The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-08
ACTUAL WARFARE !
MAY RESULT FROM
BLOCKADE ORDER
Purpose of United States to Sup
press Attempt Indicated
by Daniels.
DESIRES PORT KEPT OPEN
Latest Crisis Leads to Situation
Fraught With Perils for
Mediation.

| washington. juno T.-Another crisls
In the Mexican difficulty faced tho
Washington government tonight.
situation fraught with perils for media
tion. and with possibilities that might
precipitate actual warfare between the
United States and Mexico.
General Huerta has brought about
tho new crisis by ordering his gun
poats to blockade the port OF Tampico
and to seize cargo OF ammunition en-
route there for the Mexican Constitu-
| tionalists The shipment Is aboard tho
steamer Antilla from New York flying
the Cuban flag. Huerta has notified
tho powers of the intent to blockade
the port and that he proposes to seize
the cargo consigned to the belligerenta
| against his sovereignty ms contraband
! Of war.
| The purpose OF the United States to
| suppress the attempt to blockade and
prevent interference with the Antilla
was Indicated tonight. when Secretary
| Daniels issued an official statement an
| nouncing that while no now orders
nave been given Rear-Admiral Badger,
| there had been no change in the policy
| or the government In reference to It's
desire that the port of Tampico shall be
open to all commerce.. Tho statement
follows:
The Navy Department has issued no
new orders to Admiral Badger since
|
Dc leaving Puerto Mexico. The depart
ment has at no time contemplated fur
| nishing convoy to the Antilla or any
! other ship. nor have any orders to that
eHcct been issued. No word whatever
has been received as to whether or NOT
the warships of other nations have
Deen notified of the blockade Mt Tam
pico. or what their attitude would be
| toward such blockade. There has
oeen no change In the policy OF tho
/ nnNa ont L.,
that tho port OF Tampico shall be open
| to all commerce."
As to whether "all commerce." in this
! instance includes contraband of wpr
cuss.
| ORDERS RELATING TO PoRT .
SENT TO BADGER IN MAY
so Tar ms known. the only orders re-
| iatins to Tampico that have been is
sued went to Admiral Badger on Nav
10, IN message Informing him that
whlie IT was not believed the Huerta
Bunooats would return to Tampico tt
was deemed advisable that tho com
manders of American naval vessels IN
aerstood that the government desired
that there be no interference viii
commerce at the port
Inat the blockade decree will he
carried out was verified to-day bv
Rear-Admiral Badger In a report 70
the Navy Department from Vera Cruz.
"a
ZaraSoZa and Bravo, which left Puerto
neNico late last night, had passed
vera Cruz and were steaming toward
Tampico. o"'"
me American cruiser Tacoma and
gunboat Sacramento are followjnp ~
Huerta ships. What the American
warships Will do whom the corln,an1cr
or liucrta's ships attempts to seize
tne An!iiia when she arrives at Tam
Inco Wednesday no official In WASH
lnston would say Tonight
The message from Admiral Badper
received by the Navy Department To-
day. was:
10 a. NJ. Sunday. Juno I. Position
or Mexican gunboats Bravo and zara-
Goza Mt A. NJ latitude 19:43. Ionxi
tude 96:3. headed for Tampico, mnk
ing about nine knots. Should arrive
or Panuco River about 8 A. M. to-mor-
row Tacoma and Sacramento follow
Ing IN observation.
tSlgned) "BADCER.
When this report reached Washing
ton 1t Immediately was communicates
to President Wilson. Secretary OF tho
Navy Daniels and Secretary OF Sta,o
Hr3en. secretary Daniels hastcned
from church to his Office, but dented
himself to interviewers Throurhout
the day and night he would make no
statement. Neither would Secretarv
Bryan. nor was there any official in
formation obtainable from the White
House.
PRESIDENT CONFERS
WITH CABINET MEMBERS
The President conferred over the
telephone with Cabinet officials and
also received messages from the Amer
lean delegates to the Niagara Falls
mediation conference. These were he
licved to have bearing on the I'M
pending situation at Tampico.
That Tampico still was regarded by
this government as an open port was
EXPRESSED
partment officials but since receipt OF
information that Huerta's gunbcats
actually were en- route to enforce a
blockade there officials have been
silent. IT was pointed out. however,
that in the order to Admiral Badger OF
May is. there was no mention OF con-
traband OF war.
Three possibilities were discussed In
official quarters tonight as likely to
arise. In view OF the problem that Gem
eral Huerta's decisive action has pre-
scnted. Should the American govern
mcnt direct that the order TO Admiral
Badger be construed as to include de-
livery of contraband Of war, Rear
Admiral Mayo at Tampico would he
compelled to open fire on Huerta's gun
boats II necessary to prevent Interior
cnce with the Antilla.
If this were considered an overt act
of war. and violation OF the agrees 4
ment to cease hostllities. 1t probab bly
l"s''t"''N'i,S "o"iu cuu 'He peace con-
ference at Niagara Falls. In the opin-
ion of many In close touch with tha
Washington administration. this would
mean the beginning OF actual hostilItiea
against the Euerta government ana
signal the advance OF the American
army from Vera Cruz toward Mexico
City.
MAY DE PERSUADED
TO ALTER HEIt COURSE
Another possibility. however. snr-
Rested In official quarters Is that this
government may bring influence d,
bear on the owners OF tho steamer An
tilla TO change her course and mako No e
attempt to deliver her cargo at Tam g
pico pending tho outcome of mediation
negotiations and to induce General CT = y