The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-04-22
HAS A WEEK TO DECIDE
HUERTA CAN ACCEDE BEFORE
SHIPS REACH HIS COAST.
Only White House Announcement Is
That Flag Has Been Affronted and
O Salute is Satisfaction Demanded.

O Salute is Satisfaction Demanded.
The dispatch of the American war-
ships Tuesday created only mild ex-
citement at Washington. Newspapers
} busted themselves with sending spe-
! cial men and the navy department
| granted permission to twenty report
ers and photographers to accompany
,, the fleet on its cruise. It will be full
. ly week before the Atlantic feet is
assembled at Tampico, though the
ships are expected to be steaming
away now. Rear Admiral Badger
; will rank both Rear Admiral. Fletcher
J and Rear Admiral Mayo and will take
,,complete charge of the situation.
! While the ships are under way,
Gen. Huerta will have about week
in which to answer the American de-
mands. The crisis in the situation is
expected to come after Gen. Huerta
declines to yield by the time the At
lantic fleet arrives.
It was pointd out by some that the
United States might land marines and
seize Tampico to obtain satisfaction
for the incident, but this raised the
question Of whether or not an act Of
war would be involved. The Wash
ington administration has pronounc-
ed itself on the subject Of landing
marines or marching armed forces in
to Mexico as regarding such acts In
the nature of war, unless permission
is given by the government in control
Of the territory involved.
| Inasmuch as no government Is
recognized in Mexico, but a state Of
anarchy exists, the American govern
ment may establish its own prece-
dent in that case. This is not con-
sidered likely, that is, if marines &C
tually were landed and the American
flag taken ashore in satisfaction. for
the affront occasioned by the arrest
of the marines, any further measures
would be insisted on. Some officers
pointed out that the Huerta COM
mander might not resist the landing
Of American marines, inasmuch as he
is hemmed in on land by the Consti-
tutiona]ist forces. Should he consent
to q peaceful landing it is likely that
they soon would be withdrawn.
The American government has
landed marines in San Domingo and
Nicaragua, but has held that permis-
sion was granted in each case. In
Nicaragua American marines kept a
railroad from falling into the hands
of a rebellious force. Actual war or
intervention could not be undertaken
without authorization by the con-
gress, and even the landing Of ma
rines at times has raised a'question
in the Senate, though it has led to no
change in the attitude Of the execu-
tive branch of the government in con-
stituting itself as the Judge in such
cases.
Officials don't believe other foreign
governments will send ships to Mext-
co, in view of the American demon
stration, as the affair is regarded as
one solely between the United States
and the Huerta government and not
involving any other foreign govern
ment, though serious eyentualities
might cause European nations to seek
further protection for their nations.
Diplomats here took an active In
terest in the developments and
cabled their home governments the
news as it appeared during the day.
While the consensus Of opinion Of
those best informed was that so Sc
rious step as military Intervention
may not be required to force Hue1ta
to yield from his position on the ques-
ton of salute, they recognized Tues
days developments carried the sttua-
ton closer to real hostilities than It
ever has been during the three years
of turmoil in Mexico.
President Wilson and members OF
the cabinet went about their official
duties as usual The president was
calm and serene. He took a long
motor ride in the afternoon and re-
NAMED in his study Tuesday night.
Inquiries for further information
were pressed at the White House, but
the president said that there
was nothing further to announce
or explain, other than that the Amer1-
can flag had been affronted and that
demand for salute in satisfaction