The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-04-17
.HUERTA WILL SALUTE
FLAG AS APOLOGY
Uncle Sam to Accept the Fir
ing of Mexican Guns.
ENDS A SERIOUS CRISIS.
Admiral Mayo's Demand Will be
Complied With, if Courtesy
is Returned

Stars and Stripes as an apology for
the arrest of American bluejackets ut
Tampico a week ago today. The
Huerta Governments's salute to the
American flag will be answered with
a salute to the tri-color of the Mexi-
can Nation.
This arrangement, the details Of
which were being finally arranged to.
night in an exchange OF official Ires-
sages between Washington and Mexi-
co City, ended, in the view Of all
high Administration officials the
crisis that had resulted in the dis
patch of American war fleets to Mexi-
can waters. Executive officers and
Congressman breathed a sigh Of re-
lief that the tension had passed.
NO TIME SET FOR SALUTE.
No time has been set for the firing
of the salute and until the details are
arranged, no further orders will be
sent to the American fleets now pro-
ceeding South. 1t is practically GER
tain, however, that while many of
the vessels will be turned back others
will continue South and a substanti-
ally increased naval force will be
maintained in Mexican waters.
Huerta's offer and request for a
return salute, caused President VIII
son to ask for an opinion from the
counsellor of the State Department
and Navy Department officials. All
reported that it was the invariable
custom in naval pratice to return a
salute and cited precedents. Tho
President also was informed that
Rear Admiral Mayo, on making his
original demand for a salute, agreed
to return the courtesy.
Mr.. Wilson said a return of the
salute under such circumstances did
fpot involve recognition OF the !Iuerta
Government hut vas merely al at
OF the same character as grasping the
hand of an individual who was
apologizlng as he extended it, Secre-
tary Bryan, too took the view that
the A lerican salute would be given
to the flag OF the Mexican Nation,
just as much respected by the Consti-
tutionalist as the Huerta Government
and no technical recognition was in
volved.
RETURNING THE COURTESY.
Precedents in which the United
States returns the salute Of other
Nations who apoloyized to it, were
cited at the White House and Navy
Department and 1t was generally
agreed in executive quarters that
General Huertas compliance with the
American demand had dissipated n
tense situation. No orders to the
American fleet to change its course
will be given until the final details OF
the salute have been arranged
In less than 48 hours after Presi-
dent Wilson had ordered the Atlantic
and Pacific fleets to Mexican waters,
and had informed General Huerta
that unless :, salute was fired to
atone for repeated offenses against
the dignity of the United States
there would be serious consequences,
the answer came-a complete ac-
ceptance of the demand Of the Wash
ington government.
Immediately there was a change
in the atmosphere of official Wash
ington. AS the storm clouds lifted
and a wave OF satisfaction spread
through official quarters, President
Wilson arranged to go to White Sui
phur Springs, w. Va, for the week
end and Secretary Bryan, who is i'll,
planned to take his long delayed
trip to Miami, Fla. Attention that
had been temporarily diverted from
the legislative program turned again
to congressional routine.
The numerous happenings which
led to the aggressive stand OF the
American government, the strong
pressure brought to bear at Mexico
City by Charge O'Shaughnessy and
the diplomatic representatives OF 9th
er governments, backed by advices
from the French and German am
bassadors at Washington, who learn
ed from the state department the
serious intentions Of the Washington
government all had brought about a
grave international CRISIS.