The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-08-11
Battleships Rushing to Vera
Cruz to Protect Citizens OF
United States
CARRANZISTAS IN
DEMONSTRATION
Wilson Acts Promptly Order
ing the Louisiana and New
Hampshire to Danger Point
Other Ships May Follow

Washington, Aug. t0.--As a re-
sult of apti-American demonstra-
lions M Vera Cruz the battleships
Louisiana and New Hampshire
sailed tonight from Newport, NJ
l.. for the Mexican port, which Ii
also the seat of the Carranza gov
ernment.
Commander Luke McNamee. senior
officer in charge of the gunooa'
squadron on the east coast or Mexico
reported to the navy department 10
day that anti-foreign sentiment was
rapidly increasing and directed par
ticularly against the United states
He advised that two or more oattis-
ships be sent To Vera Cruz at once lot
me purpose of impressing the Mexi-
cans with the intentions or the WASH
ington government to afford due pro-
lection to the life and property of its
citizens and foreigners generally al
the Mexican port.
The navy department promptly
ordered the New Hampshire and
Louisiana to hold themselves IN readi-
uess to leave for Vera Cruz. but owing
70 a reluctance on the part OF the
state Department to make any show
of force In Mexican waters at this
time. sailing orders were withheld UNI
til late today. The matter was event
;;Aliy referred TO President Wilson, and
IL ia upon his direction that the YES
sells have started south.
Regret Necessity For Action
The necessity OF sending two large
ships To Vera Cruz just at this time
il regarded by the State Department
! as peculiarly unfortunate. The INCL
dent comes on the very eve Of the re-
assembling Of the Pan-American con
i ference In New York tomorrow after
noon. at which time ii Is expected
that final approval will be given tc
the first move proposed In the Ameri-
cans plan for regsnerating Mexico
Apprehension Is felt lest the dispatch
of the two battleships be misunder-
stood by the I.atin-Americans and in.
terpreted as meaning that the United
States intends to use force toward
Mexico, without any real regard for
the joint deliberations instituted last
week he fear was also entertained
| lest the announcement of the dispatch
of two battieSlips to Vera Cruz pro-
woke the Carranzistas to further mani
/ festations of hostility toward Ameri-
cans.
Has No Idea of Using Force.
n may be said positively that al
the present juncture the administra-
ton has no Intentions Of using force
anywhere In Mexico. Only the most
extraordinary occurrences Will move
the administration to swerve from i'll
comprehensive plan for restoring peace
in Mexico. Officials of the State De-
partment experienced in dealing with
/ the Mexican people tonight expressed
the firm helier that the hostile demon.
STATIONS at Vera Cruz would not re-
suit in any overt act which would re.
quire this government to resort tc
drastic action.
If the anti-American feeling con-
tinues to grow further additions will
| be made to the American naval forces
| In Mexican waters.
| II is likely that two more battle
ships will be sent down to give Ad-
miral Mclean a complete division. and
| it has been suggested that possibly the
| battleship Connecticut. now at Port au
l.---