Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-04-25
Washington Stirred
b,Unconfrmed Reports
of Murder of American.

b,Unconfrmed Reports
: of Murder of Americans
/. wilmington, D. c.. April 25.-Un-
lconfmed rumors of the killing of
lAmticans by mobs in Mexico City, the
v arrtt of American railroad employees
lyeArday at Orizaba, and information
fofarded to Washington that Amer
lcA military authorities at Vera Cruz
ctsidered the situation at Mexico
Cy and throughout the Mexican re-
pblic a grave one for Americans
fere, aroused activity of the Wash
: ilgton government to-day.
d v While the authorities were exert
: hg every possible effort to get verifi-
citation of the disquietng reports from
ythe Mexican capital, Secretary OF Bry-
Jan conferred with the Brazilian am
bassador here, Mr.. Da Cana, over the
arrest of Americans at Orizaba and
informed him that he had requested
, the Brazilian diplomatic representa-
tive in Mexico City to seek the release
of the prisoners Ambassador Da
Cana urged the Brazilian minister In
Mexico City to do all he could for the
release of the Americans.
Might Aggravate Situation
officials here We're much exercised
over the reported assassination OF
Americans In Mexico City. Serious
eventualities there, 1t was pointed out
might aggravate the present situation
and serve to arouse sentiment among
the people that would demand more
aggressive action in Mexico on the
part of this government. 1t was fur
ther emphasized, however, that mob
violence could not be construed as any
deliberate act of General Huerta and
that 1t could be claimed by his gov
ernment that he was powerless to con-
troll the situation owing to anti-Amer-
lean feeling aroused by the seizure of
Vera Cruz.
Send Troops 'For Duty"
Although no new military orders
were issued by the War Department,
plans for perfecting the operations at
Vera Cruz and along the Mexican bor-
der were considered by Secretary Gar
rison, General Wotherspoon, chief of
staff, and Major General Wood, who
has been chosen to direct the military
operations, in cooperation with Sec
retary of the Navy Daniels. After a
long conference of the department
officials early in the day Secretary
Garrison declared that the troops en-
route to Vera Cruz to reinforce the
there "for duty What form this
duty would take or how extensive or
aggressive the operation of the troops
would be the secretary would not say.
1t was declared, however, that there
had been no change in the policy of
the government to ''sit tight" at Vera
Cruz, unless retaliatory tactics should
be resorted to by General Huerta or
some overt action on the part of the
Constitutionalists should demand, al
forward movement into Mexico. Neu-
trality on the part of the constitution
alists, officials believed would be OBJ
served.
Movement Extensive
Should war be forced upon this gov
ernment it was pointed out the base
of operations would be at Vera Cruz
and the plan would be to confine the
advance, if possible to the territory
controlled by Huerta with Mexico City
as the objective point of the American
forces. The movement, it was general
y believed, would be an extensive one.
Although it still is the determined
policy of the President to prevent
war, the army and navy are prepared
for any emergency and should the
word come to advance to the inter-
ior in order to protect life and prop
erty, it is said the War Department
is ready to send in any army of 20, 200
to 10000 men and to increase the
forces to great degree along the
Mexican border.
To-day there We're appeals for more
troops from border States and the War
Department officials, while consider
Ing plans for cooperating the milit .
those States also were working out
plans for calling into the service the
mil Of tot l,.N
terms of the volunteer army bill just
passed The War Department through
out the day was humming with excite
ment although no new orders were is
sued. Reports that General Wood al
ready had been ordered to Vera Cruz
were emphatically denied.
Bryan Rumor False
Reports of dissension in the cabi-
net over the policy being pursued in
the Mexican crisis also We're denied
and Secretary of State Bryan brand
ed all false rumors again circulated
that he would resign his post in the
event that was is declared.
Announcement to-day by the Span
ish ambassador, Mr.. Diano, that Mex
leo had turned its affairs in the United
States over to his government, came
as surprise to officials here, the gen.
eral expectation having been that
France would be asked to act on
Mexico's behalf Following reports
from Madrid yesterday that King AL
fonso was killing to act as mediator
In the differences between this govern
ment and Mexico, the selection of
Spain to look after the affairs of Mex
leo was regarded with significance
Although there have been several in
formal suggestions of diplomatic inter-
vention from various quarters, it is
declared at the State Department that
no formal offers had been made nor
were anV eXpected