Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-12-16
President and Cabinet Decide
to Back Up Governor of
Canal Zone in Efforts to
Preserve Neutrality,
LACK OF INFORMATION
is EXCUSE FOR DELAY
Number Of Vessels 10 Be Sent
South Not Made Public
Land Forces May Be Used
Il Found Necessary,

inf MORNING touRstL SPECIAL lttsgo wlnrl
Washington. Dec. i5.-Presldcnt
Wilson and his cabinet decided today
to send American warships to the
Canal Zone to guard against violations
Of neutrality there by hellgcrent
ships.
just how many ships and whether
destroyers or cruisers or battleships
shall he dispatched viii he determine
ed after full report has been re-
ceived from Colonel Goethals. milf
tary governor of the Canal Zone and
Captain Rodma. naval officer at the
canal
Both Secretary Garrison and Score
tary Daniels made it clear today that
the delay in acting on the request Of
Colonel Goethals for two destroyers
was due to lack of information. Mr..
Garrison explained that the colonel
had sent two messages, one asking
for the destroyers without specifying
the purpose of their use. In reply to
a message OF inquiry on the latter
point, Colonel Goethals explained
that the wireless regulations were be-
ing violated in canal waters and re-
ferred TO the misuse of the Canal
Zone as n base of supplies
Specific News Lacking.
The war department again asked
for specific instances Of what had
occurred but tonight no further in
formation had been received. on a
full explanation of conditions IN the
Canal Zone, depends exactly what ac-
ton will be taken and under what
departmental jurisdiction.
II the Canal Zone is being used as
a base Of supplies, Colonel Goethals
VIII be instructed TO use his land
forces to prevent such violations.
Should it develop that the wireless is
being used within territorial waters,
the navy department win ask for an
explanation from its naval officers, as
the question of wireless regulation
was placed by executive order OF
President Wilson on August 8 in the
hands of the navy department for
enforcement and Colonel Goethals.
according to the war department Of
ficials, has no authority over the ra-
dIo situation whatsoever
Whatever is necessary TO be
done" said Secretary Daniels tonight
ito carry out the executive order of
the president with reference to the
radio communication, Will be done. A
telegram from the radio officer at
the Canal Zone shows that he is on
the job. He says: For communication
with British cruisers from west
coast, | have dismantled radio Of one
British collier, at Balboa, Canal
Zone
"Destroyers or other ships will be
sent to the Canal Zone at any mo-
ment when needed to prevent the use
of radio for any unncutral act by
ships of any belligerent nation"
British Make Explanations.
The probability is that some Of the
cruisers now on the west coast OF
Mexico viii be sent to the zone in
stead of destroyers.
At the British embassy Il was sug-
gestcd that the British colllers which
are alleged to have been using their
wireless Witlitt tiiS ttilitpitoi ""''i =
Of the Canal Zone, may not have re-
ceived word of the canal regulations
on this point, as these reached Lon
don only yesterday. British officials
state that Great Britain has no OBJ
lection whatsoever to the enforce
ment by the United States OF the
wireless regulations which the lat
ter has proclaimed and has been in
sympathy with the censorship idea
from the outbreak of the war. II was
pointed out by high officials OF the
Washington government in this con-
nection that beliigerent warships ar
ter being given due warning probably
would not use their radio apparatus
Within the thrce-mile limit as II Is as
easy for them TO move out a fAv miles
IN the high seas where there is no
prohibition.