The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-25
Taken From Train While Trv.
ing to Escape From Mexico.
Railroad Employees Are Made
Prisoners at OriZaba.
WASHINGTON IS AROUSED
Aggressive Action May Not Be
Much Longer Delayed.
Plans for an Advance on the
Capital Considered.
VERA CRUZ BASE OF OPERATION
Army of 10000 to 10000 Men
Ready for Action.
Appeals for Troops Come In
From the Border States.

Washington, April 25.-In an off,
cial report from Consul Canada at
Vera Cruz the state department was
informed today that several Americans
were placed under arrest in Mexico
City after being taken from the refugee
train that carried Charge O'Shaugh-
Messy and his party to Vera Cruz. j.
starr Hunt and his family were among
those arrested. Burton Wilson was
taken from the train at the first sta
ton out of Mexico City.
Washington. April 25.-Secretary
Daniels has instructed Admiral
Badger at Vera Cruz to issue a proc
lamation informing all Mexicans in
that vicinity that they are free to
come and go as they please. This it
was hoped, would induce General
Huerta to permit Americans to leave
Mexico City, where they have been
detained in consequence OF the report
that the Mexicans were not permitted
to leave Vera Cruz.
Washington, April 25.-Unconfirm-
ed rumors Of the killing Of Americans
by mobs of Mexico City. the arrest OF
American railroad employees at ORR
zaba and Information forwarded to
Washington that American military
authorities at Vera Cruz considered
the situation at Mexico CITY ana
throughout the Mexican republic a
grave one for Americans there.
aroused activity of the Washington
government today.
While the authorities were exertlng
every possible effort to get verifica-
ton of the disquieting reports from
the Mexican capital. Secretary OF state
Bryan conferred with the Brazilian
ambassador here. Mr. Da Cana, over
the arrest of Americans at Orizaba,
and informed him that he had request
ed the Brazilian diplomatic representa-
tives in Mexico City to seek the re-
lease of the prisoners. Ambassador
Da Cana urged the Brazilian minister
in Mexico City to do all he could for
1.-the release of the Americans.
Officials here were much exercised
over the reported ASSASSINATION OF
Americans in Mexico City. Serious
eventualities there. it 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 iurtner
emphasized however, that mob vto-
lence could not be construed as any de-
libarate act of General Huerta. and
that it could be claimed by his govern
ment that it was powerless to controi
the situation owing to the anti-Amerl.
can feeling aroused by the seizure or
Vera Cruz.
No New Orders Issued.
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 Car
rison, General Wotherspoon. chief of
staff and Major General Wood. who
has been chosen to direct the military
operations in cooperation with Secre
tary of the Navy Daniels. After long
conference of the department officials,
early In the day, Secretary Garrison
declared that the troops en- route to
Vera Cruz to reinforce the naval forces
there were being sent there "for duty"
What form this duty would take or
how extensive or aggressive the opera
ton of the troops would be the secre-
tary would not say.
1t was declared that there had been
no change in the policy of the govern
ment to "sit tight" at Vera Cruz, un-
less retaliatory tactics should be re-
sorted to by General Huerta or some
overt action on the part of the consti-
tutionalists should demand a forward
movement into Mexico.
Neutrality on the part of the consti-
tutionalists. it was believed. would be
observed.
Vera Cruz the Base.
Should war be forced upon this
government. 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 OBJ
1ective point of the American forces.
The movement, it was generally be-
leved 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 interior, in
order to protect life and property, it
Is said the war department is ready
to send in an army of 10000 to 10000
men, and to increase the forces to
great degree along the Mexican bor-
der.
= Today there were appeals for more.
At,roops from border states and the war
y department officials while considering
plans for cooperation with the militia
IN those states, also were working cut
plans for calling into the service the
militia of various states, under the
terms of the volunteer army bill just
Passed. The war department through
out the day was humming with ex-
element, although no new orders
We're issued. Reports that General
Wood already had been ordered to
vera Cruz were emphatically denied.
Reports of dissension in the cabinet
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