The Washington times., 1914-04-22

President Wilson was at his desk
early this morning. Already Re has as
suIned charge Of the situation as Com
mander-in-chief Of the land and naval
forces. All morning, with a calendar
practically cleared Of ordinary engage
| ments, he was reading dispatches and
comforting with the heads Of the War,
Navy, and State Departments, reading
dispatches. examining maps, and issuing
orders. His offices We're more like the
headquarters Of q field general. except
for the absence Of uniforms.
Secretary Bryan was the first to con-
fer with the President. He took with
him to the White House an armful Of
dispatches from consuls In various parts
Of Mexico and from Charge oshaugh-
messy in Mexico City, detailing the ef-
forts being made to get Americans out
of the country under safe conveys
The fate of these Americans Is the
one big serious uncertainty that con-
fronted the. Administration all day.
messy was received late yesterday. At
that time no anti-American demon
stration had been reported.
The hiatus since that dispatch
however. Is causing some alarm and.
City this morning that Charge
OShaughnessy had been assassinated.
Consul Canada at Vera Cruz was in
structed by wireless to get In touch
| with the United States embassy at
11:4o today Canada reported. in a
cablegram dated at 8 q. m. that he
| was endeavoring to do this but had
not yet succeeded.
Train Stin Missing.
At the same hour Consul Canada re-
ported that two sections Of q, train
which left Mexico City Monday night
carrying American refugees. reached
began yesterday morning, but that no
information could be obtained regard
ing the third section.
Following his conference with the
President, Secretary Bryan denied con-
6rmation of the report that O'Shaugh-
| messy had been handed his passports
by General Huerta, and that Senior
sought his from the State Department
This would be the first step in q for
NAL declaration Of war by Huerta, and
this. 1t Is believed, Is the step which
Huerta will shortly take.
In the meantime, II is believed that
the American forces will hold Vera
Cruz. while representations are made to
Huerta to capitulate to the demands Of
the United States. Failing this. the next
cry will be: ION to Mexico Cityr'
Secretary Daniels was the next to con-
fer with the President. He reported the
arrival Of Admiral Barger4s command at
Vera Cruz. and the orders which have
been sent out to occupy the entire city
and establish law and order Admiral
Fletcher Issued a proclamation this
morning to the people Of the seaport
surfing them that there was no intention
on the part Of the naval forces to dis
possess the regular civil authorities Of
the city. On the other hand. he did not
mince words in threatening severe pun
on American soldiers was continued by
frregulars.
Disposition of Forces.
Among the first reports reaching the
White House from Consul Canada was
one stating that Major Smedley Butler.
son Of Congressman Butler Of Penn
sylvania- about whom the Congressman
and his wife were extremely anxious
last night. is safe and IN command of
a portion Of the marines on short.
Another bulletin stated that total
of 5000 marines and bluejackets now
formed the American attacking fore
on shore. and these troops. under cover
Of the guns on the ships, were pro-
CSeQlnk 10 OCCupy tHC cIthc So"A. 49,
eral Mas, the Mexican commander.
ad the local authorities hal all ned, the
last seen Of Mas being that he had
driven away from town in one-horse
buggy.
At the present time the warships now
OF Vera Cruz are the Arkansas, Ad-
miral Badgers flagship, the Florida;
Utah. Fletcher's flagship: Vermont, New
HAMPSHIRE. New Jersey. South Carolina, !
battleships; the cruiser Prairie, from
which most Of the firing has been car |
ried on; and the collier Transport. The |
transport Hancock, from New Orleans, |
with $50 additional marines. was report |
ed as due shortly at Vera Cruz
Has But $4,000 Troops.
During the morning Capt Frank r.
Mccoy, Of the general staff of the army.
took to the White House war map
of Mexeco, Just completed, showing the
DISPOSITION Of all the Mexican forces in
Mexico under Huerta- 1t shows toral
strength of Mexican federals Of ~ Io1,
infantry, cavalry and artillery. their dis
tribution being as follows: Mexico City,
5000: Acapulco. 1900: Guanajuata-
1856: Guadalajara, 5000; Las Tilas,
1000; Mazatlan, 1000; Zacatecas,
5000; Victoria, 1900: Wales, 1,40o
Tampico, 5, 500; Vera Cruz, goo. Outside
of the City Of Mexico there are available
a. .