The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-05

"Ihe American ShlpS naQ barely
reached Tampico and Vera Cruz when
the authorities in Washington learned
that several German ships laden with
arms and ammunition, bought by
Huerta, were on their way to Mexican
ports. 1t was this news that caused
President Wilson to order the seizure
of Vera Cruz, which was effected April
81. The Ypiranga, the first of the
German arms laden ships to arrive in
Mexican waters, turned back and put
into Cuban port until more than a
month later, when she landed her car
go of 100000 pounds of ammunition
and 250 field guns at Puerto Mexico.
Two other ships also landed munitions.
But by this time affairs had so shaped
themselves that the United States de-
cided not to interfere with the landing
Of the munitions from Germany (mOre
diplomatic reasonS). Then the South
American A Is G powers began media
ton, not on their initiative, but on the
suggestion of diplomatists of otherpow-
ers. Britain was really the prime NOV
er in this. So the A B G mediation
prevented war when it seemed certain.
"Huerta quit Mexico shortly after
this-without saluting the American
flag-and the American fleet gradually
withdrew. The chance of the United
States going to war with Mexico had
passed. Germany's schemes had been
baked. for the tAne being, at least.
Remember that the Austrian crown
Serbia and Germany did not have that
excuse for starting a world war, for
which she had SO long been preparing.
Above all things she wanted to get a
firm footing in the West Indies, in Cen
trail America and in South America,
and she was willing and ready to fight
the United States to achieve those pur-
poses. Her schemes were perfected
and it was decided to start the con-
Migration by Selling Haiti.
A Hair Trigger Situation.
son July %, 1914, several United
States warShipS were at Port au
Prince, Haiti, under command of Capt.
John J. Knapp, who was on board the
battleship Connecticut. The German
cruisers Karlsruhe and Strassburg
were also at Port au Prince. The Ger
man ships were there to enforce Ger
man claims against Haiti, and reports
had spread that German seamen and
marines were going to land and seize
the customhouse. Captain Knapp had
orders from Washington to oppose the
seizure.
"It was common talk in Port au
Prince that President Oreste Zamor
had been promised $5,000,000 if he
would break off negotiations with the
American minister, Arthur Bailly-
Blanchard, for a proposed new treaty
with the United States, and he had
done so.
"When Sir Lionel saw President Will
son little was said about it, for diplo-
matte reasons. Exactly what he told
the president is, Of course, a secret,
but that he did tell him of certain Ger
man activities in Mexico is now gen.
orally known in official Washington.
Meantime, on February IL, the first
wireless telegraph system between
Germany and the United States had
been put in operation from Nauen, %
miles northwest of Berlin, to Sayvilie,
L. T., the distance being 1000 miles.
This plant was owned by the Atlantic
Communication company. Subsequent
events are the best answer to the ques-
ton whether this wireless system was
purely commercial enterprise.
"a few days later the United States
sent several of the largest warships to
Mexican waters to replace smaller YES
sells, and a report came to Washington
that the situation was growing worse
in Mexico City and that the British
warship off Vera Cruz had sent de-
tachment of marines with quantity
of arms and ammunition to the capital
as part of the legation guard.
Military Organization.
1T was about this time that Cap
tain Won Papen, military attache of
the German embassy In Washington,
and of the German legation in Mexico
as we'll. found it necessary to go TO the
latter capital for quite long stay.
Outside of diplomatic circles nothing
was known of his coming or going, but
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