tuo rr"-ruy" m 'h
Citv of M"Sico OF abou, lnN0 foreigner
whose home governments are known TO b
In receipt OF app"a,s for assistance Rec
ognizinc the disposition of the Unite
States government tn extend tho san.
protection to these EUROPEANS and A-ia
tics as to it's own citizens SO far none %
the diplomatic represo ntatives Of the cor
cirn powers in Washington has don
more than 10 make few inquiries at tn
state department as to the actual stua
tion in the Mexican capital.
\ wholesale evacuation of the cit
by the foreign element would in
volve the latter in an enormous fl
. nancial loss. and looking to the pre-
cedents established in the civil Wa,
II is doubtful whether any compeasa
- tiou could be eXactcd from whatcve
> Government mnv exist after the clos
or hostilities in Mc'ico. Altopothe
it is apparent that the administratio
is likely t" find 1t very difficult t
adhere str,tly to tnis declare polio
: Of non = t''rt''Ill'N, ~ the SIilAtloT
p. not materially changed FOR IN" bette
5 in a very short time.
: TO add to the difficulty ia keeping
t close tou, h with the situation, word can
!. to the state department late to-day fror
= Consul Garrett, At Laredo, Texas. thG
{ all wires were down south of Montere
and that communication between I.ared
e and that point could he had only by wa
n of Mior \ complete severance of tel.
= graphic communication between the Tn
Il ted States and it's embassy in the CIT
= Of Mexico at this critical tInctur
& might easily bring about n change
policy on tho part of the administrator
= at least to the extent Of opening up
Z line OF communication between the Mex
o can capital and Admiral Fletcher's shiI
J. at Vera cruz by a naval expedito
II necessary.