New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-15
Dictator Must Meet Amer
ican Demand or Take
Consequences.
FIRST STEP TAKEN
FOR INTERVENTION
Start of War Vessels To-
day Means New United
States Policy.
HUERTA INSOLENT
TO O'SHAUGHNESSY
Navy and Army Rejoicing at the
Change Due TO MeXico's Flat
Refusal of Demand.
From Til. Tribune Bureau !

Refusal OF Demand.
From The Tribune Bureau
Washington, April l4.-The FRS,
step toward actual American interven-
ton in Mexico has been taken.
Exasperated by President Huerta's
blunt refusal to heed the demand o.
the United States for salute of TWEEN
ty-one guns to the American flag tor
the affront offered when al American
officer and marines were arrested at
Tanpico last week and marched
through the streets under arrest, the
President of the United States to-day
ordered practically the whole Atlantic
feet to Tampico, together with the
transport Hancock, with 800 marines
ON board. The torpedo flotila at Pen
sacola. including a score of destroy
ers. has been ordered to Stand by
awaiting orders.
Satisfaction is TO be hsc from Mex
leo. Huerta must fire that salute or
take the consequences.
There is, however, tar greater sig
nifcance in this movement OF the navy
which means the mobilization in
hostile waters Of more guns, tonnage
and men than the United States navy
has ever had anywhcre-than mere
step toward compelling the Federal
authorities at Tsmpico to FIRE sa'
Lutte
This movement marks President
Wilson's determination to bring 10 an
end his policy of ''watchful waiting
and to take a forward step toward
adjusting the intolerable Mexican sit
uation.
Mexico Will Resent Action.
II is certain that the step taken b.
President Wilson will be considered an
overt act by the government in Mexico
City and the administration here -
anxiously waiting developments In
Huerta's capital, where there are
nearly q thousand Americans.
Mr. Bryan said this afternoon that
the arms recently sent TO the Ameri
can Embassy at Mexico City had beer
delivered. There are go rifles and
several machine guns. For consid-
erable time Huerta held up delivery OF
these weapons to the Charge d'Affaires,
Mr.. O'Shaughnessy. There are Ameri-
cans in Mexico City thoroughly famil-
lar with guns. Most OF the members II
the American colony also have rifles.
They will all assemble al The American
Embassy in time Of stress and protect
themselves against attack until the ar
rival Of military aid from the seacoast.
President Huerta, replying to DE-
mand presented by Mr.. O'Shaughnessy
for the protection Of foreign properly
at Tampico, declared in almost insolent
terms that the United States should
to protect the property Of foreigners
when he was trying TO put down rev.
olution, and that President Wilson
should remember that by his encour-
agement OF the revolutionists and / is
supplying them with arms he was
chiefly responsible for the conditions
now prevailing in Mexico.
Beginning Of New Policy.
The T-mpico incident is being
utilized as the starting point for the
development OF a new American policy
toward Mexico, which will include an
abandonment OF "watchful waiting
and the adoption OF a programme Of
action instead of idle unlocking.
There is evidence that the step
which has been taken is largely on the
Presidents own initiative, and that his
Secretary OF State witnesses the war
like measures which have been ordered
with extreme regret.
Ships of the Atlantic fleet will point
their prows toward Tampico to-mor-
row morning. They will go from
Hampton Roads. from Philadelphia.
from New York and from Boston.
while in the distant West Indies the
big battleship South Carolina and the
little sunboat Nashville will get wire
less messages TO proceed TO the storm
centre TO the intense delight OF their
officers and men.
Except for ships OF the navy at New
Orleans and in the West Indies. the
North Atlantic fleet Will mobilize or
Hampton Roads. and from there, -nder
command OF Rear Admiral Badger.
commander in chief. will proceed to