The Oskaloosa herald., 1913-02-13
THREE MORE SHIPS
sent To MEXICO
RESULT OF AN EARLY MORNING
CONFERENCE AT WHITE HOUSE
TRANSPORTS IN COMMISSION
Major General Wood Remains at
Desk All Night Working Out De.
tails For Quick Movement of
Troops To the Border.

| Washington, d. c., Feb. l2.-As a
result of an early morning conference
at the White House three additional
battleships will be sent to the east
coast of Mexico today and orders will
be issued at once for the Immediate
placing in commission of two army
transports for the transport of troops
| to Mexico City for the protection OF
the lives of Americans and foreigners
should the situation there grow any
worse.
Shortly before 2 o'clock Secretary
Hilles issued the following statement:
After a conference called by the
president with the secretaries of state,
of war and of the nevy, it was not be-
lieved that the news from the City of
Mexico required any action of an af-
firmatve character other than to or
der three more batteships to Vera
Cruz.
These, including the one ordered to
Tampico, will make four battleships on
the gulf side of Mexico, or one divis-
| ion OF the feet under the command of
an admiral.
THE war department will hold itself
in readiness but no Affirmative action
was directed to be taken by the secre-
cary of war except to put two trans
ports now at Newport News in com
mission.
These transports will receive
troops should further action be neces-
sary The purpose merely is to take
precautionary steps to protect Ameri-
cans and foreigners in the City of
Mexico should conditions of violence
continue and anarchy succeed
1.-The attitude of the government
still is strong against Intervention and
| it was determined to take no step at
this time which would commit us to
such policy, and to take only the rea-
sonable precautions TO meet an exig-
ency which it is earnestly hoped and
| goligngn aation oatuaation offirm
believe will not arise"
! The battleships to be sent to Next
! can waters viii be determined upon
today as soon as Secretary Meyer
reaches his Office. Orders were sent
promptly to Newport News by Briga-
der General Aleshire, chief of the
quartermasters' corps of the army, to
have the army transports made ready
at once. BY noon today arrangements
will have been completed for prompt
action in case the situation in Mexico
grows more acute.
President Tafts anxiety was said to
have been increased by rumor re-
ceived from Mexico City that Ameri-
can Ambassador wilson had been fore
ed to flee from the embassy. At an
early hour no confirmation of this re-
port could be obtained through official
sources.
Immediately on leaving the White
House Major General Wood went di-
rectly to the war department, where
he remained at his desk until nearly
daylight working out details for the
quick movement of troops probably
would be modified at Galveston, Tex,
and prepared to embark as soon os the
transports had reached that point
from Newport News. Va.
Fighting Renewed To-day.
Mexico, City, Feb. 12.-The second
days battle between the administra-
ton and the Diaz's forces began at
1880 this morning. The Federals be-
gan the fight by renewing the assault
upon the arsenal where Diaz and his
followers are entrenched. Rifles and
machine guns were trained upon the
arsenal and continual canonnoading
is still being kept up.
During the night the Federals
brought up considerable additional
artillery. Heavier guns were placed
behind barracks and entrenched in
the streets and trained on the citadel
while addition machine guns were
- MIA IN
the stronghold of the rebels While
this was going on DiaZ was not idle.
The entertainments of the rebels were
pushed considerably into the direction
of the national palace and Diaz too
brought into position additional ar
tillery.
Estimates of the dead in yester-
days fight vary from 200 to 1000.
Americans think the larger estimates
none too high. The brunt of the caus-
ualities was shown by the Federal
lists. The rebels lost few men. Diaz
is authority for the statement that
only 200 of his men were killed.
Troops Ready to Move.
! Washington, Feb. 12.-Orders were
issued by the war department this af-
ternoon for a provisional division of
the army numbering fifteen thousand
men to hold themselves in readiness
for instant service. The division will
be carried from points as far north as
Niagara and as far west as San Fran
cisco. The Mexican situation is so
acute that Secretary of War Simpson
who had intended to go with the pres
ident to Philadelphia this afternoon,
decided at noon to remain at his desk
at Washington.
The Vermont and Nebraska Sent
Washington, Feb. 12.-Admiral Bad
ger commanding the Atlantic fleet at
Guantanamo. sent a wireless message
to the navy department today that
he had designated the dreadnaughts
Vermont and Nebraska as the two
warships to be sent 10 Vera Cruz,
Mexico, at once.
Destroying Towns.
FL Paso, Feb. l2.-AIoving from
Classes Grandes TO attack Juarez. the