The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-15

United States government and the sa-
Lutte was Insisted upon. General HUI
erta himself at no time agreed to
comply. but an under secretary in the
Mexican foreign Office did inquire OF
Charge O'Shaughnessy II salute
fired to the gunboat Dolphin and re-
sponded TO by the American ship
would be acceptable. This was EN-
phatically rejected b. the United
States and word was sent that moth
: ing short OF q public salute 70 the
American flag would be satisfactory.
Vigorous Action Necessary.
This was the situation laid before
the cabinet today by the president.
There was q disposition on the part
Of some administration officials To
walt for more facts and do nothing
until an Investigation had been COM
pleted. Others suggested that Huerta
would evade the issue and delay, and
that prompt and v:gorous action was
necessary. John Lind. II Il under
stood. had in his conference with the
President and Secretary Bryan. coun-
selled forceful move. For two
hours the cabinet discussed the pros
and cons and the possible conse-
uuenCes Of drastic action. and the
plan IF sending the fleet as a warn
the Washington government was
prepared TO go TO enforce its policy
was unanimously adopted.
Cabinet officers and otherss were
insistent that no change in the gen
eral policy toward Mexico was i'm
minent ana that so far as possible
the factions would be left TO fight
heir battles unhampered by Ameri-
can interference II was tated by
more than one official with emphasis
that no phases OF The Mexican situa-
ton beyond the affront TO the flag AT
I r.. a
patch OF the fleet. though officials
admitted the strategic value OF hav-
ing so big fighting force in proxim-
ity TO a country In which emergen-
cies might arise at any time.
No direct statement of explanation
Of the developments Of today was is
sued either by the White House or
the state department, the announce
men;s from the navy department of
naval orders alone furnishing the
key to the situation. Action not
words" was the way a cabinet Of
ficer described the answer OF the
United States to Huerta's unwilling
ness 10 fire a salute when demanded
by the American government.
Copy TO O'Shauehnessy.
incidentally copy OF the naval
orders issued by Secretary Daniels is
understood 10 have been transmitted
to Charge O'Shaughnessy so that the
OF the course which the United States
had adopted 10 was said that there
was no necessity OF informing other
foreign governments unless a state Of
blockade was declared.
News OF the dispatch Of the feet 10
Mexican waters was received In Con
gress with general satisfaction. In
the House Representative Murdoch OF
Kansas. publicly proclaimed the news
oi secretary Daniels order and there
was mild denomination OF approval.
No public announcement was made i'm
the senate. but the news quickly
spread about the chamber and into
committee rooms where Senators were
engaged In official business.
Tomorrow the situation will occupy
the attention Of the Senate foreign
relations committee Members OF the
House foreign affairs committee today
also manifested keen interest in de-
velopments and Representative Flood.
chairman OF the committee. conferred
with his colleagues about preparation
for any emergency that might arise.
Ecyond asserting that the situation
seemed 10 be- q serious one. acting
Chairman Shivelv. OF the senate for.
eign relations committee made no
comment
Many Senators and Reprosentatiye.
expressed themselves in sympathy
with the action Of the administrs-
ton In ordering more ships TO Tampi-
60. but declined 10 be- qouted in view
OF the uncertainty as 10 what might
etentUate
Mid Excitement.
The dispatch OF the feet created
mild excitement in the national capi.
cal generally Newspapers ordered
their representative 10 HAMPTON
Roads and tonight the navy depart.
ment had granted permission 10 TWEEN
tN reporters and photographers 10 ac.
ruruurur tho naaf .u d.. rrffHu.
u viii b" fully e week before the
Atlantic fleet ls assembled az Tam.
uICo. though the ships are expected
i0 Dr. steaming away tomorrow
Rear Admiral Badger ulI rank both
Rear Admiral Fletcher and Rear NH.
mirai Mayo. and viii take complete
charge Of tho situation
While Oh" ships are under uay.
General Hunrta will have practically
week in which to answer the Amer
can demands. Tho crisis in the eff.
uatiou d. expected fO come m General
lluorta declines TO- WELD hv tho time
the Atlantic fleet arrives Various
succeeding steps we're being discussed
among naval officers to-day. aud those
familiar with precedent said fhu-o
was no exact parallel bod international
law
o. was pointed ont br some fr4. Tho
United States m.rhf land mrrInr- ard
seize Tawpirp fu obtain .lf..fIlf..r
Tor The incident luf fhIa raised fH-
question OF whether ur moo nr 4rf of
war would un involved Tho Wash.
.nEiou adm 1IsfrHfI0u haa nroruurrlf
Itself ON The .ul .uUf off landing ns.
rlues Ur marrling armed forces into
Mexico Ha REGARDING such Hrfa bob tho
nature uI war unless perm .aa'un .a
E.fnn br tho government ir control
~ the territory Invaded
May Establish Precedent
lnasmuch as no government 10 rec.