Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-04-30
Nap Prospective City,

buildings burned would approximate
| 100000
A report is current here that sever
| al hundred Of the Mexican federal
soldiers detrained three miles from
Nuevo Laredo and are camped there
This has caused the United States
military. officials to strengthen the pa
troll, as it is feared that the Mexicans
may attempt to shell this city during
! the night.
Mas Is Reinforced.
Vera Cruz, April 25.-General Mas
and his federal force are now at Sole
dad. He has been reinforced by 1896
men. He is threatening to attack
Vera Cruz, and Captain Rush and
Major Butler, commanding the ma
| rtnes, have taken every precaution tc
guard approaches to the town. Rear
| Admiral Fletcher advised all Ameri
cans to leave the hotels here and
| spend the night on the refugee ship
| Mexico.
Three More Marines Fall.
Washington, April 25.-News of the
| death Of three more American fight
ers at Vera Cruz was received by the
navy department. This brought the
total American dead up to IS. The
| three men were the victims OF
Shippers" and were shot down while
doing police duty in the streets OF
Vera Cruz
The additional dead are:
Louis Frank Boswell of Coulters,
vile, Ill.
Randolph SummerIin of Georgia.
Walter L. Watson, brother of Sid
ney Watson, Fort Sheridan, III.
Demands of Carranza Rejected.
Washington, April 24.-President
Wilson has rejected the demand OF
Gen. Venustiano Carranza, provisional
president Of the Mexican constitution.
alists, that the American marines and
sailors, who captured Vera Cruz, evac.
| uate that city. In a statement, issued
after cabinet conference, in reply to
the message received from the consti
| nationalist chief, the president de-
clared that I'VE are now dealing only
with those whom Huerta commands
and those who come to his support"
CarranZa's request for the withdraw.
al of the American forces from Vera
Cruz on the grounds that it was a
violation of the national sovereignty
of Mexico" and a hostile act to the
| Mexican nation gave the president and
his cabinet advisers, with whom he
was in conference, much concern.
Wilson Remains Firm.
In consequence the White House
statement was issued to inform Gen.
eral Carranza that the United States
could not recognize him or seek rep
aration from him as requested, but
must deal with the authorities in con-
troll of the territory where offenses
were committed.
The presidents statement is as fol,
lows:
L wish to reiterate with the great.
est earnestness the desire and inten.
| ton Of this government to respect in
every possibly way the sovereignty
and independence of the people OF
Mexico.
"The feeling and intention of the
government in this matter are not
based upon politics. They go much
deeper than that. They are based upon
genuine friendship for the Mexican
people and a profound interest in the
re-establishment Of their constitution,
al system.
Dealing Only With Huerta.
Whatever unhappy circumstances
or necessities may arise, this object
will be held steadily in view and pur,
sued with consistent purpose, so far
as this government is concerned.
But we are dealing with facts.
Wherever and whenever the dignity
of the United States is fouted, its in
ternational rights or the rights of its
citizens invaded, or it's influence re
buffed, where it has the right to at
tempt to exercise it, this government
must deal with those actually in con-
troll. 1t is now dealing with General
Huerta in the territory he now con
trolls. That he does not rightfully con-
troll it does not alter the fact that he
does control it.
Quarrel Not With Mexico.
1--WE are dealing, moreover, only
with those whom he commands and
those who come to his support. With
these we must deal. They do not law
fully represent the people of Mexico,
90
quarrel is not with the Mexican people
and we do not desire to dictate their
affairs. But we must enforce our
rightful demands upon those whom the
existing authorities at the place where
we act, do, for the time being, repre-
| sent"
Diplomatic Relations Severed.
Washington, April 24.-Diplomatic
relations between the United States
and President Huerta's government
were completely severed Thursday af
ternoon when Senior Algara, Mexican
charge d'affaires in Washington, mott
fed Secretary of State Bryan that he
had been recalled, He was given his
passports and left for Canada.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the Ameri
can charge d'affaires at Mexico City
has been given his passports and i'm
mediately left Mexico City for Very
l Cruz.
Imports via Pacific coast ports were
| of the value of sS.000,000.