The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-04-14
Upon Probable Action De. bends Immediate Develop
 ments in Mexico
LIND CONFERS WJy.Ess
 SECRETARY IAN
Special Envoy Uncommunicative. But Acting as Military Advisor-Lull in Diplomatic Side of
 Problem Expected

1 Washington, April 13.-Upon wheth-
 CT the commander of the Huerta forces
 at Tampico saIutes the American flag
 in apology for the arrest of American
 diate developments In the Mexican sit-
 nation.
 President Wilson declared unofficial I ly today that he expected the federal commander at Tampico to fire a salute l to the stars and stripes as demanded by Rear Admiral Mayo, and he spoke with
 confidence that implied insistence The navy department still was unad- vised tonight as to whether or not the salute had been fired. It is understood that instructions have been sent to Charge OShaughnessy to represent to the Huerta government the feeling of the administration here over the affront but there has been no announcement on the subject. The presence in Washington of John Lind, President Wilson's personal rep resentative in Mexico for the last eight months, gave the Washington govern
 
 of the military situation at Tampico MT. Lind reached here from Vera Cruz
 aboard the presidential watch Mayfowcr early today and spent several hours with Secretary Bryan. Tomorrow he will see President Wilson. accompanied by Secretary Bryan for an hour just before l the cabinet meeting. Authoritatively it Is said that MT. Lind's reports on the general situation was so comprehensive and complete that he really did not have to come to Washington to supplement them.
 Lind Unc0mmunicative Mir. Lind himself was uncommunica- tive, saying merely he had sought 8 va cation and was at the orders of the gov ernment While he has kept the Presi dent and Secretary Bryan informed con- stantly about developments, his pres ence here at this time is considered opportune, should any unusual situa ton arise out of the demand for a salute
 at Tampico.
 Direct communication between Tam pico and the able end at Vera Cruz which Is the only means whereby news
 
 reach Washington, can only be had by wireless. and owing to the prevalence of storms of hurricane proportions this communication has been exceedingly difficult and slow. The Huerta govern ment itself, it is understood, has been obliged to communicate with Tampico by messages sent on steamboats, and it is suggested by naval officers that if it becomes necessary for General Huerta to send instructions to the fed eral commander at Tampico in very limited time he might have to resort to the use of the radio outfits of the American battleships, even in dealing with a subject so delicate as the de- mand for a salute.
 Hope for Salute
 Administration officials are hoping thatl the salute will be fired and the incident closed Their optimism is such that Sec retary Bryan, who has been in i'll health, is planning to go tomorrow to Miami, Fla, for a rest. while President Wilson will leave here again on Thursday nigEt for White Sulphur Springs, w. Va, to
 bring Mrs. Wilson back to Washington.
 MT. Lind is understood to have told
 Secretary Bryan that there would be lull in the diplomatic side of the Mexican
 situation while the contending forces Tn
 the north fought for supremacy. The
 former Minnesota governor took the op-
 portunity to come to the United States
 while there seemed to him to be little
 prospect of the Huerta govetnment yield
 ing. He is known to believe that only the conquering armies of the constitutionaiists can force General Huerta to retire at present. The defeat at Torreon of the
 federal forces Is unknown as yet through out the greater part of the territory con
 trolled by the Huerta government, and rigorous censorship both within Mexico