Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1914-05-12
THE TROOPS At
VERA Cruz MAY
Be REINFORCED
Orders to Send Additional Forces
To Aid General Funston
Expected.
GENERAL HUERTA COMPLAINS
Mexican Protests That U. S. Gov
eminent Has Broken
Armistice.
GENERAL HUERTA COMPLAINS

Washington, D. c., May 9.-High
tension marked the Mexican situa-
tion yesterday, both on the military
and the diplomatic side.
The war department was the chief
center of activity, and while no au-
thoritative statement was made be-
yond Secretary Garrison's formal re-
ply that mo orders for additional
troop movements have been sent"
it became known that sending of
additional troops to Vera Cruz prob
ably would be carried out. This step
would not be intended in any way
as an aggressive measure, but as a
reasonable precaution to support the
force already there in case of any
untoward event.
Of equally serious portent to the
troop preparations was the report
late in the day that two German
merchant ships were about to arrive
at Puerto Mexico with large sup
plies of arms and ammunition for
Huerta. 1t was realized that this,
If true, would present an incident
similar to the arrival of the Ypiran-
ga at Vera Cruz with her cargo of
munitions, which led to the Ameri-
can occupation Of that port
Huerta's protest to the mediators
that the United States had broken
the armistice by landing additional
troops at Vera Cruz was considered
by the cabinet and later Secretary
Bryan announced that the reply of
this government stated that no ag-
gressive steps had been taken by the
United States forces and that moth
ing had been done in violation of
the suspension of hostilities. The
American reply was delivered to the
mediators late yesterday. The me-
diators also took the view that the
question raised by Huerta over the
observance of the armistice could be |
cleared and that Huerta could be
convinced that the United States
had not violated, in spirit at least,
the armistice which had been agreed
upon.
The cabinet meeting brought out
a general discussion of the Mexican |
situation. 1t was said after the
meeting that the subject Of troop
movements had practically been left
with the war department and there
was little doubt as to the sending |
of additional troops wholly for pre-
cautionary purposes.
INQUIRY ABOUT GUARDS.
1t also became known that in
quiries had been made Of the COVER
nors of states to ascertain the con-
dition of national guards and how
soon they could be prepared for SER
vice if conditions required. This
again is a precautionary measure,
yet to be finally executed by the
military authorities.
Indications are that if national
guards are called upon they would
not be sent out of the country, but |
would be used on the Texas border,
relieving regulars there who would
thus be available for reinforcing the
troops now in Vera Cruz.
The discussion of reinforcing Cen
eral Funston at Vera Cruz has de-
veloped a marked difference of opin-
ion in the cabinet. Some of the
members take the view that the me-
diation negotiations might be en-
barrassed by such an act, while 9TH
ers believed that it was a necessary
precaution against a sudden attack
on the American forces stretched
along the railroad to the water
works.
General Funston is understood to
have told the war department that
at least $1,000 to $4,000 men were
needed to hold Vera Cruz as we'll as
the outlying districts, which he now
has garrisoned. He now has 1000
under his command.
The advice as to the number of
troops to be given General Funston
is left to the general staff. Secre-
tary Garrison said that no orders
had been issued for any movement,
but it became authoritatively known
that authority had been issued for
the charter of several merchant
steamers, and that within a day or
two formal orders would be issued.
4. ..ndarc4aad thu ,f tLo