South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-08-17
TWO BATTLESHIPS
SENT TO MEXICO
Louisiana and New Hampshire
Will Take Place of
GunboatS.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE navy
department Monday sent rush orders
by wireless 10 the battIeshiPs Louisi
ana and New Hampshire 20 proceed at
once 70 Vera Cruz. The battleshlpS
sailed from Newport. K. l., for SOUTH
ern waters several days ago. on re-
CENT OF news that there had been an
anti-foreign demonstration IN vera
Cruz II was then intended they should
20 20 Guantanamo CUBA, where they
would be within easy reach II their
services were needed.
The action Of the department Mon
day was taken on the receipt or MS
patches that the situation in Vera
Cruz was unsatisfactory The depart
ment was Informed that although the
city appears quiet on the surface
there is much anti-foreign sentiment.
with the constant possibility that an
outbreak will occur.
The warships are commanded by
Rear Admiral Walter Mclean, COM
mander OF the fourth battleship d.
vision. "AnOther vessel OF this division,
the battleship Connecticut, is now IN
Haiti.
To Replace Gunboats.
The official reason for the orders 20
the Louisiana and New Hampshire is
that they are 20 take the place of the
gunboats Sacramento and Marietta
The Sacramento, with the Brazilian
minister TO Mexico on board, is now
of the mouth OF the Mississippi river
waiting for the storm TO subside TO
permit il 10 pass up TO New Orleans.
The battleships are due at Vera
Cruz on Wednesday. ON their arrival
the Marietta will sail for Progreso. In |
answer to appeals from the Interna-
tiOnaI Harvester Co and other i'm /
pOrters They complain that sisal car |
goes are being held up.
The state department is now await |
ing replies TO the appeal of the Pan |
American conference 20 the Mexican
leaders to establish peace in their re-
public. SO far il has had no official
word that the appeal has been receiv- /
ed by the chiefs Of the principal rae
tiOns. The only word received up to |
"a late hour Monday afternoon was
that the appeal had been distributed
TO the military leaders and prominent
citizens I'm the Ciudad PorfriO district
and Monterey districts.
villa and Zapata Agreeable.
The department has learned from
unofficial sources. however. that Gen. |
villa and Gen. Zapata will accept the
suggestion of the Pan American con-
ference and that they will shortly
send their replies agreeing to the
suggestion Of a conference for the Sc
lection Of a provisional president.
Officials OF the department are not
optimistic, however, regarding the
reply of Gen. Carranza 1t was intimat- |
ed Monday by persons close to the Car
rama agency in Washington that Car
rama Will decline to accept the sug-
gestiOn OF the conference, and will |
Insist upon recognition. In some |
quarters there Is the belief that he
may reply that he Will agree TO a con- |
vention. providing each faction is rep
resented according 10 the size of the J
territory it controls. This suggestion |
is not likely TO be acceptable to the |
United States, as such an arrangement |
would give Carranza complete con-
troll Of the convention.
Gen. Funston In command on the
border, Monday wired 10 the war de-
pertinent the details of battle be- |
twcc1 four American soldiers and
about 50 Mexicans at Progressa Ferry
on the Rio Grande, eight miles from
Mercedes. No one was injured. The
Americans were examining a wagon
train, when the Mexicans. across the |
river opened fire on them. The SOL |
diers returned the fire and drove the
MeXcans away. Gen. Funston add
ed that he was strengthening his
patrols all along the river.
Moves Whole Regiment
Gen. Funston reported also that he
had moved the entire 10Th regiment
of infantry from Texas City to Browns
vile, Texas, where the citizens were
in fear of an invasion by Mexican
forces. Each man is armed with 500
rounds of ammunition.
The war department announced that
il is sending two aeroplanes from
Fort sill, Okla. 10 Brownsville. These
aeroplanes will be used for scouting
purposes. and it is expected they will
render important service i'm locating
bands of MeXicans attempting TO cross
the border
The state department received a dis
patch from Mexico City that 4OOI
Americans there were i'm danger OF
starvation and that 120 of them had
asked for assistance 20 leave the coun-
Try. Their plight was so serious that
they were willing 90 abandon their
property To get away. Sec'y of State
Lansing held a conference with Pres't
Wilson as a result OF which instruc-
tions were sent TO Consul Silliman at
Vera Cruz 10 take the matter up with
Carranza and insist that foodstuffs be
given TRANSPORTATION TO the capital An
agent of the consul viii be sent with