New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-04
u. S. DreadnOughts Soon TO
Join Great Fleet AL
ready There.
SECRECY MARKS
LATEST MOVEMENT
Navy Circles Excited by
Orders, Meaning of
Which Is Unknown.
FRESH WARNING
FOR AMERICANS
State Department Declares They
Should Not Yet Try to
Return to Mexico.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau.

From The Tribune Bureaul
Washington, Jan. "a division Of
battleships of the Atlantic fleet num-
bering four great Dreadnoughts will
soon proceed 10 Mexican waters, bring
ing up the total of big battleships
there to eleven and thus constituting
the greatest American naval force
ever concentrated in what might bt
termed hostile waters.
News Of the decision to REINFORCED
Rear Admiral Fletcher's command in
Mexico, which has hitherto been ample
to meet any crisis which has arisen.
and, so long as the administration
failed to change it's Mexican policy.
quite sufficient TO handle any situation
that might logically arise, is being
guarded with the utmost secrecy. II
is known. however, in naval circles.
where it has caused something Of a
sensation.
Coupled with a warning issued from
Americans against returning 10 Mexico.
the sending Of four more big ships to
Mexico Is regarded as of great signifi-
canoe and it may presage some forward
action by President Wilson. The mys-
terry cloaking the visit of Mr.. Lind to
Pass Christian heightens the tenseness
which is beginning to be felt In inside
circles in Washington and makes many
all the more sure that something Is
about to happen.
The four battleships 10 be sent 60
Mexico make up one division Of the
Atlantic fleet which recently returned
from the Mediterranean cruise. With
the other ships OF the fleet they have
been scheduled TO sail next week for
Guantanamo to take part in the winter
mannuvres, working in conjunction
with a brigade of marines at Culebra,
Porto Rico, where the marines are to
work out advanced base" exercises.
Marines Also May Go.
The decision 10 send the ships to
Mexico has given rise to rumors that
the marines will also be diverted to
Mexican waters. For this there Is no
absolute confirmation. If, however. the
administration contemplates demon
stration it would be logical TO send the
marines as we'll as the battleships. The
first advance base regiment or Soo
marines was TO sail from Philadelphia
for Culebra to-day on the transport
Hancock. The second advance base
regiment is at Pensacola, Fla, with or
ders to sail on the Prairie for Culeora
in time to get there next THURSDAY.
The second regiment consists OF S'l
men and officers. The two regiments
thps furnish a force Of more than LOO
men and officers.
Inst what is contemplated by the ad-
ministration is hidden in mystery II
is recalled. however, that one or the
lines of activity contemplated several
weeks ago, when intervention or some
sort was regarded as certain, was a
blockade of Mexican ports to cut on
Huerta's custom revenues and thus
starve him financially. 1t has long
been felt in administrative circles that
Huerta was getting to the end OF his
financial rope. He has hung on now
ever in a most unaccountable manner.
Should he lose the custom revenues
from his important Gulf ports his case
would be still more hopeless.
That the navy is 10 do the work IN
the near future, II work is to be done.
seems clear from the fact that there
are no signs of extraordinary activity
around the War Department.
The announcement from the State De-
partment warning Americans against
returning 10 Mexico was entirely unex-
pected. and II is felt by many here that,
unless behind II is some contemplated
action which would make Americans
unsafe in Mexico. IL is gratuitous
State departments Warning.
' Reports have come TO the Depart
ment OF State from various quarters"
saws the warning. "of the existence on
the part Of numerous Americans who
left Mexico In August last OF dis
position 10 return 10 that country, with
view TO resuming industrial opera
tions, in the belief that prospective con-
ditions Justify such action.
ut will be recalled that relief work
was carried out on very broad scale
during the past summer in removing
Americans from zones Of danger in
Mexico. The information in the pos
session OF the Department of State in
dicates that economic and political con-
ditions have not changed I'm such way
as TO justify an attempt to return TO
Mexico and resume industrial opera
tions there. and that any purpose to