The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-06-08
BADGER ANNOUNCES AMERICAN CRUISERS
 FOLLOWING VESSELS
Neither Bryan nor Daniels Make Statement, nor Is Any Official In- formation Obtainable From White House-Will Re-
 gard Tampico as an
 Open Port

i Washington government tonight, a sit- ton and with possibilities that might < precipitate actual warfare between the United states and Mexico.
 General Huerta has brought about the new crisis by ordering his gunboats to \ blockade the port of Tampico- and to seize cargo of ammunition en route there for the Mexican constitutionalsts. The shipment is aboard the steamer An tilla from New York, flying the Cuban flag. Huerta has notified the powers of the intent to blockade the port and that \ he proposes to seize the cargo consigned to the belligerents against his sovereignty as contraband of war
 The purpose of the United States to sup press the attempt to blockade and pre- t vent interference with the Antlla was { indicated tonight when Secretary Daniels issued an official statement announcing that while no new orders had been given Rear Admiral Badger, there had been no change in the policy of the government in reference to it's desire that the port of a Iamplco snail be open to all commerce. Daniels Statement
 The statement follows
 'The navy department has issued no $ new orders to Admiral Badger since the Mexican gunboats were reported to be leaving Puerto. Mex. The department has at no time contemplated furnishing a convoy to the Antila, or any other ship. nor have any orders to that effect been issued. No word whatever has been re- \ ceived to whether or not the warships of either nation have been notified of \ blockade at Tampico or what their at titude would be toward such a blockade h There has been no change in the policy Y of the government in reference to it's de- sire that the port of Tampico shall be open to all commerce"
 As to whether ''al commerce" in this instance includes contraband of war no official of the government will discuss.
 So far the only orders relating to Tam pico that have been issued went to Ad- miral Badger on May IS in message in forming him that while it was not be- lieved the Huerta gunboats would return to Tampico, it was deemed advisable that the commanders of American naval ves- sels understood that the government de-
 
 commerce at that port.
 That the blockade decree wfll be carried was very evident today but Admiral Badger in a report to the navy department from Vera Cruz. an nouncing that the Mexican gunboats Zaragoza and Bravo, which left Puerto Mexico last night had passed Vera Cruz and were steaming toward Tam pico. The American cruiser Tacoma and gunboat Sacramento are folio wing H6. ~l.t warships will do when the commander Of Huertas ships attempts to seize the Antilla, when she arrivers at Tam pico Wednesday. no official in Wash ington would say tonight
 The message from Admiral Badger received by the navy department today was:
 sunday, June '. 10 a. m. Position of Mexican gunboats Bravo and Zara- goza at a. m, latitude 1943, longi- tude 63.3; headed for Tampico, making nine knots. should arrive off Panuco N river about a. m. tomorrow. Tacoma Te and Sacramento following in observa- ton. BADGER"
 When this report reached Washing ton it immediately was communicated to President Wilson, Secretary of Navy Daniels and Secretary of State Bryan. Secretary Daniels hastened from church to his office. but denied him. self to interviewers. Throughout the udI anu Hlknt ne WOuiu make no State- ment Neither would Secretary Bryan, nor was there any official informa- ton obtainable from the White House The President conferred over the tel ephone with cabinet officials and also fl received messages from the American .sy delegates to the Niagara Falls medi- ation conference. These were believed to have a bearing the impending situation at Tampico
 Whether orders relating to the Tam pico situation were sent during the day to Admiral Badger could not beAearned. It was believed however, that some orders were sent to Admiral Badger but so far as the publicly known po- sition of this government is concerned the United States rested on the order rant to Admiral Badger May IS, in- rorming him that the President of the United States wished Tampico 10 DC kept open to commerce.
 Tampico an Open Port That Tampico still was regarded by this government an open port was the expressed opinion yesterday of de- pertinent officials but since receipt of information that Huerta's gunboats ac- tuaiIy were en route to enforce a blockade there officials have been \ silent. It was pointed. however, that in the order to Admiral Badger of May IS there was no mention of contraband of war.
 Three possibilities were discussed tn official quarters tonight as likely 10 arise in view of the problem that Gen. eral Huerta's decisive action has pre- N sented. Should the American govern ! ment direct that the order to Admiral Badger be construed us to include de- livery of contraband of war, Admiral N Mayo at Tampico would be compelled Nto open fire on Huerta's gunboats if necessary to prevent interference with the Antila. If this were considered an overt act of war and violation of the agreement to cease hostilities, it proba- bly automatically would end the peace conference at Niagara Falls. In the opinion of many in close touch with the Washington administration this would
 mean the beginning of actual hostiiities
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