The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1914-04-21
Refuses to Salute Flag
L. S. Plans For Action

regular service the militia regiments
in various States.
In preparation for the crisis that
must be met, Senator Shively, chair
man Of the senate foreign relations
committee, and Representative Flood,
chairman Of the house foreign af-
fairs committee, called meetings of
these committees for tomorrow morn
ing. Representative Flood, who is on
his honeymoon, telephoned from New
York that he would return immed~
lately.
Throughout today the Mexican
crisis was the absorbing topic in Of
ficial circles, dispelling the usual
calm of a beautiful mid-spring Sun
day. President Wilson arrived at
White Sulphur Springs, w. Va, early
in the day, after a night ride from
Washington and there joined Mrs.
Wilson. Secretary Bryan remained
up virtually all of last night await
ing definite word from Mexico City.
He was at the state department un-
til after midnight, and after going
fhome continued telephoning to those
! in the cipher room at the state de-
partment until 4 o'clock this morn
ing. Shortly after 9 o'clock Mr..
Bryan had received two messages
from Mexico City, both from Charge
O'Shaughnessy. The first was mere
ly formal, stating that the message
of President Wilson, giving Huerta
until o'clock tonight to yield, had
been communicated to Prtillog Rejas,
the minister for foreign affairs, and
that a reply would follow.
The second dispatch was in the ma
ture of reply. although officials
quickly perceived that it was not
clearly responsive and definite as ts
the demands made by this govern
ment but raised a new issue as to
the United States agreeing in writ
ing to return the Huerta salute
Mr.. Bryan summarized the Huerta
reply in a telegram to the president
at White Sulphur Springs and soon
thereafter held lengthy long dis
tance conference with tae president,
going over the points Huerta lad
raised. While the reply, was con-
s;dered favorable in is general pur-
port as to saluting the American flag,
yet it again parleyed over details. AS
result of the long distance talk Mr..
Bryan dispatched a further message
to Mexico City making il plain that
President Wilson would not listen to
counter proposals or suggestions, but
must nave an unequivocal acceptance
Of the American demand at the time
s.a.ed, 6 o'clock tonight.
Naval Heads Busy.
While taese exchanges were going
or by cable between Washington and
Mexico City the navy department was
centreing its attention on further prep
arations for an evenruality which
might occur. At 10:30 o'clock-adort-
ly after Huerta's latest dilatory mes
sage had been received-were sent to
the battleship Mississippi with an
aercplane corps and 900 marines and
the torpedo fotilla a Pensacola, Fla,
to get under way Immediately, joining
Admiral Badgers fleet as it entered
the Gull of Mexico, and proceeding
with the fleet to Tampico. The tor
pedo fotilla consists Of % destroyers,
the tender Dixie and the scout cruiser
Birmingham. Several of the Destroy
ers are in reserve and it is probable
that only IA will sail
Secretary Bryan had planned to go
to church at II o'clock. but as the
cable messages began to come in he
changed his plans and went to the
sta.e department. There he was join
ed by John Lind and the two went
to the private telegraph Office of the
state department to consult over
Difficult. piece CT deciphering i1 the
latest message from Huerta Later
the secretary. and Mr.. Lind joined
Secretary Gumulty at the White
House and the latest exchanges were
further gone over in detail. It be-
came known that the message showed
that Huer.a. was not raising objection
to the salute itself. but as to the de-
tails under which the salute would
be returned.
The Mexican condition was that