The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-08-14
TWO BATTLESHIPS TO MEXICO
LOUISIANA AND NEW HANfP-
SIIIRL OFF FOR VERA CRUZ.
Vessels Go to Prevent Outbreak and
Guard Foreigners i'm Carranza's
Capital-NOt a Part OF Peace Plan.

can battleships, the Louisiana and
New Hampshire, sailed tonight from
Newport for Vera Cruz in response
to an urgent request from Commander
McNamee that his little fleet of gum
boats be reinforced in view Of anti
foreign demonstrations at Gen. Car
ranza's capital.
ut was understood here that Presi-
dent Wilson ordered the warships sent.
although no official would admit that
they had sailed. Care had been taken
during the day to point out that any
naval or military activity now only
would be precautionary to safeguard
foreign interests and could not be con-
strued as connected with the Pam
American conference to be resumed in
New York tomorrow to complete q
programme for bringing about peace
in Mexico.
Official reticence concerning the
movements of the battleships is due
largely to a fear that news of their
coming reaching Vera Cruz ahead Of
the ships might accentuate the al
ready serious situation there. Com
mander McName cabled his request
last night and the two battleships
Immediately were ordered held in
readiness to proceed.
Today, after conferences between
Secretary Lansing and Rear Admiral
Benson, acting secretary of the navy,
| it was understood the sailing of the
ships would be delayed pending
fuller reports from Vera Cruz and
that if possible the sending of any
considerable additional forces would
be avoided because of it's possible eff
feet on work of the Pan-American
conference. .s.
President Wilson,, in New Hamp-
shire, was advised of Commander
McNamee's report and several hours
later a long code dispatch reached the
navy department from Cornish. Then
1t became known that the ships had
been instructed to start Immediately
for Vera Cruz.
Secretary Lansing, who left tonight
for New York to attend the Pam
American conference, would not dis
cuss naval movements further than to
admit that a ship would be sent to
replace one which would bring the
Brazilian and Guatemalan ministers
to the United States. He said that
on account of continued bandit raids
on the border orders soon would be
issued to increase the American mill
tary forces there, but at the same
time declared emphatically that neith-
er this action nor any ship move
ments had any bearing whatever on
the plans of the Pan-American con-
ference.
Mr.. Lansing said he expected to be
back at his desk Thursday morning
IF we have good luck"
President Wilson will be back i'm
Washington In time to attend a cab
met meeting Friday at which both the
programme of the Pan-American con-
ference and the situation at Vera Cruz
Will be discussed. Secretary Daniels
started for Washington tonight from
Asheville, n. G.
Just before he took the train for
New York, Secretary Lansing said
advices had reached the state depart
ment confirming the report Of Com
mander McNamee as to conditions at
Vera Cruz, but giving no additional
details. The new reports from Vera
Cruz were forwarded to Cornish.
In connection with the conference
at New York, it was learned tonight
that the appeal to be addressed to
the Mexican people and all military
leaders probably will outline a def
mite plan for the holding of gen.
eral convention to set up constitu-
| tional government.
1t is said that the conference will
though his name may not be formally
announced until peace convention is
assembled.
Possibility that SO me Of the chiefs.
particularly Gen. Carranza, may re-
fuse to join in such a convention has
been fully considered. All the ma
tions participating in the conference
are declared to be in agreement to use
the armed forces of the United States
II necessary, to enforce an embargo
on war supplies against any factions
opposing a new government.
armed intervention to establish
the Mexican government would be
contemplated only as a last resort,