The Springdale news., 1915-01-08
BRIEF REVIEW OF 1914
Most Momentus Twelve Months of Modern History in Concise Form-Great European War
 and Mexican Troubles

North sea was confidently expected by the waiting world, It soon became ap- parent that Great Brtain's purpose was 10 deal a fatal blow al German commerce, safeguard tkat of Belgium. France and it's own and render the enemy's fleet inopera- tive by holding 1t in the Baltic. \ week later. the port authorities of New York were notified that the Atlantic lines Were Hnabstrueted. and few days a4tarW8rd the Pacific lines were pronounced .epen and safe" Sixty British war vessels guarded the exit of the kiel Canal and prevented the thirty German battleshfps anchored there from coming out. Within a few days. more than thirty of t1F great German ocean liners Were intefaed in neutral waters and a number of German merchant ships were captured or de stroyed.
 By the middle of November more than four hundred war vessels and merchant men on all sides had been captured or in termed in neutral ports. The Emaeh in the Pacific and the Karlsruhe in the South Atlantic, two German raiders. =preyed= successful. upon allied and neu- tral commerce until the former was put out of action During the past three months the Germans have destroyed q number of British cruisers by means of terpedees.= In an action off the coast of Chile. a squadron of five German war
 
 with all on board. On October H-a1- though it was not known to the public for fortnight afterward-the British super-dreadnaught Audaeious was sunk by mine off the coast of Ireland. Short ly afterward. the British admiralty de- elared the North sea a closed military area.
 On December s the German cruisers Seharnhorst. Gneisau. Leipzig and Nuern- Iar T 4 T 4f-YIE by British squadron under Niee-Admiral Sir Frederick Sturdee. off the Falkland islands. The German cruiser Dresden es caped. badly damaged. December f6 q German feet bambarded the English coast towns of Hartiepool. Whithy and Scar borough, killing l5a and weunding 3oa eiti- zens and causing much property damage. Three British merchant vessels Were sunk by mines laid by the bomharding fleet.
 At tie close of the xear operations in the west seem practically at q standstill. December | the Germans reported q Vie- tory Tn Poland.
 As q result Of the immediate paralysis in the financial world due to the sudden embodiment of the European nations, Americans abroad Were subjected to great inconvenience and not q little actual hardship. Much relief was afforded the Belgian sufferers naZlargeZ sums of money for the pnrpese. Were raised all over tie country.
 The American Red Cross sent the relief ship Red Cross To European waters, With full equipment of physicians nurses and supplies. on September 12.
 Chaotic Conditions in Mexico.
 Early in the year foreign nations began to be critical of the administration's "hands-offs Mexican policy and 10 insist that the job of pacifying Mexico belonged c~ip fa EA frfa riano Huerta Lad held the provisional presidency for year and boasted in his cups that he would hold his office longer than President Wilson would remain in the White House. Meanwhile the bandit chief Paneho Villa was steadily gaining ground in the north. The fercest battle of the revolution. which was fought for almost two weeks. ended in victory for the rebel forces
 There was an appalling loss of life in this long continued fight, and more than four thousand fugitiyes crossed the Rio Grande and took refuge in American ter ritory Here they were cared for by the United States authorities.
 On February President Wilson re- Vated an order by his predecessor in of fee to put stop to the shipment of arms and ammunition into Mexico by citizens of the United States. On April H. Presi- dent Wilson instructed Secretary Daniels to assemble an imposing naval force at Tampiee on the Mexican coast. This was due to the refusal of the Mexican president and his military aids to salute the American flag as an essential feature of an apology for an unwarranted arrest and imprisonment of several American bluejaekets who had landed on Mexican soil 10 obtain supply of gasoline
 Although the episode was tie result of misunderstanding In which all the par ties concerned shared about equally. it Was manifest that Huerta was in no mood to comply with any request of the Wash inEton authorities, however politely and even delieately made. He refused to or der the salute. and the naval demonstra- tien followed
 Congress passed a resolution sustaining the president in the position which he had taken. On April 21 Admiral Fletcher seized the custom house at Vera Cruz The MeXieans resisted the occupation of the custom house and the result was a fight. in which It Americans were killed and T wounded General Mas, in com mana Of lie garrison. withdrew and left the Americans in possession.
 Nelson O'Shaugnessy. the American rep resentative. was given his passports and requested to leave the country. Brig. Gen Frederick Funston. commander of the American forces at Vera Cruz. was ready tG enter on a vigorous campaign.
 Before hostilities were carried further tie diplomatic representatives at Wash ! ington of Argentina Brazil and Chile sent in to the office of the department of state formal tender of their services as medi- ators. President Wilson accepted the of fer and both Huerta and Carranza &C., eepted the proffered mediation.
 The mediatory conference was held at Niagara Falls. Canada. and opened on May D, On June r the conference had agreed upon plan accepted both by 1 President Wilson and Huerta. Then a deadlock arose over the choice for presi- l dent-the American delegates declined to i accept the name of any noneonstitutional- l ist
 Meanwhile. the constituencies were 1 making unmistakahle advance toward the l capital. Their success was so pronounced that it was evident they would soon be in control of the government
 On July l the conference came to an end without definite result, and four days later Huerta was reelected president by his partisans. On July Is the dictator re. ! signed the presidency and took passage i for Europe, leaving the executive author. ity in the hands of a prominent citizen i Francisco Carbajal.