Little Falls herald., 1914-04-17

Washington, April 16.-With a ma
jority of the ships of the American
navy under orders to proceed at once
to the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of
Mexico the United States government
gave General Huerta final warning
that unless salute is fred to the
Stars and Stripes within reasonable
time to atone "for repeated offenses
against the rights and dignity of the
United States," serious eventualitiea
will result.
1t was learned that General Huerta,
when apprised by Charge O'Shaugh.
messy of the proposed demonstration
of the Atlantic fleet, argued that the
episode growing out of the arrest of
the American bluejackets at Tampico
Is a fit subject for arbitration at The
Hague and that he will appoint COM
mission to investigate the incident.
President Wilson, in an emphatic
reply through Charge O'Shaughnessy,
is understood to have told General
Huerta that the time for delay and
evasion has passed and that the
American government will temporize
no longer. Administration officials
hold that insults to the flag and ques-
tions of national honor are not sub.
jects for arbitration.
Thinks America Ia BIuffjnu.
All information, official and other.
wise, that reached Washington from
Mexico City tends to show that Gen.
eral Huerta is unconvinced that the
United States is in earnest and thinks
the Washington government is buff.
ing. Some anti-American demon.
strations at Vera Cruz and other
points were reported.
Developments here show clearly
that determined and forceful policy
has been adopted by the president,
which will be backed up by congress,
and enforced if necessary by the
army. and navy.
While expressing earnest hope for
peace the president uneQuivocally
told members of the senate and house
committees on foreign affairs that the
offenses of the de facto government
at Mexico City to the dignity of the
United States can be tolerated no
longer, and that unless Huerta CON-
plies with the American demands,
the seizure of the customs houses at
Tampico and Vera Cruz and even the
declaration of a pacific blockade,
shutting off commercial intercourse
with the United States, will be fully
justified by precedents in internation-
al law.
Congress Will Back Navy.
It WIS established that no aggres-
siye at such as the landing of ma
rines a. the shelling Of any towns or
the seizure Of any ports will be un.
dertaken without authorization from
congress after President Wilson per-
sonally has delivered a message on
the subject. The practically unani-
nous approval which Republicans and
Democrats alike gave the administers
tion's initial steps made it apparent,
however, that should Rear Admiral
Badger find it necessary to act vigor-
ously in an emergency congress will
back up the American navy without
hesitation. Z. =1s.SS !
After orders Had been issued for q
naval demonstration on the Pacific
coast Of Mexico as well as on the
Atlantic, General: .Huerta was advised
that the most powerful hghting force
the American government ever has as:
sembled on sea, carrying thousands
Of marines and bluejackets, is headed
for the seaport towns Of the Southern
republic ready to enforce to the ex.
treme the American policy.
Upon General Huerta depends the
next developments. He has prac-
tically a week to decide the question,
for the warships will not reach Mex
ican waters for several days. In the
meantime all foreign governments
nave been notified Dy tne United
States of it's attitude toward the Tam.
pico incident and of the dispatch ot
the fleets to Mexican waters. This
notification is in line with the prev.
iously announced policy of keeping
foreign. nations advised of all steps
taken by the American government in
the Mexican situation. 3
"The army is prepared" Secretary
Garrison said, "but has not been or.
dered to cross the Mexican border, OF
to go to any Mexican port"
Incidentally the chartering of the
Ward liner Esperanza, at Vera Cruz
with orders to proceed to Galveston
where four army transports and thou
sands of troops are located, is under
stood to be only one Of the measures
of preparation being taken for the
transportation of troops il necessary