The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1915-01-01
/ STORY OF YEAR MARKED
BY SENSATIONAL EVENTS
Most Momentous Twelve Months Of Modern Times
RevieWed-Great European War, Mexican
Troubles and Other World Happenings.

parent that Great Britains purpose was
to deal a fatal blow at German commerce.
safeguard that of Belgium. France and Its
own and render the enemy's fleet inopera-
tive by holding II in the Baltic. A week
later, the port authorities of New York
were notified that the Atlantic lines were
unrestricted, and a few days afterward
the Pacific lines were pronounced "open
and safe" Sixty British war vessels
guarded the exit of the Kiel Canal and
prevented the thirty German battleships
anchored there from coming out. Within
a few days, more than thirty of the great
German ocean liners were interned in
neutral waters and "A number of German
merchant ships We're 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 Emden in
the Pacific and the Karlsruhe In the
South Atlantic, two German raiders,
preyed successfully upon allied and neu-
trail commerce until the former was put
out OF action. During the past three
months the Germans have destroyed a
number of British cruisers by means of
torpedoes. In an action off the coast OF
Chile. squadron of five German war
with all on board. On October 2--al-
though II was not known to the public
for fortnight afterward-the British
super-dreadnaught AudaciOus was sunk
by mine off the coast of Ireland. Short
ly afterward, the British admiralty de-
clared the North sea closed military
area.
On December the German cruisers
Scharnhorst. Gneisau, Leipzig and Nuern-
berg. under Admiral Won Spec. were sunk
by a British squadron under VceAdmiral
Sir Frederick Sturdee, off the Falkland
Islands. The German cruiser Dresden es-
capped, badly damaged. December 16 a
German fleet hombarded the English coast
towns of Hartepool, Whitby and Scar
borough, killing $50 and wounding 800 cti-
zens and causing much property damage.
Three British merchant vessels were sunk
by mines laid by the bombardlng fleet.
At the close of the year operations in
the west seem practically at standstill.
December II the Germans reported a vic
tory in Poland.
As a 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 little actual
hardship. Much relief was afforded the
Dtlbldn SultItIS anu ldIbt SulnS OF
money for the purpose were raised all
over the country.
The American Red Cross sent the relief
ship Red Cross to European waters,
with a full equipment of physicians
nurses and supplies, on September II.
Chaotic Conditions in Mexico.
Early In the year foreign nations began
to be critical OF the Administrations
/ lao -nffV NTnNfnn, IN 90
that the job of pacifying Mexico belonged
logically TO the United States. Vcto-
riano Huerta had held the provisional
presidency for a year and boosted in his
cups that he would hold his Office longer
than President Wilson would remain in
the White House Meanwhile the bandit
chief Pancho villa was steadily gaining
ground in the north. The flercest 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 fugitives crossed the Rio
Grande and took refuge in American ter
ritory. Here they were cared for by the
! United States authorities.
On February 3 President Wilson re-
voked an order by his predecessor in of
and ammunition into Mexico by citizens
of the United States. On April "A, Presi-
dent Wilson instructed Secretary Daniels
TO assemble an imposing naval force at
Tampico, 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
bluejacltets who had landed on Mexican
soil to obtain supply of gasoline.
Although the episode was the result of
a misunderstanding in which all the par
ties concerned shared about equally. 1t
was manifest that Huerta was In no mood
to comply with any request of the Wash
ingtOn authorities. however politely and
even delcately made. He refused to or
der the salute, and the naval demonstra-
ton followed.
Congress passed a resolution sustaining
the president in the position which he
had taken. On April 81 Admiral Fletcher
seized the custom house at Vera Cruz.
The MeXicans resisted the occupation of
the custom house and the result was n
fight, in which 16 Americans were killed
and II wounded General Mas, in COM
mand of the 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 to enter on vigorous campaign.
Before hOstilties were carried further
the diplomatic representatives at Wash
lngton of Argentina, Brazil and Chile sent
In to the office of the department OF state
n formal tender OF their services as medi-
ator5. President Wilson accepted the Of
fer and both Huerta and Carranza ac-
I>cepted the proffered mediation.
The mediatory conference was held at
Niagara Falls. Canada. and opened on
May 20. On June u the conference had
agreed upon a plan accepted both by
President Wilson and Huerta. Then q
deadlock arose over the choice for presl-
dent-the American delegates declined to
accept the name of any unconstitutional
list.
Meanwhile. the constitutionallsts Were
making unmistakable advance toward tho
capital. Their success was so pronounced
that 1t 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
for Europe. leaving the executive author
ity in the hands of a prominent citizen,
Francisco Carbajal