Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-18

u S. Navy Actively Preparing For Eventualities

iTt>Hcht Wouiu lay the SITUATION Dlorr
Congress. Official business was unin-
terruptcd ut the White House. callers
being turned away with the statement
that grave business was being con
sidcrcd.
Ii was o'clock Saturday before the
uliimatum to Huerta had been put into
cipher and dispatched from Washington.
Meanwhile aides mt the Navy depart
mcnt were in secret conference. comp.et-
Y ing plans for the movement Of warships
and marines. Rear Admiral Victor Blue.
acting Secretary Of the Navy. forwarded
10 Rear Admiral Badger. on the flag
ship Arkansas nj the head of the fleet
speeding 10 Mexico the text Of President
Wilson's statement giving Huerta until
q p. M. Sunday. II was also forwarded
10 Rear Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz.
who will communicate il To Rear Adj
miral Mayo al Tampico. Rear Admiral
Howard, commanding the squadron in
Pacific Mexican waters. also was mott
fled. The Fourth marines regiment. on
the Pacific Coast. was ordered south
ward. The armorcd cruiser South Da.
kato with 2G0 marines was dispatched
from Brcmerton. Wash. 10 Mare Island.
san Francisco. where the remaining GOO
marines will be- divided with the collier
Jupiter. then the two craft will steam
Ia San Diego 10 await further oredrS.
Various Steps not considered under
international law as constituting "A dee
laration of war have been discus scl.
ANY of these. of course. may be- construed
by llucrta as cause for war. and
change the status Of affairs. but prec-
edent shows many u ease in which a
peaceful blockade was declared. shutting
off one nation from commercial inter
course with another. or the seizure of "A
customs house and the declaration of
duties without involving either nation
in war.
The peaceful blockade has not been
looked on by President Wilson a. a very
effective measure because precedent has
not determined definitely whether n ma
iion has the right To cut off the offend
ing party from all commerce. II il ad.
mitted the United States could shut off
Mexico from all commerce with The Uni
ted States. but foreign vessels also could
he prevented from engaging in commerce
with Mexico without a declaration Of
war il n disputed point.
Ii is apparent the President has in
mond other forms Of 'reprisal" term
in International law defined rs "a means
of putting stress on wrongdoing state
by something short of war" Landing of
marines and even the bombardment Of
the town have been held as measures
short of war;
In 1895. the British fleet sent force
ashore at Corinto. Nicaragua seized n
customs house and held il for fifteen
days until m indemnity was agreed on
for indignities to 4 British vice consul.
All officials were agreed that il IIuer-
Ia did not yield Tampico AMI Vera Cruz
probably would be occupied and held un-
i'll reparation was made in the form Of
a salute as demanded by Rear Admiral
Mayo. on April ..
The demand at that time called for
the hosting of an American flag on
shore. but Rear Admiral Mayo has no
titled the Mexican commander that he
would not insist on that point as long
a. the salute was fired To IN American
flag FLYING from the mast of the Dol
phin. 1t is believed the purpose of this
j. not 10 provoke any unnecessary demon
stration against foreigners in Tampico,
While predictions as TO what would hap
pen were numerous. some officials high
in the councils Of the administration he
lievcd IIuerta would not yield. but would
force the United States 10 land marines
or occupy coast towns.
With the act of American aggression
completed. these officials believe Huerta
will attempt TO appeal to the patriotism
Of all factions in Mexico to repeal tht
invaders.