Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-04-24
REFUSES TO SALUTE AMERICAN
FLAG AND ARMED INVASION
OF MEXICO is TO BE Or
DEREp BY CONGRESS.
TO CALL STATE MILITIA
SEIZURE OF PORTS AND RAILWAY
LEADING TO CAPITAL FIRST
MOVE IN ARMY; NAVAL
BLOCKADE PLAN.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Washington, April 2O.-General Vic
toriano Huerta, provisional president
of Mexico, flafly refused to accede to
the unconditional demands of the
United States that he salute the
American flag.
Congress will be asked by President
Wilson today for authority to use
armed force to uphold the honor and
dignity of the nation.
Armed invasion of Mexico will be
authorized by Congress at once and.
In addition. that body will give the
President all the money and assist
ance he desires.
The President already is planning to
call out all state militia regiments.
With this in view he will urge that the
Senate pass the volunteer act which
already has passed the House provid-
ing for pressing into regular service
the militia regiments in the various
states.
President Wilson, accompanied by
Mrs. Wilson and party. left White Sui
phur Springs, w. Va, at HIP last
night for Washington on special
rain, reaching Washington this morn
ing.
President Wilson refused to discuss
he Mexican situation or make any
statement concerning it. For an hour
,efore he left he was in his room at
the hotel at work on his special mes
sage to read to Congress today.
The message was completed on the
train as the President sped towards
the capital.
American war fleets are moving
down both coasts on their way to Mex
can waters to carry out the Presi-
ient's plan for reprisals. Under spe-
cial orders last night they were told
to increase their speed to the utmost,
and the vanguard should reach Tam
pico some time today. All army de-
departments have been ordered ready
to move at once. Transports are at
Galveston waiting to take troops
aboard.
Every American resident of Mexico
has been warned by the Washington
government to leave the country at
once.
All foreign powers have been noti-
fled that the United States cannot
guarantee protection of their citizens
in Mexico any longer.
The President directed that Cabi-
net meeting be called for 10:30
O'Clock today, when the final arrange
ments for a blockade of Mexican
ports and other steps in the Presi-
dents program will be deliberated.
The crisis thus reached does not
mean that there will be a formal
declaration of war because the United
States could not declare war against
a government which it does not recog-
nize.
President Wilson will seek author
ity. however, to send the armed forces
into Mexico, to seize first the ports of
Tampico and Vera Cruz and the rail-
road trestle leading from Vera Cruz
toward Mexico City.
The final word from Huerta to
Charge oShaughnessy was a refusal
to comply unless the United States
would guarantee in writing that his sa-
lutte be returned.
The breach that finally has come
with Mexico will make 1t impossible,
1t was declared last night on high au-
thority, for the United States further
to protect foreigners in that republic,
and foreign governments have been
notified of the situation in this regard.
The President. it was asserted, not
only would ask Congress for authority
to use. the armed forces to uphold the
honor of the nation, but also for an
appropriation, a deficiency already
having been created because of the ex-
tensive naval operations in anticipa-
tion of Huerta's defiance of this gov
ernment
Negotiations with Huerta over the
demand FOR salute. in reparation for
the arrest of American bluejackets at
Tampico on April . came to- close
last night at 6 O'Clock, the last hour
given by President Wilson for favor
able response from the Mexican die
tator
In prepaI alton for the crisis that
must be met Senator Shively, chair
man of the Senate foreign relations
committee, and Representative Flood
chairman of the foreign affairs COM
mittee, called meetings of these COM
mittees for this morning. Represent
ative Flood. who is on his honeymoon
telephoned from New York that he
would return at once.
Mexicans Warned Against Outbreaks
Mexico City, April 2O.-Through the
local newspapers warning is given