The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-20
AEROPLANE CORPS
tco.tia.sa Prom Pirss P.rs.,

toonan1sd From rfrst R>Gs.)
stroyers are in reserve. no n In nrob-
able only IL will sail
Secretary Bryan had planned 10 70
10 church at IL O'Clock but as the
cable messages began 20 come in he
changed his plans and went to the
,o,ned qheps Idnn There he was
personal Representative IN Mexico
ana the two went together to the prf-
vate telegraph office OF the state de-
partment to consult with n difficult
piece OF deciphering in the latest
Rotary and Governor Lind Joined See
Rotary Tumulty at the White House
ana the latest exchanges were furth-
er gone over in detail.
Later IL became known that the
messages showed that Huerta was not
raising objections to the salute itself.
but as TO the details under which the
salute would be returned The main
condition was that the United States
agree In writing that the salute be
flred. instead OF relying on the as
surance given by Admiral Mayo for
return salute. This was construed
by officials as a willy and adroit move
on Huerta's part to obtain an assur-
ance from the American government
which would be capable of being con
s.rueu oy MIN as a recognition of the
I I.
Must Be "Yes" or "No.,
There was no disposition on the
part OF the officials here to give any
such assurances, or to prolong the
discussion as TO details. They were
determined. after consulting with
President Wilson. 10 hold to the one
concrete question OF Huerta's yield
ing 10 the American demand as II
bad been submitted. The reply to
Huerta made clear to him that "a
Yes" or no" to the American de-
mand was all that remained for him.
and that nothing was to be done
which would bear the construction of
recognition of the Huerta regime.
In the meantime tentative plans
were being made for the legislative
procedure which tomorrow NAV place
the full naval and military establish
ment in the hands OF the president
Tor active war measures against the
de facto government in Mexico. The
scope or the authority to be confer
red upon the president and the means
10 be placed in his hands for exer-
ting that authority will depend upon
the Presidents desires.
General Board In Session.
Scenes about the State and Navy
Departments during the day were rem.
iniscent OF the days Immediately pre-
ceding the Spanish-American War.
The telegraph rooms were fairly
manned. and over IN the naval annex
building the general board was in Sc.
cret session a good part of the day
Headed by Admiral Dewey. there were
| gathered around the long table Rear
! Admirals Switzerland and Fiske and
4 Captains Winterhalter. the aide for
material: Knapp. Hood. Shoemaker
and Oliver. director of naval intelli-
genee. and COMMANDER Campbell, sec
| rotary OF the board.
The board was engaged in going
over the latest dispatches received
4 by wireless from Rear Admiral Bad.
| ger, on the Arkansas. now in the
Florida Straits: Rear Admiral fetch
CT, at Vera Cruz. and Rear Admiral
/ Mayo. at Tampico.
Never was there a more vivid illus
tration OF the march of scientific in
vention as applied TO warfare than
the facility with which these ranking
admirals and captains engaged in plot
ting out the strategy OF a possible
war, were able TO keep in touch with
the Developments at every point
where an American warship Is lying
Some OF the men engaged in this task
had fresh In mind the painful expert
ences of the old naval strategy board.
which. in the spring OF 1898. is years
ago. were despsiringly trying 10 get
IN touch with Sampson and Schley.
commanding the two fleets which. ex-
| cepting Dewey's own Philippine
squadron, represented all of the
American naval strength of that day.
The cable still r. being much used
in these days. but after all the main
reliance OF the navy department for
communication between It's shore sta
tons and the men-of-war now scat.
tered along both coasts OF Mexico are
the tall towers at Key West and
Guantanamo and Arlington and the
antennao strung like spider webs be-
I NJ aEf
Plans Perfect.
So perfect we're the plans that had
been laid ont and reduced TO form
months ago By the student OF the
naval war college covering possible
operations Of the navy AGAINST Mex
! leo that there was very little for the
general board TO DO beyond keeping
them up 10 the moment In matters
OF detail 20 correspond 10 each days
Developments because Of the almost
nOn-eNistcnce Of a Mexican navy. the
conditions which the American sail.
ors may meet are quite unlike those
covered IN the plans OF campaign pre-
pared for other countries.
Generally the Mexican plan covers
elementary problems such a. the H.
multaneOua establishment % n eli
Client blockade which the rather ex.
tensive coast line ~ Mexico would
make no small task Next IN order
comes the seizure Of certain ports
and this II whore the painstaking and
exhaustive drills OF the marine rsgf-
rnents last fall and winter are ex-
pected 20 find their application. The
whole modern American theory Of al
vance base operations. with the
marines ~ an active force. was
planned 20 meet Just such emegencies
az the rapid seizure Of a port IN a hos.
TIE country 20 form a base 20 be held
Tor the arrival OF en- army occupation
About the only other feature OF the
naval activity ln The beginning Of hos
dispatch iniard 81 an expeditionary
force 20 hold sonc % the important
Strategic points such AZ the great tree
lie on the Vera Cruz Mexico City rail-
road supposed 10 bo the key 10 tho
possoesion of that road. And with tho