The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-09
MORE TROOPS
ITO VERA Cruz

lU YEkAL RUL
CONTINUED PROM PAGE ONE.
nounced. The United States finds ;, n,
hands almost completely tied In the maj
ter of seixing the custom-house at Puert,
Mexico an they did In Vera Cruz sucl
an act would Immediately end the media
ton proceedings and would be seise<
upon by Huerta as the basis for charE,
Of bad faith on the part Of this govern
ment
Furthermore, the seizure of Puerto
Mexico would be tantamount to a decla
ration Of war. for the United. States a.
ready has announced that its program
toward Mexico contemplated only the
seizure Of Vera Cruz as a single act OF
reprisal for the insults to the nag ai
Tampico.
Some doubt was expressed here las,
night as to whether this government
would feel warranted in making any
inquiry to the German government. un-
less the good ONCE Of that government
should be offered voluntarily. The Unit
ed States has not declared, a blockade
Of Mexican ports, and Germany Is one
Of the European powers that have recog-
nized Huerta.
The arrival of the Kronprinzessin
CeciIe at Puerto Mexico, and the an.
proach of another vessel with similar
cargo were Immediately accepted here a.
evidence of Huerta's cleverness In TAX
Ing advantage Of the suspension Of hos
tilities to equip himself for the future
Plan HaEe Force.
Secretory Garrison's statement, regard
ing Preparations for another troop move
ment, indicates clearly that the United
States is contemplating throwing at least
$500 more troops into Vera Cruz. pro-
vtded an emergency arises. There are
about 100 troops under Gen
Funston at the Mexican port, and in ad-
dition to these there IL an available
landing force from the feet Of about
ZOO bluejackets and marines. With the
of the second division at Vera
Cruz, the United States would have an
available force of about $500 men. II
the two brigades now at Galveston are
moved, 1t undoubtedly will be only a
beginning. High oficials OF the War De-
oartment are anxious to put at Vera Cruz
Or on TRANSPORTS within striking distance
'f that port a large enough force, per-
naps all told 5000 men. to make an i'm
oressive expedition to Mexico City IL II
becomes necessary.
The disturbing note from Huerta in
'egard to the mediation proceedings
anne to the South American diplomats
Who initiated the negotiations Huerta
protested that the United States was
the spirit of the understand
ng for a suspension OF hostilities,
,ending the mediation negotiations.
iuerta cited tho extension of the
american lines outside Of Vera Cruz.
he erection Of Notifications. and the
anding of a transport filled with
.me rican troops at the Mexican port
fter the suspension of hostilities had
'ecome effective. The troops in this
transport were those that had been
rdered from Galveston before any I'M
erstanding had been reached in regard
o a cessation Of fighting.
Huerta May withdraw.
Huerta. through this protest, warned |
he United States. between the lines, |
hat he might feel obliged to withdraw
rom the mediation proceedings II
here were further activities on the part |
the United States.
The spirit behind this note il more /
nportant than the note itself. Onlciais
S an indication that Huerta is pre-
airing to force, a break In the media
on program and to accuse the United
tates Of responsibility for the resump-
on of hostiIities.
Secretary OF State Bryan Immediately
repaired an answer TO the HIeI.a note.
e denied that the United States had
any way violated the understa ndins
regard to a suspension of hostilities.
IT. Bryan himself has pointed out from
lie beginning that there has been no
,rmal armistice between Huerta and
lis government The United States
ever bound itself against making prep
-ations for meeting an emergency. What
ally occurred in the negotiation or
lie understanding for a suspension or
)stilities was this:
The mediators suggested to both parties
lat the hostilities be suspended during
lie negotiations. To this Secretary
ryan replied that 1t was assumed that
ere would be such a suspension. ex-
pit to repel an attack. Gen. Huerta's
lswer was understood to have been an
,ceptance along similar lines. Neither
lrty made any stipulation as to pre-
,ring for war. There is a question
erefore whether Huerta's renewed i'm
of arms and ammunition could
regarded by this government as a vio-
ton of the understanding.
Hucrfa's Other Move. |,
But the protest in regard to the ac- I
,ity of the American forces was not
e only way in which Huerta showed .
day that he Is becoming more resent
toward this government He ad-
essed a note to the mediators. COM
aiming of the continued flow OF arms
n ammunition across the America m
rider into the territory controlled by
e constitutionalists. r.
rhe War Department announced several 4
Us ago that the embargo on arms and T
lmunition had been resi- red. hut Presi-
Mt Wilson never has issued q procla- 4
ltion to that effect. The President ap- n
rently has refrained from making q
bile statement, because he feared 1t g
uld irritate his friena5. the consti;u- n
nalists. 1t is asserted. though, that a n
let embargo is being enforced in this .
manner. Huersa obviously n
estions this; fact, and contends that the a
wing of arms and ammunition across In,
, border is a viz ation Of the spirit of
understanding for n suspension of 4,
,tilities- -'-- %
his protest is the inevitable result Of n
effort that tie administration has n
de to concililte and support the con- {,
in their effor. to over II
ow Huerta, while at the same time,
lertaking to enter into mediation for Of
settlement of Mexico's difficulties. p,
No Reply Yet Made. Ia
t a late hour last night the United =,
ties had made no reply to Huerta's q
In regard to the EN-. =,
20 on arms, but this government will 7,