Evening star., 1914-04-24
Operations in Mexico Receive
Attention Despite Hope
of Settlement.
WARSHIPS AND TROOPS
SPEED TOWARD MEXICO
Force of More Than 10000 Men
Soon to Be at Vera Cruz
Ready for Any Act.


visers today proceeded with their
plans for operations in Mexico, de-
spite feeling that war may even
yet be averted.
The question of right of the
government to order the state
militia of the country into service
was submitted to the United
States Supreme Court that there
might be no delay if need for these
troops arose.
The volunteer, army bill was
passed by the Senate with the
same idea in view, and is now
ready for the Presidents sigma
ture to make it law.
Ships and Troops for Mexico.
The day found every available Ameri-
can warship plowing southwark for the
Mexican coasts on both the Atlantic and
Pacific, and a brigade of the 1st Army
weston for Vera Cruz.
This army force would place more than
10000 American troops in the Mexican
seaport, to hold the city or begin Of
fenstve operations toward Mexico city,
with Vera Cruz as base.
Secretary Daniels issued orders today
for the assembly of $50 marines from At
lantic stations at New York to join the
forces of the battleship New York when
she sails for Mexico either Sunday or
Monday. Orders also were issued for
the assembly of a like number of marines
Virginia when she sails for the Mexican
Pacific coast.
Could Repu1se Any Attack.
BY tomorrow. Admiral Badger will have
$500 marines and bluejackets ashore at
Vera Cruz, sufficient, he says, .tosfepulse7
any effort that may be made by the
Mexican forces under Gen. Mas, now at
Soledad. thirty-six miles away.
The transports conveyed by the first
torpedo boat division, were expected to
get away late today or tonight.
The whereabouts of Nelson O'Shaugh-
messy. the American charge, who last
night informed the State Department that
he was leaving Mexico City with his pass
ports, is now a matter Of some specula-
ton.
He had announced his intention of
going to Vera Cruz by railroad. but pri-
vate dispatches today reported him on
his way to Manzanillo on the Pacific
coast
The department was unable to Sc
cure any information later than Mr..
O'Shaughnessy's announced intention
of leaving by way of Vera Cruz.
The situation on the northern border
of Mexico was carefully studied by the
War Department.
Aid on Border Welcomed.
Cooperation in Mexican border patrol
operations, 1t was made known here to-
day. will be welcomed by the War De-
partment, provided the work can be as
signed to state and federal troops in a
manner that will avert any conflict of
authority.
If Gov. Co1quitt's state troops can be
placed in exclusive charge of certain
designated portions of the border, the
War Department, 1t is declared, would
and gladly accept the aid of state
forces.
No plans for further aggressive move
ments about Vera Cruz were made to-
day. The President in talking over the
situation with callers. said that for the
present no general campaign outside of
Vera Cruz planned. and that no
further campaign would be begun un-
less Gen. Huerta declared war or sought
reprisal for the seizure of the city.
Officers at the War Department are
visibly concerned over reports that Mexi-
can soldiers have completed plans to de-
stroy the important bridges over the Rio
Grande at Laredo and Ell Paso. Tex.
Gen. Bliss has made a telegraphic report
to the chief Of staff on the subject. show
ing the action taken by him for the pro-
lection of those bridges to the extreme
limit of the international boundary.
thority to take entire charge of both
bridges to include the approaches on
the Mexican side of the river. as the
only absolute means of assuring their
protection from attack. AS such ac-
tion would really involve entrance on
Mexican territory with possible inter-
national entanglements. the authorities
naturally hesitate to give such author
ity. The question was considered at
today's cabinet meeting. 1t Is said, but
with what result was not disclosed.
Rumor Denied by Diplomats.
Diplomatic officials here today denied
reports that Thomas B. Hohler, charge
Of the British embassy at Mexico City,
had been sent to confer with Admiral
Fletcher at Vera Cruz with a view to
opening diplomatic negotiations for a So
luton of the Mexican difficulty.
1t was stated on high authority here
that Mr. Hohler had been sent to Vera
Cruz to look after the interests of Brit
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