New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-09
Ship Reported Trying to
Land Its Cargo at
Puerto Mexico.
CONDITION is LIKE
THAT AT VERA CRUZ
Seizure of Custom House
May Precipitate Gen.
eral Conflict.
CERTAIN TO BRING
MEDIATION TO END
Finds Itself Face
to Face with Perplexing
Situation.
[From The Tribune Bureau. J


washington, May S.-The admin
istration is face to face with a situa-
ton identical with that which led TO
the landing of sailors and marines az
Vera Cruz and the battle which cost
the lives Of nineteen men. The Ger
man steamer Kronprinzessin Cecilie, OF
the Hamburg American Line, has ar
rived at Puerto Mexico, the Gulf OF
Mexico terminus Of the Tehuantepec
Railroad.
The steamer has on board shipment
of arms and ammunition for Huerta
It was the impending arrival at Vera
Cruz Of the German steamer Ypiranga
with 100000 rounds Of ammunition
and 200 machine guns which led the
President 10 order the seizure or the
Vera Cruz custom house.
The Assistant Secretary OF the Navy
gave out the following statement this
evening:
"On Wednesday the Navy Depart
nent was notified by the State Depart
ment that they had received informa-
ton that the steamer Kronprinzessin
Cecilie had sailed from Hamburg on
April Il and the steamer Bavaria on
April II with consignments OF arms.
The acting Secretary of the Navy az
, once telegraphed Admiral Badger 20
keep watch for the steamer and 10 re-
J ha
'On Thursday morning Admiral Bad
ger wired that the Kronprinzessin Ce-
ellie was then due in Puerto Mexico.
On Thursday evening he wired that he
would arrive Friday. The Bavaria is
not due at Puerto Mexico for about
two weeks"
The Kronprinzessin Cecilie has ar
rived at Puerto Mexico. according to a
dispatch received tonight from Ad-
miral Badger. AS the American navy
has no vessels at Puerto Mexico it will
be impossible for the administration 10
prevent the landing of the munitions OF
war Admiral Badger also reported
that the Alfonso KILL OF the Spanish
Line. had arrived at Puerto Mexico.
Whether she carried arms is not known.
Crisis Like Vera Cruz.
II the Kronprinzessin Cecilie has al
ready arrived at Puerto Mexico moth
ing can be done, but II other
ships are approachins Puerto Mexico
with arms and ammunition the ad-
ministration faces the same problem or
cutting off Huerta's supply OF muni-
tions Of war which it faced when the
Ypiranga approached Vera Cruz.
Communication between Puerto Mex
leo and Mexico City is good, and once
the munitions OF war were landed they
could be transported speedily 10 Mex
leo City and there utilized. possibly
against the American ad,s ace, which
so many think is inevitable.
There enters into the question. how
ever. the truce between the Unitel
States and Huerta. Seizure OF the cus-
tom house at Puerto Mexico might
precipitate general conflict. IL
would undoubtedly mean that Hucrta
would throw the pending mediation
overheard, asserting that he United
States. while bound by an armistice
took overt action. There is d force OF
Federals at Puerto Mexico.
The administration also faces the
grave question OF the military adyisa-
bility Of attempting another "pacidc"
seizure OF custom house. II Is be
lieved by naval officers that IL Ameri-
can forces should be sent shore with
instructions similar TO those " the
landing force at Vera Cruz-not TO fire
until fired on-the loss OF American
lives would be great. There is a gen.
eral opinion in Washington that II the
landing force at Vera Cruz had zone
ashore while the big guns Of the bat
tleships were sending their shot over
the town the occupation could have
been accomplished IN the midst Of a
panic with small loss Il life.
Avoiding Act Of War.
On the other hand. sending a bel
liscrent" force ashore would be Al act
Of war. and this the administration is
keenly desirous Of avoiding. Another
phase Of tho. situation concerns the
.eizure of only the custom house or the
whole town. The lesson OF Vera Cruz
shows the necessity Of taking posses
sion Of the entire city in order 10 Id
the American force OF the dangers ot
constant "sniping"
II has also been reported that ship
ments OF arms are on the way TO the
Constitutionalists at Tampico. Mr..
Daniels said this afternoon that he
knew nothing Of this. II 1t proves true