The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-02-03
CHANGES POLICY.
Continued from Page one.)
Mexico and set up a constitutional
government within a short time.
Means End of War.

government Watn1n a snort time.
Means End of War.
1t was understood in official circles
that announcement of the presidents
gone forward to Charge Onslaught
messy in Mexico City, probably with
instructions to advise the Huerta
government. Constitutionalist agents
in Washington learned Of the devel-
opment unofficially and declared the
end Of the war was in sight.
For many weeks senators Of the
foreign relations committee have been
urging President Wilson to permit
free importation of arms to the bat
tlefieids, in the hope that the war
soon might be ended and peace re-
stored. Those close to the president
said all along that he would take
such action as only one Of the last re-
sorts in his Mexican policy, preferring
to depend for the time being on the
moral pressure" and the financial
blockade" which has SO far estopped
the Huerta government from obtain
ing credit abroad. has only recently
caused it to default on the interest Of
the Mexican public debt and has seen
the armies Of the constitutionalists
steadily marching on from victory to
victory.
News Of the action about to be taken
by President Wilson became known
through sources which have been con-
stantly advised Of the administrations
policy in Mexico. 1t also became known
that the subject had been discussed at
the cabinet meeting today. There were
intimations that an official announce
ment of the administrators purpose
would be coming from the White House
later.
The only word that came from the
White House was that an important
announcement would be made at 5 p.
m. today. While officials declined to
divulge its nature, there Is every rea-
son to believe that under the author
ity Of the joint resolution of March IA.
1912, President Wilson will continue
to exercise a discretionary power in
issuing permits for the expectation of
arms, SO that they may not fall into
the hands of irresponsible persons. So
far as possible, only the military
chiefs on both sides of the Mexican
revolt will obtain the munitions of
war, though exactly how that will be
done has not yet been worked out
The presidents decision was reach
ed after many months of careful study
OF the arms problem and while in the
first instance the belief of the admin
istration was that the denial of arms
was a humane act, the conviction has
grown upon the Washington govern
ment that its policy has operated in
equally toward the warning factions.
Partially instead of neutrality was
the result Of the policy. in the opinion
of the president and his cabinet who
finally determined that the real neu-
trail course was to put both factions
on an even footing. The administra.
ton also believed that to permit the
situation to drift along would be con-
tributing to an incessant struggle with
additional bloodshed. 1t has beer
urged by many administration sup.
porters that the removal of the EN-.
barge would in reality shorten the
and bring If a nllicx
clusion, thus decreasing bloodshed.
Rebels at a Disadvantage.
Officials here. who have been fr
constant touch with the Mexican cam
paigns, say the constitutionalis
forces have been at a great disadvan-
tage because of the superior artillery
of the Huerta army. From France
and other European countries thu
Huerta government Is said to have
been importing eighty millimeter can
non. of powerful type. for the defens,
of the large cities, through the opei
ports Of the Atlantic and Pacific Still
under their control. The constitu
tionalists. while plentifully supple,
with small arms and ammunition 70
their rapid fire guns. have been al
most entirely without heavy artillery
They even have been put to tn
straits of manufacturing guns out o
other machinery in the railroad ma
chine shops OF Chihuahua an,
Durango.
Superior artillery has enabled tn
Huerta forces to hold the large cite
of the south, Torreon. Tampico
Monterey, Saltillo. San Luis Potosi an
others. against which Villa with
rebel army estimated at $4,000 mer
now Is prepared to move as the frs
step in a campaign against Mexic
City.
livery administra tion official VIII
was let into the confidence of the fey
who knew of the impending step. too
pains to emphasize that Washingto
was not raising the embargo to al
the constitutionalists nor as any evl
dence of sympathy with their cause
but merely to correct an inequality 1
the warfare which has been brough
about by the operation of the procla
nation Of 1912 and which Presfder
wilson and his advisers hope viii cor