The Ely miner., 1915-08-13
TWO j. S. WARSK|PS
OFF FOR VERA CRUZ
6ATTlESHiPS LOUISIANA AND
NEW HAMPSHIRE SAIL FRoM
NEWPORT, r. |.
FEARS ANTI FOREIGN RIOTS
Commander McNamee, American
Naval Officer at Carranza Capital,
Asks Navy Department to Send
Squadron-Situation Critical.

| Washington, Aug. 1.-TWO Ameri
can battleships, the Louisiana and the
New Hampshire, have sailed from
Newport, R. l., for Vera Cruz, in re.
sponse to an urgent request from Com
mander McNamee that his little fleet
OF gunboats IN Mexican waters be re-
enforced in view of anti-foreign dem.
onstrations at that port.
1t is understood that President viii.
son himself ordered the warships sent,
although no official of the government
would even admit that they had sailed.
Care had been taken during the day to
point out that any naval or military
activity at this time would be purely
precautionary to safeguard foreign ia.
terests and could not be construed as
having any connection with the Pan
American conference which is to be re.
sumed in New York to complete a pro-
gram for bringing about restoration
of government in Mexico
Code Message to Lansing.
Replying to Commander McNamee's
request, President Wilson sent long
code message to Secretary Lansing,
directing him to confer with Secretary
Daniels or with Acting Secretary Ben
son.
The contents Of this telegram were
not divulged.
1t was stated, however, that the
presidents decision as to whether to
send the squadron would be formed
at once and that the size of the squad.
ron would be left to the discretion OF
Secretary Daniels and Secretary Ian,
sing.
Washington, Aug. 11.-CommandeI
McNamee, the senior American naval
officer at Vera Cruz, has asked the
navy department to send battleship
squadron to guard against antiforeign
demonstration which he fears.
The Connecticut could reach Vera
Cruz several days ahead of the New
Hampshire and louisiana
In addition to the New Hampshire
and Louisiana, orders were believed
here to have been prepared ready for
Issuance to the rest of the Atlantic
feet, to steam for Vera Cruz on short
notice.
Details Are Lacking.
Commander McNamee's report did
not give details, but officials here be,
lieve the anti-American feeling which
he reported is direct outgrowth of
the Pan-American negotiations in
Washington for the adjustment of diff.
ferences between the factions
Guatemalan Minister Ortega and his
family have taken refuge on the Unit.
Silliman reported to the state depart
ment.
The gunboat Marietta has been or.
dered to Vera Cruz to bring the Brazil
ian minister from Mexico 70 the Unit.
ed States. He will leave Vera Cruz
at once.
The navy department officials did
not attempt to hide their belief that
the situation was deemed critical and
that an anti-American outbreak was
feared.
Anti-American Feeling Growing.
with the government otlciaiS they
admitted the growing anti-American
feeling at Vera Cruz.
Carranza, they learned, was hasten
ing preparations to move to Mexico
City.
His position there, it was agreed,
would be much stronger than at Vera
Cruz. Once in the interior, it was be-
lieved, he would declare himself pro-
visional president and defy the United
States. That this would be the signal
for an anti-Amcrican demonstration,
perhaps an anti-American outbreak,
was thought highly probable.
Commander McNamee was authority
for the statement that anti-American-
ism was developing fast and that he
feared trouble.