The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-15
GOVERNMENT FIRM
|NDETERM|NAT|ON
TO SUPPORT MAYO
Demand for Apology for
Arrest of Marines
to Be Pressed.
NO SATISFACTORY
RESPONSE MADE

Decision to Send Battleships to
Mexican Waters Is Reached
After President and Secretary
Bryan Confer With John Lind
and Following Two-Hour Cab
met Mecting-Fighting Force
to Make Demonstration Will
Consist Of Forty-Six Warsfips
and $1,000 Men-High Admin
istration Official Says Future
Developments Will Depend on
Huerta Himself
Washington. April 14.--President
Wilson to-day ordered virtually the
entire Atlantic fleet to Mexican wa
ters to force a public salute to the
Stars and Stripes from the Huerta
government as an apology for the
arrest OF American marines at Tam
pico last Thursday.
No ultimatum has been issued
that is, no specified time has been
set within which the Huerta govern
ment must comply-but the naval
demonstration has been ordered as Il
concrete evidence OF the fixed deter
mination Of the United States to back
/. up Rear-Admiral Mayo's demand for
salute. Up to tonight General
| Huerta had not made satisfactory re-
sponse to that demand.
Future Developments depend on
Huerta himself" was the way high
administration official, close to the
President, summarized the situation.
The decision to send the fleet was
reached after the President and Sec
retary Bryan had conferred for an
hour with John Lind. personal repre-
sentative OF the President in Mexico.
and after two-hour Cabinet meet
ing, during which dispatches from
| Charge O'Shaughnessy revealed that
the 1luerta government disputed the
right OF American marines to be
ashore at Tampico, and cOntended
that It's recent public statement OF
| apology was ample.
Orders Issued tn Fleet.
Immediately after the Cabinet
meeting adjourned Secretary Dan
! iels issued his order to the Atlantic
| fleet. and wireless messages flashed
up and down the Atlantic coast to
| put the fleet under steam for Tam
pico.
1t VIII be the largest fighting force
| the American government has as
sembled for possible action since the
/ Spanish American War. Eleven great
battleships, with auXiliaries, carry
ing I'm all about $4,000 men, will
comprise the force off Tampico.
| Everywhere, at the White House,
the State Department and the NAVY
Department, the hope was expressed
that the dispatch Of the feet would
not lead to serious consequences, and
there was a confident prediction
among administration officials that
General IIuerta would satisfy the
American demand and close the in
cldent Officials were careful to
point out that negotiations with the
liuerta government had not ended,
and that the way was still omen to
General lIuerta to make amends.
Meanwhile, the Navy Department
sent complete instructions TO Rear
Admiral Badger, commander-in- chief
OF the Atlantic fleet. on board the
battleship Arkansas at Hampton
ltoads. Rear-Admiral Fiske, chief OF
the bureau Of operations, left here
Tor the Roads tonight to personally
explain to Admiral Badger the diplo-
matte side OF the situation and dis.
patches from Rear-Admiral Mayo.
Ships in Badgers Command.
I Indicating the exact ships which
Will accompany Admiral Badger, the
Navy Department issued the follow
/ ing:
Admiral Badger will take with
him the battleships Arkansas. Louis.
lana, New hampshire, Michigan, YER
mont, New Jersey and South Caro-
lima, which last ship has been inter-
cepted on her way from Haiti to
Hampton Roads.
The gunboat Tacoma, now at
Boston. Mass, also has been ordered
to Tampico by way OF Newport, X. l..
and Will start to-day or tomorrow.
The gunboat Nashville, now at
Monte Christi, San Domingo. has
been ordered to Guantanamo to coal.
and thence 10 Tampico.
THE Rhode Island, Nebraska.
Virginia and Georgia are now dock
ing; it has not been decided yet
gers forces.
"Thc transport Hancock will leave
New Orleans for Tampico to-day with
the First Regiment OF the expedi-
tionary force of marines"
Already In Mexican Waters.
The foregoing ships are In addi.
ton to the Utah. Connecticut, Mime
sofa. Dcs Moines. Chester, Dolphin