The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-25
AMERICAN FLAG TO BE UAJILED
DOWN AND INFANTRY AND
MARINES TO DEPART.
Vessels at Vera Cruz and TampicO
and String OF Ships OH West Coast
Will Remain to Protect American
IntcrcstS-NO Faction Will Receive
City.


haul down the Stars and Stripes
which have been flying over Vera
Cruz since last April, and evacuate
the Mexican port in accordance with
instructions fror, President Wilson.
The five battleships at Vera Cruz and
Tampico and the string of vessels on
the vest coast will remain in Mexican
awterl 20 afford protection to Ameri-
cans and be in readines to meet
months ago when the Lluejackets and
marines under Rear Admiral Fetch
er seized Vera Cruz as an act OF
reprisal for affrOnts to the American
flag at Tampico, where a boatload Of
American bluejackets were arrested.
Gen. Iluerta, who controlled the
comply with the demand Of Admiral
Mayo for a salue Of 81 guns.
Advices from Mexico today still
were confusing, but the American
governments determination is to
with lraw its troops and to remove
from Mexican territory possible
cause OF international friction as well
AS u potential factor that might be-
come a domestic issue between fac
tions in Mexico.
! President Wilson is hopeful that
evacuation Of Vera Cruz will be an en-
during demonstration OF the policy of
the United States enunciated in his
Mobile speech a year ago to seek no
territorial aggrandiZemcnt south of
thc Rio Grande. He believes continued
presence CT American troops on Mexi-
can soil would be misinterpreted
throughout Latin America.
nj withdrawing from Mexican soil
the United States has taken pains that
10 faction shall bc recognized. All ele-
mcnts united in requesting evacuation
and in pledging the guarantees re-
Quired by the Washington government.
Gen. Funston has no orders to give
possession of Vera Cruz to any par
ticular chief. His instructions are
simply to pack his possessions and
withdraw, bringing away any Mexicans
who fear to remain, as we'll as all the
custom money collected during the
American occupation.
The $1,00O,000 or more in custom
duties will he held until q govern
ment formally is recognized by the
United States
!, Administration officials do not re-
gard the tangled state of affairs IN
the southern republic as altogether
hopeless. They arc inclined to view
the eva cuation of Mexico City by Car
rama in the face of the Villa advance
as an evidence of a desire to avoid fur
thcr bloodshcd. Up to midnight last
night, according to Official dispatches
both Gen. Lucio BlancO and Gen. OBJ
reSOn were in the capital and had
promised to leave an adequate force
10 preserve OTucT.
Many officials believe Carranza or
dcred evacuation Of Mexico City that
he might concentrate his forces al
Orizaba and continue parleys for a
compromise provisional president. He
is understood to be hopeful that when
The convention reassembles in Mexico
City some one besides Gen. Gutierrez
may be chosen.
Another view held in Mexican quar-
ters is that while the Me>ican capital
has Eeen evacuated there are large
forces to the north and east which
will continue to threaten the Villa
columns.
The marines now stationed at Vera
Cruz will lie taken to League Island
navy yard, Philadelphia and the troops
will be sent back TO their camp at
Texas City, Texas. The army trans
ports Fitzpatrick, Sumner, Cristobal
and Kansas will cary all but few
! of the soldiers, who will be taken
aboard the refrigerator ship McCipl-
Ian. IL is believed ali OF the anima Is
and supplies of the army can also be
removed in one trip Of the transports.
The marines. 2,400 in number wili
be transported northward on the char
tered transports City OF Denver, City
Of Memphis, and san Marcos.
After Gen. Flnston has safely land
cG his command 1T Texas City. X is
probable he will be assigned To The
command of the central department
with headquarters at Chicago. Il post
made vacant by the transfer OF Mai
Gen. William III. Carter to Honolulu.