The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1914-05-15
SHIPS ARE SEIZED
TO INVADE MEXICO
Nation on Wars Brink, Militia
Ready for Call.
FUNSTON HASTENS ACTION
Fear Of Attack on Vera Cruz Leads
War Experts to Advise President
to Put Forces on Inva-
sion Footing.

NCaB 14oI - aEal40(
Huerta and its accompanying invasion
or Mexico Is about to begin. in the
minds of high officials here.
Orders from the war department
have prepared the governors of New
York, Pennsylvania and Ohio for a
call for their state militia Hospital
headquarters have ordered recruiting
at Governors island for field and evac-
uation hospitals and ambulance corps.
Secretary Garrison is chartering
six ships to use as army transports.
This is In addition to the five trans
ports already available at Galveston
and means an immediate movement
of the army on Mexico.
Steamships in the Atlantic ocean
and Gulf of Mexico have been char
tered for transports and supplies are
being loaded at Galveston for the
movement
In addition to a request for rein
forcements, General Funston has
asked the wal department to send to
him the Porto Rico regiment as first
and most necessary reinforcement.
The crisis was reached after an ali
night conference of Secretary Garri-
son, his aids and army heads. When
the cabinet met the situation, already
strained to the limit by Huerta's thin
ly yelled ultimatum to evacuate Vera
Cruz was laid before the president and
his advisers.
When the cabinet session ended
tense faces and denials belied the as
surances made that there was nothing
new. Mr.. Bryan was asked particular
ly what would be done to relieve Gen
eral Funston's peril at Vera Cruz. His
answer spoke volumes. He could not
discuss the war departments business.
Seek Data on Militia.
Following this the announcement
was made that Secretary Garrison was
in charge of war plans.
In connection with the military
preparations for a possible forward
movement, it became known that the
officials of the war department have
been in long-distance telephone com
munication with the governors of
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio in
an effort to determine how soon the
militia organizations of those states
could be modified and SEN to the sea
board for shipment in transports.
1t has been learned on high author
ity that the war department had un-
der consideration an adequate rein
forcement of the command of General
Funston at Vera Cruz, to carry out
any movement that might be neces-
sary into the Interior of Mexico.
See Peril to Funston.
The question Of placing a large
force of Americans in Vera Cruz that
would be strong enough to defend
that port against any attack or to un-
dertake a possible campaign against
Mexico City. was later laid before the
president and his cabinet by Secre-
tary of War Garrison.
General Funston has asked the war
department to send him the Porto Rico
regiment as his first and most neces-
sary reinforcement.
General Funston has made observa-
tions as far as he could along the line
of the Mexican railway and reports a
very dangerous state Of affairs if he
should be called upon to advance to
the Mexican capital.
He reported to the department that
the chief danger lay in his discovery
that, by some ones orders, every tun-
mel on the railway has been mined.
He also reported the presence of
federal troops nearly everywhere
along the route Of the railway and
roads parallel to the railway. by which
he should have to advance.
The continued absence Of informa-
ton concerning Vice-Consui John r.
Silliman, at Saltillo. believed to have
been taken prisoner by the Mexican
federals. added TO the seriousness of
the situation. One high government
official summed up the state Of af-
with this remark:
There is going to be war in Mex
leo unless Silliman is found soon."
Federal Army Faces Funston.
Vera Cruz, May 9.-Mexican federal
forces confronting General Funston'S
army have been increased to
10000 men during the last twenty-four
hours and have established a strong
base at Jalapa, AZ miles from this city.
They are under command of Gen. Ru-
bio N%avarette. who is fortifying the
town.
Reports OF rapid movements by the
Mexican troops. indicating that they
were advancing their outposts toward
Vera Cruz, caused uneasiness here to
day. The American outposts. to-
access has been unrestricted
hitherto. are now barred TO Mexicans.
Photographers have been forbidden
to approach the places where guns are
The jungle growth is being
away for the machine guns.
Rafael Horsasitas. a Spaniard who
has just arrived from Mexico City.
said today: