The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-09-18
AMERICAN TROOPS
ORDERED TO EvACUATE
Wilson Decides to Withdraw
Force From Vera Cruz.
WILL LEAVE PORT AT ONCE
Transports Ordered to Proceed To
Mexico to Remove the Garri-
son to America.

under General Funston who have
held MeNiCo's principal seaport since
it was seized by the fleet April II
last will embark for home as soon aS
transports can go after them and
shortly afterward all OF the war fleet
except few light draft vessels will
be withdrawn.
The evacuation order was an
numced at the White House today
after a long Cabine, meeting. 1t is
tho concluding chapter Of the second
armed conflict between the United
States and Mexico, in which Il score
of Americans lost their lives, nearly
hundred were wounded and up
wards of 300 MeNiCaus were killed or
wounded
The reasons for the step were set
forth i'm the following statement
from the White House:
REASON FOR STEP.
"The troops have been ordered
withdrawn from Vera Cruz. This ac-
tion is taken in view of the entire
removal of the circumstances which
were thought TO Justify the occupa
tiOn. The further presence of the
troops is deemed unnecessary"
Specifically. the American forces
were withdrawn at the urgent appeal
of General CarranZa. first chief of
the Constitutionalist army. Through
Paul Fuller, personal representative
of President Wilson in Mexico, Cen
eral Carranza set forth that the
presence of American troops. instead
OF being a safeguard against further
revolution and peace with the United
States, constituted a constant menace
to friendly relations. The Mexican
chief COntended-and he was sup
ported by Generals villa and Obre-
gon-that the Mexican people would
not understand the continued pres
GnCe OF American troops on Mexican
soil and would cherish resentment.
no matter how we'll intentioned the
American government was.
Until today the Washington gov
ernment had not decided on any
fixed time for the withdrawal and
awaited negotiations with the new
government. At first the President
believed it desirable to keep Ameri-
can forces at Vera Cruz for salutary
effect, hoping a constitutional cleo
1iOn would be conducted fairly and
the troops brought back after a CON
stitutiOnally elected executive was i'm
power Carranza argued. however.
that no election coulG be free with
part Of Mexican territory controlled
by American forces.
The President discussed the sub
ject with his cabinet. some of whom,
it is understood, did not favor the
move 1t finally was the consensus
Of opinion that the main purpose of
the American expedition to Vera
IruZ-to punish the affront to the
flag at TampicO-har been achieved.
another circumstance which influence
ed the Presidents Judgment was the
approaching general convention Of
military chiefs, October / when a
provisional president will be desig-
mated General Car7anza wished to
be able to turn over the power to
successor with the country absolute
ly at peace with its northern neigh
bor
On the question of recognition, it
Is known the President and his ad.
Visers have reached no decision. The
conference on October l will desig-
nate provisional president, who will
undoubtedly be recognized if all fac
tions accept him. The United States,
as we'll as Argentina. Brazil and
Chile, will consider the popular ac-
ceptance of the provisional president
chosen at that conference as the full
fllment of the protocols signed at
the Niagara Falls mediation confer
ence.
President Wilson is confident a
stable government soon will restore
Mexico to its normal condition.
CUSTOMS IN CHARGE
Secretary Garrison today asked
Secretary Bryan to designate com
petent MeXicans to take over the
Vera Cruz custom house and the city
government. An inquiry on this
subject was sent to the Carranza
government by Secretary Bryan but
no answer has been received The
troops at Vera Cruz. including 200
soldiers and marines, are expected TO
begin their departure in about two
weeks. Orders were sent today to
at Newport News and Gal /
weston to proceed to vera Cruz. The
include the Sumner and
and the chartered boats
city of Denver and ChristobaI. Boats
for carrying horses and freight are
at Galveston.
Marines on duty at Vera Cruz will l
he sent back to warships and sta
tions from which they were taken.
and troops will be sent to Texas CITY. l
Formal orders for the withdrawal OF
ships in Mexican waters will nor be
issued for several days. These ships
include the battleships Virginia,
North Dakota, Arkansas, Delaware. n
Kansas. Vermont and New York. the 1
StOD That First Fall Couph II