The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1914-04-23
MEXICAN TROOPS ARE TURNED LOOSE


Jackets and marines from the AmaRt>
can feet seized the customs honoe.
raised the American flag and slkirmiah-
ed with the Mexican garrison. d.
sultory firing was in progress late ~
day according to dispatch from Raar
Admiral Fletcher received at 6 p. q.
At first the garrison had appearo9
to be withdrawing. American Consul
Canada reported this to the state at
o'clock but when the American for
ces reahed the customs houses, NoEk.
cans opened with rifle and artillery
fire. The transport Prairie immediata-
ly began shelling the Mexican posi-
tions and slowly drive them out.
The Mexicans fought from house.
tops and along the streets. American
forces have taken possession of tha
cable office and held the American
consulate and that section of the city
in the vicinity Of the wharves.
Rear Admiral Fletcher's dispatch
came by cable and reached here at 6
p. m. A hurried conference was cal-
led at the White House. Wilson SUM
moned his secretary and Byran, Gar.
rison and Daniels. They were in con-.
ference for an hour emerging sar<
ious faced.
"The first blood has been spilled"
said one Of the officials at the White
House. No reports have been received
up to p. m. of Mexican casualties,
Bryan left the White House for tho
German embassy where he discussed
with the German ambassador a con-
signment of arms for Huerta aboard
a German vessel due to be landed n
Vera Cruz tonight. Capture of the
customs house at Vera Cruz was az.
dered by the American government to
prevent big shipment of ammunition
and machine guns from getting into
Huerta's hands.
Talked All Day.
Congress discussed all day the reso-
luton which would give its approval
to the president, who purposes to use
the army and navy in the Mexican Sit
uation. The senate had recessed nm
til p. m. while the house adjourned
until tomorrow at 10 o'clock. Senate
leaders agreed to take final action
some time tonight.
No Order for Army
Shipments Of arms were prevented
from reaching Huerta and further
steps will not be taken by the Amer
!can government for the present. 'Th0
future depends on the action Of IL
Huerta authorities. Secretary Cart
son announced emphatically that ~
troop movements have been ordered.
Officials do not believe Huerta vi
take any offensive steps but II he does
American marines and blue iacheAe
will be assembled in Vera Cruz within
48 hours to the number Of about
II, 900. ..,
Huerta Forces.
Estimates here place the Huerta
forces at Mexico City at 5000 or 4e00
IN the belief Of army and navy o0-
Gals, American forces, if necessary
will be able to reach the Mexican cap
ital without serious difficulty. The
bulk OF Huerta's army is fighting tho
constitutionalsts in the north.
There will be no attempt to inter-
fere with foreign vessels, but it Ia J
believed close watch will be kept by
the American fleet on ships which
might be carrying ammunition to Mex
ican ports, seizing the cargo, to give
shippers an opportunity to recover
their property.
| Fleet Arrives
Rear Admiral Badger with the first
ships of the Atlantic feet reached
Vera Cruz tonight, having been diver
ted from Tampico where only the
cruisers Des Moines remains. The navy
department announced tonight that RA
ger has been ordered to Tampico. Tho
ships which arrived with him, tho
Louisiana, New Hampshire, Vermont:
New Jersey, South Carlina and Mich
igan will be divided according to hin
discretion.
] Greatly Affected
i Cabinet secretaries who discussed
the situation with the president show
ed bv their demeanor that the loss of
life affected them greatly. Informs
ton from sources close to the cabinet
council are to the effect that although
the president has exercised sell re-
straint. he is determined on the SEX
IRE of Vera Cruz and prevention oe
shipments of arms. ,5