The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-09
HIGH TENSION MARKS MEXICAN SITUATION: WAR DEPARTMENT IS CENTER OF ACTIVITY
Continued from Page One,

| iooSt' iho diiHlSt1ce.
 The cabinet meeting brought out a gen. erai discussion of the situation. It was said after the meeting that there was little doubt as to the sending of addi. uonal forces. wholly for precautionary purposes. It also became known that in- quir1es had been made of the governors or states to ascertain the condition of National Guards and how soon they could De prepared for active service. This also Is a precautionary measure Indications are that if National Guards are called on they would not be sent out of the country, but would be used on the Texas border. The discussion of reinforcing General Funston at Vera Cruz has developed 4 marked difference of opinion in the cabi. net. Some take the view that the media ton negotiations might De embarrassed by such an act; others believe it a necessary prceaution General Funston is under stood to have told the war department that his Hines are vulnerable at different polntf and that sudden attack along the railroad would necessitate the withdrawal of forces from other points, which would be left unprotected. He has informed the war department that he will need 15,O0t | to 1S,000 men to hold Vera Cruz and out 1 lying districts Secretary Garrison today | said no orders had been issued for any | troops movement, but it became known authoritatively that contracts had been closed for the chartering of several mer- chant steamers and that within a day | or two formal orders would be issued. | Tt is understood that within two weeks at least nine transports will have been l secured. Secretary Garrison declined to 1 discuss the chartering of the steamers. | The only thing he would say was: There is no contemplated aggressive movement at this time.'
 l This is in line with the attitude of other | high officials of the administration who l contend that the sending of reinforce ments to General Funston is not an az | gressive act, and does not violate the | arrangement for d suspension of hostiu- | ties.
 1 The fact that army officers had recom- | mended the sending of at least 10000 to | 60,0O0 men to Vera Cruz became known l generally in executive quarters. A num- l Der of officials admitted that the admin l istration was confronted with the prob- | lem of deciding whether it would limit | its military activities to protecting the | forces already at Vera Cruz or whether l a sufficient number of men would be | placed in readiness at Vera Cruz for a | flying expedition to Mexico City in case 1 the Huerta regime collapsed and irrespon- l sible bands threatened the lives of Ameri- | cans and other foreigners in the capital. l The mediators continued their sessians | today Reports that Mexican delegates would come by way of Salina Cruz and Vancouver, B. C., and thence across Can- ada to Niagara Falls, gave some con- cern as likely to cause delay. The Huerta delegates planned to avoid passing through the United States, but teiegraphic inquiries are under way from which these plans may be changed so as to permit the conference to proceed on May IS with the Mexican delegates present.
 The names of American delegates to the mediation. conference will be an nounced shortly, and it is known that Justice Lamar of the United States supreme court and Mayor Newton D. Baker of Cleveland are two of the men who probably will be named. The ad- ministration is still ropeful that media ton will accomplish something. and there Is every desire that the confer ence shall proceed without any un- toward incident
 Te landing of marines at Tampico to protect the oil wells has been under consideration by foreign governments but has been rejected. The report brought by Tampico refugees that a guard already had been landed by the Holland warship Kortenaer to protect
 the Corona properties, owned by a Hoi- land company, was denied from Tam pico.
 Extensive Preparations Extensive preparations are being
 made for participation by the Presi- dent, the Secretary of the Navy. the Secretary of War and a delegation of seven senators and 21 representatives
 In Congress in the funeral ceremonies
 at New York and Brooklyn Monday for
 the marines and bluejackets killed at
 Vera Cruz. Secretary Daniels sailed
 late tonight on board the Mayfiower
 and will join the funeral ship Mon
 tana off the Virginia capes tomorrow.
 arriving in New York Sunday after
 noon.
 The President will ride in carriage
 with the parade from the battery to
 the Brooklyn navy yard. He will re-
 trun to Washington immediately after
 the memorial services and his address
 at the navy yard.
 Secretary Bryan today made public a
 long formal communication from Ra-
 phael Zuzaran, in behalf of General Carranza, declaring the friendly atti-
 tude of the constitutionalists toward
 the United States. The document re-
 versed the position announced by Car ranza immediately after the occupa-
 ton of Vera Cruz that he resented the
 occupation. He now regards the Ameri-
 can movement as directed against
 Huerta and not against the Mexican people, who he says are on friendly terms with the United States. The docu-
 ment was significant as being the first official communication announced by
 the state department. having been re- ceived from an official of the Carran- ga administration. Hitherto Carranza
 has addressed his communications to the American government through
 American consular agents in Mexico.
 Zubacan, who is minister of the in-
 terior in Carranza's cabinet. came to
 Washington on this particular mission
 Word came today through constitu-
 tionalist headquarters here that Gen
 eral Carranza had ordered the cam
 paings against Tampico and Mazatlan
 to be pressed to quick conclusion and
 that endorsements were on their way
 to both places
 The progress of the constitutionalists
 to the vicinity of San Luis Potosi, cut
 ting off railroad communications there
 with Tampico also was reported in dis
 patches. Incidentally General Carranza
 telegraphed a denial here of the re-
 ported quarrel between himself and
 General Villa over General Chao, gov
 ernor of the state of Chihuahua He re-
 ported that General Chao was with him
 in Torreon an dnot in prison, as was
 reported, and was still governor of
 Chihuahua.
 Reports of hostilities at Tampico were
 meager. Secretary Daniels telegraphed Admiral Mayo for information concern
 ing the reports that all ships had been