The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-04-21
Big Fleets of War Vessels Are Nearing
Mexican Shore and Active Prepara-
tons are Going on in the Navy and
War Departments in Expectation OF
Offensive Action.

Washington D. c., April 21.-Orders were sent to Rear
Admiral Fletcher early this morning to seize the customs
house at Vera Cruz in time to prevent large Shipment OF
arms for Huerta about be landed there from being
transported to Mexico City.
MANY officials declared they believed Huerta was play
ING for time merely get in large shipment said to
consist of several million rounds of ammunition and 200
field guns on board German steamer about to arrive
AS there no blockade the American forces cannot seize
the munitions until after they are landed.
Anoon the cabinet In session. and SO lar as known
no word had been received from Rear Admiral Fletcher
of his action The order the officer said to have
conferred the broadest authority and directed II neces
sary that he might take the town OF vera Cruz as Wen
as the customs house. prevent the landing of the mun
tions When the reached the capitol that the order
had gone forth to Rear Admiral Fletcher it aroused con-
siderable enthusiasm among the senators anureprese
tatives.
Meanwhile both the House and the Senate reconvened
and the Senate went to work the resolution OF approval
of the presidents At the outset new resolution
to accept the apologies already offered by Huerta su
cient reparaton for the Tampco incident was introduced
by Senator Works, Republican.
In opening the debate Senator Lodge said: when the
president lays international controversy before Con-
gres he takes the last step that precedes war The pres
dent might have taken further steps but he has come
the body which alone has power TO declare war tnnK
he has done Well.'
Continuing Senator Lodge said: "The president in his
message discamed any hostility toward the Mexican peo
pie but the resolution carries with 1T armed intervention
The consequences of armed intervention in many respects
the war and present task less capable OIL
speedy completion"
Objections to the form of the resolution passed by he
House. 3 81 last hight to endorse the presidents plan
prevented action in the Senate and that body after
spectacular midnight session, took until noon
TO-DAY to take up substitute reported by its
foreign relations committee.
The substitute which the administration leaders
pected to adopted after brief debate and sent over
to the House for concurrence, would broaden the
gressonal declaration and eliminate direct reference to
Huera 1t also would discaim the part of the United
States any hostility to the Mexican people any purpose
to make war on them.
The proposed substitute says:
n view of the facts presented by the president of the
United States in his address delivered to the Congress
in joint session the Goth day of April 1914 in regard
certain affrons and indigntes committed against the
United States in Mexico, be it
Resolved That the president is justified in the employ
ment of the armed forces of the United States enforce
his demands for unequivocal amends for aronts and
indignties committed against the United States; and
be it further
Resolved That the United States dsclaims any hos
tity to the Mexican people any purpose to make war
upon Them.
Senator Lodge submitted another substitute declaring
that the serespect and dignity of the United States
and duty to protect its citizens and international rights
require such to be followed in Mexico by our
to compel respect and observance of those
rights.
While Congress was debating these resolutions the war
fleets of the United States nearing the Mexican
shore, and the active preparations for immediate action
upon word from the White House continued at the navy
and war departments.