Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1913-02-12
Conference at White House
Determines 10 Send More
BattIeshipS TO Mexican Wat
erS for Emergency
TRANSPORTS READY TO
CARRY MILITARY FORCE
Secretary HiIIes Issues State
merit Declaring That Inter
vention Is Not Contemplated
at Present,

lBy Morning journal Speeinl ieased Wire
Washington. lcb. Evidently re-
cognizine that crisis in the Mexican
sntation had been reached President
Taft summoned 10 the White House,
Secretary 0f state Knox, Secretary of
War Stimson and Secretary Of the
Navy Never together with "a number
OF army and navy Officers shortly at.
ter midnight AT 1880 o'clock this
morning the last of those summoned
had arrived ana with Secretary Hilles
a conference was begun in the library
Of the White House. The OFFICERS IN
the conference are Major General
Wood. chief If staff of the army
Brigadicr General William CrOzier,
president of the war college Briga-
dier General James y. Aleshire. chief
of the 0uartcrmasters corps of the
army and Rear Admiral bradley A..
Fiske. of the inspection Departments
OF the navy. A general discussion Of
the availability of troops aud marines
for instant despatch was begun as
soon as an had arrived.
As result of the conference. three
additional hattleships will be sent TO
the east coast oi Mexico today and orr
ders viii hc issued at once for the
immediate placing in commission 9l
two army transports for the trans
port of troops lo MeNlto city, for IN
protection OF the lives Of Americans
and foreigners should the situatioa
there grow any worse.
shortly before 2 o'clock this morn
ing, Secretary Hilles issHed the lDl-
lowing statement. After confer
ence called by the president with the
secretary of state. secretary of Val
and secretary of the navy. 1t was l1t
believed that the news from the CITY
of Mexico required any action oi On
affirmative character other than 10
order three more hatilcships to Vera
Cruz These. including the one o.
dcred 10 TamDiro, viii make fluf
hattleships ON the gulf side of MeM p
or one division of the fleet under TIVE
command of IN admiral.
"Thc war department will hold ~
self i'm readiness. but no affirmative
action was directed to be taken by III
secretary OF war except to put lWa
transports now at Newport News n
comnas4on These transports viii
receive troops should further action
be deemed necessary. The purpose
merely is to take precautionary steps
to protect Americans and foreignass
in the city OF Mexico should eonGi-
NiNit1 lA AAffltAAif commune anu
succeed.
eThe attitude of the government
still is strong against Intervention ana
il was determined TO take no step at
this time with would commit us q
such policy. and 10 take only the
seasOnabie precautions ,o meet an "N-
igtncy when il Is earnestly hoped
and believed will not arise
The battleships to be sent MeNi-
can waters will be determined Nwn
today as soon as Secretary Meyer
reaches his office orders were sent
promptly TO Newport News hy Briga
der General Aleshire, chief of The
quartermasters corps Of the army, 20
have the army transports made rcadN
at once. by noon today arrangements
viii have been completed for prompt
action in ease the situation In Mexico
grows more acute While the confer
once was brief, lasting not mOfe than
twenty minutes. II was reported that
an of the presidents advisors Were 'f
one mind, that some precautionary
steps should be taken Immediately
President Taf's anxiety was said
to have been increased by "a rumor re-
ceived from Mexico city that Ameri-
can Ambassador Wilson had been
forced to flee from the embassy Al
an early hour no confirmation of this
report could be obtained through #
fetal sources Immediately on leaving
the White House Major General Wood
went directly to the war departmcn.
where he remained al his desk undi
nearly daylight working out "details
for the quick movement Of trOOps,
should the occasion arise. 1hr g
troops probably weuld be moblized
at Galveston Tex and prepared
embark as soon as the transports had
reached that point from Newport
NaxsfcH Wa