New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-25
Meaning of Activity Near
Vera Cruz, He Sends
Word to u. S. !
5000 MEN LANDED BY
CONSTITUTIONALTSTS
washington Relieved by Dicta.
tors Disclaimer That He Plans
Anti.American Hostilities.

"@o"'hs'oh' may -f.-The Spanish
Ambassador. who looks after the inter.
ests Of Mexico during the suspension
of diplomatic relations, informed the
State Department tonight that the
Foreign Office in Mexico CITY had
asked him to say that force Of thu
thousand Constitutionallsts had lan.,
on the coast Of Vera Cruz and A.,
the Huerta government wanted ii. 4
United States to know that a NAV.
ment OF troops In the neighborhood a,
Vera Cruz was directed against m.
rebels and not against the AmerIoa,
troops.
The announcement caught the al.
ministration by surprise, and there
were many officers who believed tia,
the Huerta government might he On.
gagged in a shifting Of troops which
would later prove dangerous TO tina
American forces. Agents OF the Con.
stitutionalists. however, have already
heard Of the landing Of rebel forces on
the coast of Vera Cruz. They say that
General Candida Aguilsr. the rebel
leader who recently took Tuxpam, sert
q force Of men to point about forty
miles north OF Vera Cruz on the steam.
ship Yucatan.
They do not believe, however, tia,
Aguilar has sent force as large a,
5000. AS far as they know, the Yucs.
tan, which Is understood to be a small
coastwise steamer, has made only one
trip, and her capacity is estimated az
not more than 400 soldiers
Mr.. Bryan made public the following
statement:
The Spanish Ambassador has com.
municated to the State Department a
message just received from the Mexi-
can Foreign Office to the effect that
Constitutionalist force of 5000 has en-
tered on the coast OF the State Of Vera
Cruz. and the Foreign Office explains
that the movement Of Federal troops in
the neighborhood is against the Con-
stitutionalists and not against the
Americans. The explanation Is made
by the Mexican government in order
that its activities in that direction may
not be misunderstood"
Mr.. Bryan was not entirely sure
about the information concerning the
landing of the forces. Naval officials
did not know of any water transporta-
ton in possession Of the rebels, and at
first it was believed that the Foreign
Office in Mexico City might have re-
ferred only 10 an entry into the state
from the north.
At first Mr.. Bryan said that the
troops had been landed" In order "a
be on the safe side he later changed his
announcement to read that they had
entered" the State OF Vera Cruz. The
Spanish Ambassador. Senior Riano said
tonight that his understanding was
clear that the Constituencies hal
disembarked. He could not make out
the name of the point OF landing from
his telegram.
He said that General Garcia Pena.
commanding the Federal forces out
side of Vera Cruz, had reported the
matter 10 the Foreign Office, and that
the government In Mexico City had
then sent this message to him. simply
for the purpose OF allaying any sus-
picion which might arise from the
movement Of the Federal forces outside
Of Vera Cruz.
The fact that the Constituencies
here have information OF the rebel
movement is reassuring to officials, who
would otherwise be aroused over any
transfer OF Mexican soldiers.
There is a virtual armistice or be-
tween Huerts and the United States
although 1t is officially called a sus-
pension Of hostilities, but The UNDER
standing between Huerta, the =
mediators and the United States that
Huerta is not obligated to refrain from
movements against the rebels Is clear'
In consequence. he is at liberty 10
nroceed against the rebels who nave
landed in Vera Cruz, but his troops VIII
he closely watched by the American
forces which will doubtless be shii,eu
~ Uuer,a's soldiers threaten to obtain
a .,rotaoicaI advantage.