The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-24

of the embassy had been entrusted to the French ambassador.
 President Wilson told callers he was confident Charge O'Shaughnessy would get to Vera Cruz safely. The latest word from him said he would leave tonight or tomorrow morning. The situation in Mexico City is ex- tremely delicate. according to private advioes received here The Wash ngton government fears mob yio- lence and demonstrations against Americans, and if possible no further step that would likely further incite the Mexican populace or precipitate anti.American outbreaks will be taken
 The president, in the course of the day talked of the Mexican situation frankly with his callers. He re- ferred to the crisis as a serious one and thought it was his duty he add ed, to confine his announcements 10 facts. reserving information about contemplated steps until plans ma tmed.
 Mir. Wilson does not regard the present situation as a state of war and holds that so far as his authority is concerned only acts of reprisals have been undertaken.
 One of the presidents callers men toned to him the statement issued from Tokio of the intention of Japan to remain neutral during any event uality. Mir. Wilson had not read of 1t but spoke of his assumption that all l powers would remain neutral, no matter what steps were taken by the | United States. No notification had gone to the powers of contemplated | plans of the American government, 1 communications thus far having been | confined to accomplished facts as they have developed. The president made it clear that no blockade had | been declared and that foreign gov | ernments would be notified before | such a step would be taken. He pointed out that for the present the United States had confined itself solely to operations in the vicinity of | Vera Cruz and that no forward move ment had been made. He said he did not know whether Huerta proposed a declaration of war or what succeed | ing movEs the Huerta government l planned.
 An attack on Vera Cruz by Gen eral Maas and endorsements which Puebla would not be unexpected and the sailing of the army transports from Galveston is designed to help the marines and bluejackets should they advance 27 miles from the city 10 obtain possession of a valuable railroad bridge which would be i'm portant in q campaign on Mexico City. There are $500 marines and bluejackets ashore and HOO can be landed at moments notice. Five hundred more marines are on their way aboard the Mississippi. The American warships can protect the land forces with their guns for a dis tance of about seven miles inland. t will take the army transports from twoand-a-half to three days to get to Vera Cruz from Galveston Their ar tillery would he of invaluable assist ance in repelling a return attack on Vera Cruz and protecting the ad' vance infantry moving to get posses sion of the z miles of railroad which is considered of such strategic i'm portance.
 Admiral Badger has been directed to use his discretion in allowins civil officers at Vera Cruz, who were elected by the people but deposed by Huerta Go assume their authority and to permit the Mexican flag to be dis tnlayed from school houses and public buildings except those actually occu- pied by the United States govern ment.
 There are but two Brazilian consu- lar officers in Mexico; one consul, is in Mexico City. and the other, a vice consul, in Vera Cruz.
 When Charge OShaughnessy turns the embassy in Mexico City over to the Brazilian minister it is assumed that the office staff immediately will depart for the United States. The clerical force serving under MT. OShaughnessy consists of James Ed ward McKenna, Mir. and Mrs. Charles ! n | Rice, all Americans.
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