The Oskaloosa herald., 1914-04-16
BIG WARSH|PS
Z 60 TO TAMPICO
Continued from Page ~

monstrated by his subordinates as a
series of, studied insults to the United
States. Officers and men were ar.
rested at Tampico and Vera Cruz and
official dispatches to Secretary
O'Shaughnessy were held up and only
delivered after he had made emphatic
demands upon Huerta himself. 1t
was learned from high official sources
today that the situation which culmn.
ated yesterday has been going on for
some time. ...-.
Four Battleships Sail. ..
Hampton Roads, April 15-Four
large battleships, the Arkansas, New
Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont.
and the gunboat Yankton, sailed for
Tampico, Mexico, from here at 1920
They will be on the high seas within
two hours and are expected to reach
Tampico Monday night or Tuesday
: morning. Rear Admiral Badgers COM
mand to start was given an hour or
more earlier and the ships maneuver.
ed into line before the formal start
was made. The ships We're we'll out
at the eastern end of the Roads be-
fore the travel line was established
Authorized to Use Force.
Washington, April Is. - Authority
for the president to use force in Mexi.
co without the formal declaration of
war was urged in the senate foreign
relations committee this afternoon by
Senator Lodge, ranking republican
member. He pointed out that it would
be practically impossible to declare
fnpt oslll " G,in DC,
nized government in Mexico against
which war could be declared
Salute Flag or Fight.
Washington, April 15.-Whether
there is to be war with Mexico de-
ponds upon Victoriano Huerta.
The great battleships of the Allan
tic feet were ordered to Tampico
bearing a demand from the United
States to salute the flag or fight"
81. This demand followed a prolonged
session of the cabinet, from which the
members emerged with the express
sions of jurors about to bring In
verdict of death.
Torreon holds the key to peace or
war. II Huerta sees there the pros
pect that he is about to overwhelm
Villa and subdue the Mexican rebel. |
lion he will yield to the United States
and salute the flag.
IL he believes that Villa is about
to march on Mexico City. Huerta will
defy the United States and ask Villa |
and Carranza to join him in uphold |
ing the honor Of Mexico. He would |
rather go down to destruction at the |
hands Of foreign power than be over |
whelmed by Villa and his rebel army |
U. s. Must Now Push Demand.
The demonstration is far more
grave than the sudden movement OF |
troops to the border under President |
Taft two years ago. The border
movement was designed to check |
possible uprising against foreigners
which might follow the downfall Of
Diaz.
The demand is based on no altcrna- !
tive but that Of peace or war. There ,
can be no withdrawal on the part Of |
the United States. There is no room
for compromise. The demand for the |
invasion of Mexico will follow.
Immediately following the announce
ment by Secretary Daniels that the |
entire Atlantic feet, under the com.
msnd Of Admiral Badger. was ordered
rushed to Tampico, Rear Admiral r.
A. Fiske. Secretary Daniels aid for
operations, was dispatched to Hamp
ton roads bearing sealed orders to Ad.
miral Badger.
Transports Ordered Provisioned.
Following the order to the navy de.
partment. Secretary OF War Garrison
telegraphed instructions to every quar-
termaster general in the United States
to provision and coal every army
transport and to see that naval col
liers were loaded.
The 1uartermasters also we're or
dered to obtain Information as to ths
number Of merchant ships that can be
made available on short notice in the
number Of fiat cars that can be used
for the quick transportation Of troops
Eleven thousand men, constituting
the fighting strength of the Second d.
vision of the United States army, will
today march from Galveston, Tex, to
engage in extensive endurance ma
neuvers from which officers will deter
mine whether the army is in condition
for actual service.
Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston will be
In personal command Of all marches,
battles, attacks and drills. Four regi-
ments will attack the city of Houston.
which will be defended by a like num- /
Der. The army will march $50 miles in i
Is days. The maneuvers we're ar
ranged in anticipation of hostilities in
Mexico.
The orders above referred to fol- |
lowed one another in rapid succession,
following the receipt Of a wireless dis
patch from Rear Admiral Mayo, stat
ing that the port authorities at Tam
pico had refused to FIRE the salute to
the American flag demanded by the
United States as an apology for the
wanton insult to the flag last Thurs.
day.
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