The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-04-23

u Il,
electrician Geisburn of the Florida,
and D. d. Mcmillan, private, second
marine regiment from the transport
Prairie.
Admiral Fletcher's Report.
Washington, April 2l.-Secretary
Daniels made public the following
dispatch received from Admiral
Fletcher at 6 p. M:
Tuesday in face Of approaching
norther, landed marines and sailors
from battleships Utah, Florida and
transport Prairie and seized customs
house. Mexican forces did not op-
pose landing but opened fire with rlAe
and artillery after our seizure OF
customs house. Prairie shelling Mexl-
cans out of their position. Desultory
firing from house tops and streets:
Hold customs house and section OF
city in vicinity of wharves and con-
sulate. Casualties four dead and
twenty wounded ,
American consul Canada reported
as follows:
Marines and blue jackets landed
at 1880 this morning, Immediately
taking possession of cable office, tele-
graphic offices and customs house,
also railroad terminals and yards
with rolling stock. Notwithstanding
firing from house tops we are mas
ters of the situation so far without
use of heavy guns. Our men are
simply defending themselves. Some
resistance from naval vessels soon
silenced by guns on Prairie. At this
time reported four of our men killed
and twenty wounded. American
newspaper men and several other
Americans in consulate. Several
Americans including some women
who refused to go aboard refugee
shin are now mar0oned in hotels
within firing line. Trains from
Mexico City did not arrive
It is to be war. That is the result
of the negotiations with Huerta, the
Mexican dictator. Following Huer-
ta's refusal to salute the Stars and
Stripes. arising over the arrest and
imprisonment of the American blue
Jackets, President Wilson has placed
before congress his ultimatum in the
trouble with Mexico. The honor OF
the United States was in question. 1T
was a question OIL whether we would
submit to the indignities heaped on
US by Huerta or resort to extreme
measures. The patience of President
Wilson and the American people had
been sorely tried in the past few
mon. his, but finally the limit was
reached. War is now on with Mexl-
SO. President Wilson insists that 1t
is not war with Mexico, as this coun-
try desires peace, but affairs have
reached the limit and when the
American blue jackets were placed
under arrest. the president demand
ed that in addition to the personal
APOLOGIES of Huerta that the flag OF
the United States be sa4uted. This
Huerta refused to do, unless stimuli
taneous salute was given him by the
United States. We could not con-
scientiously do this, and the result,
while still not being formal declar-
alton of war amounts to the same
thing.
on Monday President Wilson sub
.mitted special message to congress
which is printed in full elsewhere IN
this issue. The house promptly sus'
tanned him in his request that he be
authorized to use the navy and the
army to enforce his demand. To the
sorrow of the great state of Iowa l,
(. ia to be recorded that two Iowa con-
.gressmen, Wood and Good voted
against sustaining the president, but
the vote in the house was 337 to ~
The senate took time to consider the
question, but on Wednesday morning
at 1921 the senate passed the resolu
tion requested by President Wilson
by a vote Of u to 13.
The United States does not court
war. We have submitted to many
indignities, but fOrbearance has a,
last ceased to be virtue. The great
powers are looking to the United
States, and we are going to take
action.
on Tuesday the first blood wal
spilled in the war with Mexico. Ad
miral Fletcher landed force "a
Vera Cruz, seizing the custom house
but it was not without resistance, ant
the press reports say that four ma
rines were killed and twenty wound
ed, while 200 Mexicans were killed
Those four American marines Wer'
worth more than four hundred vel
low skinned Mexicans. If we mus
have war with Mexico, the only wa!
is to give them trouncing they will
not forget.
It looks to us as if Huerta, realiz
ing that the rebels have. him whip
ped, is counting war with the Unitet
States, in order to have an excuse TO
being deposed by the rebels.
The people of the United States
aside from a few small bore poll
ticians are standing behind Presiden
Wilson. From every part Of tn
country offers Of volunteers are be
inx telegraphed In. The Unite
states could raise IN 4 few days 9