The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1914-04-22
LAND AND SEA
FORCES ARE TO
PUNISH HUERTA
Congress Sanctions Movement
Against Dictator
WAR NOW APPEARS INEVITABLE


Provisional President Of Mexican
RepubIic-Coasts of Mexico to 5o
Bockaded and Forts of Vera Cruz
and Tampico to Be Seized.
War with Mexico is imminent.
Huerta's final answer to the de
mand of the United States has been
received He has refused to fire the
salute under the terms laid down by
President Wilson.
New conditions were proposed by
the Mexican dictator at the last
moment. These were not accepted
and officials announced that negotia-
tions were at an end and that the pro
gram of reprisal would be carried out.
The president appeared before con-
gress and read a message reciting the
numerous insults to the United States
recently and asked for sanction to the
American plan of a blockade of all
Mexican ports.
The request was granted and inn
mediately orders were issued for the
blockading and seizure of all Mexican
ports on the east and west coasts ot
the southern republic.
This movement while not in itself
an act of war is almost certain to in
volve hostilities and officials in Wash
ington have accepted as inevitable an
open declaration of war with Mexico.
The president in his address to con-
grss said that the United States did
not intend to go to war with the Mex
lean people but that the armed move
ment was against Huerta, who called
himself the provisional president"
He further said he had no en-.
thusiasm for war but he had en-
thusiasm for justice and for the dig
nifty of the United States.
For the first time the president dis
closed that he hopes also through the
drastic measures to be taken against
Huerta to accelerate the removal OF
the dictator from power at Mexico
City. 1t was indicated by the presi'
dent that the United States will not
be satisfied now with merely the firing
of the salute at Tampico, but will in
sist upon a guarantee that there will
be no more acts of disrespect such
as the Tampico arrests.
The news of Huertas refusal was
flashed by wireless to Admiral Badger,
commanding the Atlantic fleet now
hurrying toward Mexico, and to the
commanders of the American war
ships already in Mexican waters.
The ports of Tampico and Vera Cruz
will be the first to be seized. Rail
road communication to Mexico City
will be intern upted and an effort made
to starve Huerta into submission in
this way.
Huerta's defiance came after a day
of haggling. 1t came after President
Wilson had again served notice in the
most emphatic terms that his demand
for a salute were unconditional. The
exact words of the message which the
president sent Huerta, which ended
all for modification of this govern
ments ultimation, were these:
Tell 'Shaughnessy our terms are
unconditional in every detail"
Secretary Daniels disclosed that the
third division of the Atlantic fleet, in
cluding the Virginia, Connecticut and
Ohio, now undergoing slight repairs
in drydock, probably will go to Mex.
leo April 26 or q. The ships will not
be overhauled until that time, he said,
and so no order had been issued as
to their movements yet. The trans.
port Hancock bearing 500 marines,
which sailed from New Orleans on
Wednesday, is due off Tampico.
Secretary Daniels said that no add.
tional ships of the Pacific fleet had
been ordered to the west coast OF
Mexico other than the seven ordered
to reinforce Admiral Howard at
Masatlan, Acapulco and Tolpolobampo
on Wednesday.
Commander Charles +. Hughes,
chief>of staff of the United States At.
lantic fleet, called on General Gustave
Mas, commander of the federal troops
at Vera Cruz, and on the commander
of the port, and instructed them to
order all American merchant vessels
out of the harbm.
Commander Hughes then went on
board the Spanish and the British
warships anchored off this port and
informed their commanders of his
action.
William w. Canada, the American
consul here, is making arrangements
to have the foreigners in the city
taken on board the merchant vessels
should necessity arise.
No indications Of disorder have been
seen in the city. It is still believed
that the precautions taken will not be
followed by drastic action.
American women, acting on official
suggestion, are going on board the
boats in the harbor.
Consul Canada is endeavoring to in
form all foreigners of President VIII
sons action. Under instructions from
the department Of state he is remind
ing them of a previous warning tc
withdraw from Mexico.
OrdersSt to repeat these jnstruction'
TO TampiCo aud Monterey and to IL