The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1915-03-10
PRESIDENT WILSON
WARNS CARRANzA
Note Informs Mexican Chief That Tn
less Change Is Wrought United
States Will Act. Additional Warships
To Be Sent to Vera Cruz.

Washington, March 8.-Gen. Carran-
"a has been Informed in note from
the United States Government that un-
less there Is an improvement in con-
Gitions with respect to foreigners and
their interests in Mexican territory
under his control such steps as may be
necessary will be taken by the Ameri-
can Government to obtain the desired
protection.
The note is the strongest and most
emphatic document that has been sent
by the Washington Government to
Mexico since the correspondence with
Huerta a year ago. Carranza is warned
that the United States has viewed
with deep concern the growing COM
plants made by foreigners generally
against his administration, and now.
In effect, demands an early change.
The contents of the communication
were revealed to several ambassadors
and ministers here, who expressed sat-
isfaction at it's urgent language. Some
regarded it as an entire change Of pol
icy toward Mexico on the part of the
United States.
Presented to CarranZa,
American Consul Silliman should
have presented the note to Carranza
today. A copy was sent to the Bra
lillian minister at Mexico City, to be
shown to Gen. Obregon, the Carranza
commander. I'm the meantime, some
movements of American warships have
been ordered, the effect of which will
be a naval demonstration that, some
officials hope, will convince Carranza
Of the American Governments deter
mination to obtain a change in condi-
tions in Mexico City.
Secretary Daniels conferred with
President Wilson tonight over the
prospect of sending additional war
ships to Vera Cruz Only one vessel,
the battleship Delaware, has been at
Vera Cruz for several weeks, but five
warships will be in that vicinity in a
few days. The cruiser Tacoma left
Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, today. under
orders to proceed Immediately to Vera
Cruz; the gunboat Petrol already is
Ell route from Mobile, Ala, and the
cruiser Des Moines is bound from Pro-
greso to Vera Cruz, while the gun
boat Sacramento is at Tampico.
Light Draft Vessels.
Other available light draft vessels,
more valuable than battleships in tro-
pical waters, are the gunboats Wheel
ing and Nashville, held in readiness,
with the armored cruiser Washington,
i'll Haiten and Dominican waters,
While the entire Atlantic fleet of twen-
ty-one first-class battleships is at
Guantanamo, within two and half
days sail of Vera Cruz. Mr.. Daniels
gave this summary of the position Of
the warships, but declined to discuss
future movements.
That conditions again have reached
an acute crisis was admitted at all the
Government departments.
Asked whether the United States in
tended to use physical strength to OBJ
tain a compliance with its requests,
Secretary Bryan today replied that
nothing had been decided on yet be-
yond representations" and that it was
best to meet situations "as they
arose."
Latest reports from Mexico City in
d;cate a menacing condition of affairs
for the $4,000 foreigners there of
whom $500 are Americans.
Bryan Refuses to Talk.
The Secretary declined to discuss
the contents of the latest representa-
tions. From other sources, familiar
with what the American Government
has said to Carranza, however, 1t was
learned that the note, while not in the
nature of an ultimatum, was virtually
of the same effect. 1t summed up in
an insistent tone the entire situation
in the territory controlled by Carranza.
There was clear indication in it that
the United States had made repeated
in vain with respect to
Carranza's treatment of foreigners
and that a point had been reached
where it was necessary for the first
chief to take into consideration the Sc
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