Evening journal., 1914-05-09
BY John EDWIN NEyIN.
Jnlted presa stan correaponaent.

United Press staff Correspondent
WASHINGTON, May Depart
mental preparations for war contin-
ued to overshadow everything else in
the Mexican situation here today
Transports were being chartered and
high officials Of the War Department
remained glued TO their desks COM
pleting plans for army movements
Troops were held IN readiness aud
orders in blank, needing only the
filling in OF the destination. COM
mand and time, reposed on the desk
of the chief OF staff ready TO be pre-
sented to Secretary Garrison for his
signature.
But in The face OF these significant
facts the public attitude Of the ad-
ministration remained unchanged.
The President and Secretary Bryan
insisted there had been no change in
the situation. And they further in
sisted that preparations were going
steadily forward for the sessions OF
the mediators IN Canada ten days
from now. So far as the spokeamen
of the administration are concerned,
Of the Constitutlonalists in Northern
Mexico continue the best bets for ulti-
mate settlement Of the entire trouble.
The army is getting ready. The navy
IS already ready But these moves
are all precautionary so far as the ad-
ministration is concerned. and are de-
clared in no way hostile acts.
While the tension in army and navy
circles Is intense, it Is chiefly because
the officials there refuse TO view the
Kaleidoscope changes in Mexican
affairs with the calm equanimity that
has marked the executive and state
departments, Their reports agree that
| Tampico is a danger zone; that Funa.
ton may be attacked at any momeni
I by an overwhelming force and fhn
lapata. the bandit, IS preparing TO az
tack the City Of Mexico The presi
dent believes that IN part some oil
these reports are true. But he is con.
WINGED that the Constitutionalists are
about to solve the Tampico problem
And he refuses to accept the alarmist
reports from Vera Cruz because he
does not think the Federal forces
there, even though they outnumbcr
the Americans, viii risk an attack.
The president has granted permis-
sion to the army TO prepart for emer-
gencies As result. Secretary Gar
rison has chartered five additional
transports and was arranging to Sc
cure as many more. They are TO be
held in reserve, some at Galveston,
others at central points along the
Atlantic coast, where they can be
utilized TO carry the remainder of the
Texas City reserves and the coast
artllerymen who are to be organized
as infantry IL an army division Is
eventually massed at Vera Cruz.
WIN Not Seize Ammunition Yet.
Il was stated at the navy depart
ment today that there is no present
intention Of seizing Puerto Mexico,
where the German liner Kronprinzes-
sin Cecilie yesterday landed cargo
Of munitions consigned to Huerta.
That this port could have been seized
in time 10 prevent these munitions
being landed is certain. The State
Department has known for a week
that the Cecilie was headed that way.
But il was also realized that, while
the seizing Of Vera Cruz could be con-
strued as an act Of reprisal. for the
Tampico incident, the seizure OF a
second port TO get the customs house
would be in effect an act of war.
There is another cargo enroute 10