The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1914-04-16
.n- r.. WAR -.. =. =.
With MEXICO SEEMS NOT
IMPROBABLE, PRESIDENT WILSON
Takes Prompt Action.

The arrest of American marines at
Tampico on last Thursday and the fail
ure of the Huerta forces to salute the
Stars and Stripes upon the request of
Admiral Mayo. seems likely to precipi-
/ tate trouble between Mexico and this
country. President Wilson has backed
up the demands of Admiral Mayo by
rushing the entire Atlantic Squadron
to Mexican ports, showing conclusively
that while the President has heretofore
exercised a waiting policy towards
Mexico. he most assuredly does not in
tend to have this country's flag insulted
or her citizens imposed upon. No ulti-
matum have been issued or time fixed
In which Huerta is to salute the flag,
and the naval demonstration is merely
intended to show that the United Stat
es will brook no insults at the hands of
Huerta, and to use the words of high
naval authority, future developments
will depend upon Huerta HIMSELF
In the meantime the Navy Depart
ment sent complete instructions to
Rear Admiral Badger, commander-;n-
chief OF the Atlantic fleet, on board the
battleship Arkansas at Hampton Roads.
Rear Admiral Fiske, Chief of the Bu-
reau of Operations, left for the
roads tonight personally to explain to
Admiral Badger the diplomatic side of
the situation, and the dispatches from
Rear Admiral Mayo thus far received.
Indicating the exact ships which will
accompany Admiral Badger the Navy
Department issued the following:
Admiral Badger will take with him
the battleships Arkansas, Louisiana.
New Hampshire, Michigan. Vermont,
New Jersey and South Carolina. which
last ship has been intercepted on hel
way from Haiti to Hampton Roads.
The gunboat Tacoma. now at Bos.
ton, Mass. has been ordered also tc
Tampico by way of Newport r. l.. anC
will start to-day or tomorrow.
| The gunboat Nashville, now al
, Monte Christi, San Domingo. has been
, ordered to Guantanamo to coal anC
thence to Tampico.
, 1.-The Rhode Island. Nebraska, Vir.
ginia and Georgia are now docking: il
has not been decided yet whether they
, will join Admirals Badgers forces.
The transport Hancock will leave
. New Orleans for Tampico today with
the first regiment of the eXpedtionary
/ force of marines"
The foregoing ships are in addition
to the Utah, Connecticut, Minnesota,
Des Moines, Chester, Dolohin and San
Francisco, now at Tampico, and the
Florida and Prairie. now at Vera Cruz.
The torpedo boat fiotilla at Pensacola
Fla, has been ordered to stand by for
orders.
While the situation is acute, high
Government officials do not anticipate
critical development. but at the same
time everything is in readiness to cope
with whatever turn the situation NAV
take.
This incident has no connection what
ever with the attitude of this country
toward the troubles between the rival
forces in Mexico, which will be allowed
to proceed as here tofore. The situa-
ton dealing wholly and solely with the
incident of the arresting of American
marines and the refusal to comply with
Admiral Mayo's demand that they
salute the flag.
The incident which brought about the
trouble as summed up by Cabinet Of
ticers from information elected from
messages from Admiral Mavo and
Charge o Shaughnessy, is as follows:-
Assistant Paymaster Charles C..
Copp and boatload of marines landed
at Tampico last Thursday to obtain sup
plies. They were arrested. but later
discharged. In accordance with
regulation in all navies of the world,
Rear Admiral Mayo, on considering
that an unwarranted arrest had been
made and that the uniform of the
American navy had been disregarded,
demanded PREPARATION in the form of a
salute of twenty-one guns. The
American flag, while not taken ashore,
was flying at the stern of the whale
boat and all the marines were in uni
form.
Rear Admiral Mayo allowed the
Huerta commander until o'clock that
evening to fire a salute, but later ex-
tended the time in order to afford the
local commander an opportunity to com
municate with his superior officers In
Mexico City. A statement CT apology
was issued in Mexico City by Gen.
Huerta and the local officer who ar
rested the marines was ordered punish
ed. This did not satisfy the United
States Government and the salute was
insisted upon.
''Gen. Huerta himself at no time
agreed to comply, but an Under
Secretary in the Mexican Foreign Of
flee did inquire of Change O'Shaugh-
messy if salute fired to the gunboat
Dolphin and responded to by the
American ship would be acceptable.
This was emphatically rejected by the
United States, and word was sent that
nothing short of public salute to the
American flag would be satisfactory.