Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-15
ENTIRE ATLANTIC FLEET
AFTER HUERTA'S APOLOGY
CONTINUED from Page one)

with auxiliaries carrying in all about
$4,000 men will comprise the force off
Tampico.
Everywhere-at the White House,
the state department and the navy
department-the hope was expressed
that the dispatch of the fleet would
not lead to serious consequences and
there was a confident prediction among
administration officials that Gen.
Huerta would see the wisdom of sat
isfying the American demand and
close the incident. Officials were care
full to point out that negotiations with
the Huerta government had not ended
and that the way was still open to
Gen. Huerta to make amends
Department Statement
In the meantime, the navy depart
ment sent complete instructions to
Rear Admiral Badger, commander-in-
chief of the Atlantic fleet on board
the battleship Arkansas at Hampton
Roads. Rear Admiral Fiske, chief of
the bureau of operations, left here for
the Roads tonight, personally to ex-
plain to Admiral Badger the diplomat
ic side of the situation and the dis
patches from Rear Admiral Mayo thus
far received. Indicating the exact
ships which will accompany Admiral
Badger, the navy department issued
the following:
Admiral Badger will take with him
the battleships Arkansas, Louisiana,
New Hampshire, Michigan, Vermont,
New Jersey and South Carolina,
which last ship has been intercepted
on her way from Haiti to Hampton
Roads.
THE gunboat Tacoma, now at Bos-
ton, Mass, has been also ordered to
Tampico by way Of Newport, R. l.,
and will start today or tomorrow.
THE gunboat Nashville now at Monte
Christi, San Domingo, has been order
ed to Guantanamo to coal and thence
to Tampico. The Rhode Island Nebras-
ka, Virginia and Georgia are now
docking; it has not been decided yet
whether they will join Admiral Bad
gers forces.
THE transport Hancock will leave
New Orleans for Tampico today with
the first regiment Of the expeditionary
force of marines"
The foregoing ships are in addition
to the Utah, Connecticut, Minnesota,
Des Moines, Chester. Dolphin and San
Francisco now at Tampico and the
Florida and Prairie now at Vera
Cruz The torpedo boat 1otilla at Pen
sacola, Fla, has been ordered to stand
by for orders.
Pacific Situation
While the navy moved on the At
lantic coast Secretary Daniels to-
night was giving his attention to the
nf "a
American war craft in the Pacific al
ready are in Mexican waters.
While the navy was active, not a
wheel turned in the army. Two eX
plantations for this were advanced,
the desire that the Constitutionalists,
who are in control of northern Mex
leo should not misinterpret the ac-
ton, and the fact that the United
States already has big fighting force
within striking distance OF Mexico.
Twelve thousand troops are at Texas
City. where four army transports are
at anchor and thousands OF cavalry
and infantry are spread along the Dor
der where they can be moved quickly.
Prepare for Emergency
High administration officials do not
ara prepared for any emergency. Sec
rotary Bryan, who is i'll, had intended
to leave tonight for Miami. Fla. He
cancelled his reservation and announc-
ed he would stay in Washington in
definitely. Senator Shively, acting
chairman of the Senate foreign rela-
lions committee, had long conference
with Mr. Bryan and called at the
White House as well. He said that at
the regular meeting of the committee
tomorrow he would transmit all the
he had obtained today.
Status of Case
The status of the case as summed up
by cabinet officers and other officials
familiar with the messages that have
been passing between Rear Admiral
Mayo, Charge Shaughnessy and the
Washington government was described
as follows;
Assistant Paymaster Charles C.
Copp and boat load of marines land
ed at Tampico last Thursday to OBJ
tain supplies. They were arrested, but
later discharged. In accordance with
regulations in all navies of the world,
Rear Admiral Mayo on considering
that an unWarfanteQ arrest ndu Deen
made and that the uniform of the
American navy had been disregarded,
demanded reparation in the form of
salute of q guns. The American flag,
while not taken ashore, was flying at
the stern of the whale boat and all
the marines were in uniform. Rear Ad-
mrial Mayo allowed the Huerta COM
mander until 6 o'clock that evening
to fire a salute, but later extended the
timei n order to afford the local COM
mander an opportunity to commune
cate with his superior officers in Mex
leo City. A statement of apology was
issued in Mexico City by Gen. Huerta
and the local officer who arrested the
marines was ordered punished.
This did not satisfy the United
States government and the salute was
insisted upon. General Huerta himself
at no time agreed to comply, but an
of the Mexican foreign
Office, did inquire of Charge'O 'Shaugh-
messy if a salute fired to the gunboat
Dolphin and responded to by the
American ship would be acceptable.
This was emphatically rejected by the
United States and word was sent that
nothing short of a public salute to the
American flag would be satisfactory"