The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-12-29
STORY OF YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONAL EVENTS
Most Momentous Twelve Months of Modern Times
Reviewed-Great European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

British fleet sailed under sealed orders Au-
gust 4, and a big naval battle in the
North sea was confidently expected by
the waiting world 1t soon became ap-
parent that Great Britain's purpose was
to deal fatal blow at German commerce,
| safeguard that of Belgium, France and it's
own and render the enemy's fleet inopera-
tive by holding it in the Baltic. A week
| later, the port authorities of New York
were notified that the Atlantic lines were
unrestricted, and a few days afterward
| the Pacific lines were pronounced "open
and safe" Sixty British war vessels
| guarded the exit of the KieI Canal and
prevented the thirty German battleships
anchored there from coming out Within
a rev days, more than thirty of the great
| German ocean liners were informed in
neutral waters and a number of German
merchant ships were captured or de-
| stroyed
BY the middle of November more than
four hundred war vessels and merchant
men on all sides had been captured or In
termed in neutral ports. The Emden in
the Pacific and the Karlsruhe in the
South Atlantic, two German raiders,
preyed successfully upon allied and neu-
trail commerce until the former was put
out. of action. During the past three
months the Germans have destroyed a
number of British cruisers by means of
torpedoes. In an action off the coast of
Chile, squadron of five German war
ships sank the Monmouth and Good Hope
with all on board. On October 27-al-
though it was not known to the public
for fortnight afterward-the British
super-dreadnaught Audacious was sunk
by a mine off the coast of Ireland. Short
ly afterward, the British admiralty de-
clared the North sea a closed military
area.
On December the German cruisers
Scharnhorst, Gneisau, Leipzig and Nuern-
| berg, under Admiral Won Spec were sunk
by British squadron under Vice-Admiral
Sir Frederick Sturdee, off the Falkland
Islands. The German cruiser Dresden es-
capped, badly damaged. December 16 a
German fleet bombarded the English coast
towns Of Hartlepool, Whitby and Scar
borough, killing $50 and wounding 300 citi-
zens and causing much property damage.
! Three British merchant vessels were sunk
by mines laid by the bombardng fleet
At the close of the year operations in
the west seem practically at a standstill.
December II the Germans reported VIC
tory in Poland.
AS result of the immediate paralysis
in the financial world due to the sudden
embodiment of the European nations,
Americans abroad were subjected to
great inconvenience and not a little actual
hardship. Much relief was afforded the
money for the purpose were raised all
over the country.
The American Red Cross sent the relief
ship Red Cross to European waters,
with a full equipment of physicians
nurses and supplies on September II.
Chaotic Conditions in Mexico.
Early in the year foreign nations began
to be critical of the administra tions
''hands-off" Mexican policy and to insist
that the job of pacifying Mexico belonged
logically to the United States Victo-
riano Huerta had held the provisional
presidency for year and boosted in his
cups that he would hold his office longer
than President Wilson would remain in
the White House. Meanwhile the bandit
chief Pancho Villa was steadily gaining
ground in the north. The fiercest battle
of the revolution, which was fought for
almost two weeks, ended in victory for
the rebel forces
There was an appalling loss of life in
this long continued fight, and more than
four thousand fugitives crossed the Rio
Grande and took refuge in American ter
ritory. Here they were cared for by the
United States authorities.
On February President Wilson re-
voked an order by his predecessor in of
fee to put a stop to the shipment of arms
and ammunition into Mexico by citizens
of the United States. On April A. Presi-
dent Wilson instructed Secretary Daniels
to assemble an imposing naval force at
Tampico, on the Mexican coast This
was due to the refusal of the Mexican
president and his military aids to salute
the American flag as an essential feature
of an apology for an unwarranted arrest
and Imprisonment of several American
bluejackets who had landed on Mexican
soil to obtain a supply of gasoline
Although the episode was the result of
a misunderstanding in which all the par
ties concerned shared about equally it
was manifest that Huerta was in no mood
to comply with any request of the Wash
ington authorities, however politely and
even delicately made. He refused to or
der the salute, and the naval demonstra-
ton followed.
Congress passed a resolution sustaining
the president in the position which he
had taken. On April q Admiral Fletcher
seized the custom house at Vera Cruz.
The MeXicans resisted the occupation of
the custom house and the result was
fight, in which 16 Americans were killed
and II wounded. General Mas, in com
mand of the garrison, withdrew and left
the Americans in possession.
Nelson OShaugnessy the American rep
resentative, was given his passports and
requested to leave the country Brig
Gen. Frederick Funston, commander of
| ready to enter on vigorous campaign.
Before hostilities were carried further
the diplomatic representatives at Wash
ington of Argentina, Brazil and Chile sent
in to the office of the department of state
a formal tender of their services as medi-
ators. President Wilson accepted the of
fer and both Huerta and Carranza ac-
copied the proffered mediation
The mediatory conference was held at
Niagara Falls, Canada, and opened on
May 20. On June Il the conference had
agreed upon plan accepted both by
President Wilson and Huerta. Then
deadlock arose over the choice for presi-
dent-the American delegates declined to
accept the name of any unconstitutional
list.
Meanwhile the constitutionalists were
making unmistakable advance toward the
capital Their success was so pronounced
that it was evident they would soon be in
control of the government
On July l the conference came to an
end without definite result and four DAYS
| later Huerta was reelected president by
his partisans. On July Is the dictator re-
signed the presidency and took passage
for Europe, leaving the executive author
| ity in the hands of a prominent citizen,
Francisco Carbajal.
The new president and Carranza could
not agree upon the surrender of the gov
eminent to the victorious constitutional
| list army, and on August 10 Carbajal re-
signed and the chamber of deputies dis
| solved. Five days later, the constitution
alist army entered the City of Mexico
| without opposition. venustiano Carranza
| Immediately took upon himself the Office
| less assault on Quebec, Gen. Richard
MOnfgomarv horn af Conuoy house