Evening star., 1914-04-21

Several Ways in Which to Act.
Offcials here said the admiral might
act in several ways. He might wait until
the German steamer had landed her cargo
unmclested and then take the customs
house and the munitions; or when the
German steamer comes to the port ne
might seize the customs house and II the
guns were landed they would come into
possession of the American forces Ihat
the steamer might take her cargo to some
other port was a possibility OF Which on-
cials were cognizant.
When news reached the Capitol that
the order had gone to Admiral Fletcher
1t aroused considerable enthusiasm among
senator's and representatives.
Democratic Senate leaders believed an
order to the American commander to be-
gin actual operations would serve 10
hurry action on the resolution to oack up
the President S course
Secretary Daniels left the cabinet meet
ing at 1920 o'clock. He was asked about
the orders to Admiral Fletcher. 1T would
be very unwise for me to say anything
at this time: was his reply.
Anxiously Await Reply.
After the knowledee leaked out that
the telegram had been flashed there was
a feeling of certainty in and out OF ofn-
cials circles that Vera Cruz, or the GUS
toms house al least. had been taken pos
session of by the naval forces of the
United States. and word was anxiously
awaited for hours as to whether this
was actually a fact.
1t had been a sleepless night with high
officials Of the government prior to the
SPARK Of that fateful message, and in
forhsas;cn was that President Wilson was
awakened long after midnight and told
that German vessel belonging to the
Hamburg-American line was due at vera
Cruz early this morning with tremen-
dous shipment of munitions of war. the
largest Huerta has expected at any time
in months The administration quickly
determined that these great guns and the
millions of rounds of ammunition shouid
not get into possession OF the 1edefai
forces, to be turned. possibly upon -Aiiei-
lean soldiers and sailors
1t would involve the United States IN
trouble with Germany OF any other ma
ton whose vessel was carrying the snip
ment if the vessel was interrupted at sea
or stopped from landing at Vera Cruz.
but it was considered within international
laws and regulations II the Shipment
were taken charge Of after it had been
Fletcher was told that the shipment must
not leave the customs house at tnat
place. The details were left to the
American admiral.
If he found the herman ScSsei dp-
preaching he would be at liberty to seize
the customs house and back up the
seizure with his big guns and his marines,
whenever, in his judgement. It was advls-
able to do so. That would have left
Admiral Fletcher the discretion of de-
ferrine the seizure IL he did not see the
vessel in sight, and considered that II
would be better to wait until Congress
had actually passed the resolution con-
ferrfns authority upon the President.
The message to him informed him of
the situation fully. SO that he could use
cool Judgment in his procedure.
Speculation Among Officials.
AS the hours wore on without omcial
information of the seizure speculation
turned to two things: First. whether the
vessel was delayed in arriving and Ad-
miral Fletcher had delayed the seizure:
second, whether the Mexicans, in antici-
patton of this possible action by the
United States, had reached the German
vessel and given orders that the vessel
should proceed to some other port ana
not to Vera Cruz. In this event II would
be up to the American admiral to watch
this probability and seize the customs
house at the port where the vessel at
tempted to land or had landed
OF course there was immense interest
in what international compications, II
any. might grow out of the hold-up
of the shipment Of arms and ammuni-
ton by a German vessel should the