Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-13
U. S. READY FOR ACTION.
Continued from Page one.)

two on the Pacific. The first should ar
rive at her destination, Friday; the
lest, sunday.
Ten other crack fighting ships of
the Atlantic battleship fleet, swinging
at anchors 20 hours off at Guantanamo,
are ready for sea. They have approxi-
mately 5000 officers and men.
Five other smaller craft in Central
American waters are within call of the
wireless.
The navys plans, today. show:
Georgia, 15,O00-ton battleship Cap
tain Marbury johnson, due at Vera
Cruz. Friday.
Vermont 1s,000-ton battleship, flag
ship of Rear Admiral Fletcher, COM
handing the second division of the
Atlantic fleet; Capt. Harry Mel. F.
Huse due at Vera Cruz. Saturday
Nebraska, 15,O00-ton battleship, Cap
tain Spencer S. Wood, due at Vera
Cruz, Saturday.
Virginia. 15.000-ton battleship, flag
ship of Rear Admiral Usher, COM
manding the third division, captain
John d. Mcdonald. due at Tampico.
SATURDAY..
Colorado, 14.000-ton armored cruiser
flagship of Rear Admiral Switzerland
commander in-chief of Pacific fleet
Captain William L. Gilmer, due at
Mazatlan, Friday
South Dakota, 14,000-ton armored
cruiser; Captain P. Plaunkett. due at
Acapulco, Sunday.
Within call to supplement this force
are the cruiser Denver, en- route TO
Acajutla Salvador; transport Buffalo
at Corinto, Mic; cruiser Des Moines
en- route to Puerto Cortez. Houndras
and gunboat Annapolis. en- route to
Amapala, Honduras.
The battleships Wyoming, Utah,
Florida, Arkansas. North Dakota.
Michigan, South Carolina. Minnesota,
Idaho and Ohio. II torpedo boat de-
stroyers and many auxiliary craft of
the Atlantic fleet remain with Rear
Admiral Badger, commanding the At
lantic fleet at Guantanamo.
II Is the feeling of the administra
ton that these plans are all that can
be done at this time and that a suffi-
Gent number Of warships have been
dispatched, not only 10 observe de
yelopments. but practically to create
neutral zones at ports where they lie.
in which Americans and other for
eigners 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 a resolution of
Congress- Many military officers fail
ed to see any distinction between such
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 objee-
ton in case the transports weret, sent
to Vera Cruz, il is understood that
the commanding officers would would
be instructed not To land troops ex-
eept upon Congressional authorize ton.
Their presence on the coast, IL Is felt
would doubtless have a strong moral eff
feet upon the eontending factions in Mex
leo and more than weeks time would
be saved in placing the soldiers just
where they would be needed in case dan
ger to foreign lives and property should
become more imminent.
Unless one side or the other achieves 8
decisive victory, in the City OF Mexico
within the next day or two, it is probable
that Ambassador Wilson win be instruct
ed to try TO induce the american resident
of the capital to go TO the ports or other
places of safety and the represe.4tau, =
of other foreign nations are expected Il
do the same. One great element OF dan
ger in the situation arises from the pres
ence in the City of Mexico of about 1906
foreigners. whose home governments arr
known, TO be in receipt of many hear
rending appeals for assistance Recog
nizing the disposition of the United States
government to extend the same protection
TO these Europeans and Asiatics as to IL
own citizens, so far none of the diplo
matte representatives of the foreign pow
ers in Washington has done more thai
make a few inquiries at the state depart
ment as to the actual situation In III
Mexican capital