Las Vegas optic., 1914-04-14
MEXICAN GUNBOAT Will SALUTE
AMERICAN FLAG IN .TAMPICO OR
There Will BE SOMETHING Doing

more drastic policy should be pursued
in dealing with Huerta. He is under
stood to have the president and Sec
retary Bryan that Huerta would de-
lay and evade the issue just so long
as the United States seemed 1isin.
clined to use force.
This feeling has been growing in
administration circles during this
month in particular and President
Wilson has shown in his talks with
callers a firnness ana fixed determi-
nation not to temporize with the
Huerta government, but to insist on
whatever demands the United States
might make.
The naval demonstration ordered
today is an outcome OF the events of
the last eight months, particularly
since the contenders in Mexico began
to disregard the rights of foreigners.
There was evidence that the presi-
dent was reluctant to use force in
dealing with the situation, but none
the less intended to demonstrate to
Huerta the earnestness Of American
policy
When the concentration of the
fleet is complete Admiral Badger will
have under his command in Mexican
water 20-odd big warships Admiral
Fletcher at Vera Cruz, now has with
him the battleships Florida and the
transport Prairie with 600 marines.
Admiral Mayo at Tampico has the
battleships Utah, Connecticut and
Minnesota and the cruisers Des Moines
Chester, Dolphin and San Francisco
and 600 marines The hospital ship
Esolace win Join him et that port in
day or two. Admiral Badger has
under his command at Hampton
Roads the battleships Arkansas, flag
ship; Louisiana, New Jersey, Mich
igan, Vermont and New Hampshire.
In addition to those ships, the battle
ships Georgia, Virginia, Nebraska and
Rhode Island, now at Atlantic coast
navy yards in reserve, may be at
tached to Admiral Badgers com
mand. 1t is expected that Admiral
Badger will be able to start his fleet
sometime tomorrow and that he will
arrive in Tampico within week
While Admiral Badger himself and
some OF his ships are at Hampton
Roads, other ships of the Atlantic
fleet are scattered among their home
navy yards at Philadelphia. Boston
and New York, where they have just
returned from their spring target
practice. 1t will be the work Of a
| day to get them to sea.g
White House offoiaasnsaid later that
beyond the statement Of Secretary
Daniels there probably would be
comment from the president. It was
learned that Charge O'ShaughRessy
had reported early in the day that the
Huerta government actually had
! promised to fire a salute to the Dol
phin, but conditioned it on a salute
of response.
The American government, It is un-
derstood, has set forth through
Charge O'shaughnessy that it wishes
a public salute to the colors without
conditions.
No time limit for the salute has
been fixed or is likely to be, 1t wat
said ON high authority. President
Wilson and Secretary Bryan, it was
said. are not disposed 10 regard tn,
Ati,ae as essential, 3ut are insisten
i that a public salute must be fired.
The fact that no orders to the ARM
accompanied those to the navy wa
commented on in official circles, ant
the reasons generally advanced wer'
that to move troops to the borde
might be misinterpreted by the con
stitutionalists, with whom the Wash
ingtoH z government has no quarre'
Sending the fleet to the ports he'll
by Huerta was decided on as NOV
that would show clearly the reaso
and purpose Of the American action.
All the ships Of the Atlantic fleet a
Hampton Roads have been ordered t
) rampico.
/, Marines Go to Tampico
The transport Hancock with so
: marines have been ordered from Men
Orleans to Tampico at once.
= The battleship South Carolina, e