Evening star., 1914-04-23
TENSE SITUATION
IN DEPARTMENTS
Chiefs of War Preparations
Are VisibIy Worried by
the Strain.

Broken rest, coupled with the reports
Of trouble in Mexico of the last few days,
and the heavy responsibilities imposed
upon them by the first steps in the move
ment on the Dictator Huerta. already are
beginning to tell on the officials whose
duty requires them to stand a watch in
the ship of state as it glides through the
impending storm.
OutwardIy the officials are calm, but
their countenances plainly show the
strain under which they are laboring. 1t
is a conservation of strength which they
must work out Secretary Bryan this
men. plainly showed that he had passed
through trying conditions through the
night and that lie had only a few winks
of sleep.
Each day increases the tenseness of the
situation here, and the constant watch
is maintained in all offices in the State,
War and Navy Departments which have
TO do with the movements of vessels and
troops. The heads of the Departments
when not at their desks going over dis
patches regarding the situation at the
front. are at the White House comforting
with the President.
Army Expectant.
so far the army has not broken into
the engagement. but at the War Depart
ment every line is strained and there
needs be only slight touch on the taut
ropes to break them and start the move
ment of the land forces.
Until there is a movement toward
the front of the provisional division
now encamped around Texas City
there probably will not be any call
for the militia. but while there is de-
nal by officials at the department that
any step yet has been made looking to
the concentration of the citizen soldiery,
there is a feeling of certainty that the
State organizations will be called for duty
along the border, at least.
The statement that the militia division
is taking no steps to ascertain what part
of the militia will answer the call is not
taken to mean much here. as it is GER
tainty that this division is we'll posted as
70 what may be expected, and needs only
lie word from the President to start
the orders going for concentration of the
Itional Guard at various points in the
"untry to await orders
Problems for the Navy.
'h- navy this morning is principally
ASaged in moving or preparing to move
iditional forces to the seat of opera
lions. Landed in Mexico are $500 ma
rines and with reserve of LEO on the
suips. The movement of this latter num-
per from the ships to the land it was
sxplained by Secretary Daniels this morn
nS. will not even mean the stripping
Of the ships. With the arrival of the
Mississippi tonight the marine forces will
0e increased to a grand total of $500
men ashore and af1oat.
This is entirely exclusive of the sailors
The Moro Castle is scheduled to leave
Philadelphia today with 500 additional
marines.
Secretary Daniels this morning rushed
a message to the New York navy yard
asking for detailed information as to what
IS needed to complete the equipment Of the
big ships New York and Texas recently
commissioned. and just how long it will
take to start them for the front. The
presence of these two largest ships in
the American navy in Mexican waters
off Vera Cruz, with their big fourteen
inch guns. could sweep the country for
miles around. and could cover easily the
advance of the American forces up the
railroad on the way to Mexico City
Whether these big ships will be ordered
Secretary Daniels did not say. but infer
as the necessary equipment is aboard.
Movements Simplifed.
The officials are pleased with the in
formation that Rear Admiral Badger
at Vera Cruz, commander-in-c chief of
the Atlantic fleet. and Rear Admiral
Mayo at Tampcio are in direct and con-
stant touch by means of the wireless.
This will simplify movements, and will
enable Admiral Badger to rush ships
TO Tampico in the event that any Ec-
tion on the part of Mexicans there re-
quires it
Offers also are coming to the Navy
Department from shipowners the world
over of vessels to the United States
government, and the Secretary antici-
pates there will be little trouble in OBJ
taining additional ships in the event they