Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-09
ACTIVE SUPPORT IN
WAR ON GERMANY
Several South American Nations
Expected Soon to Declare
Belligcrency.
BRAZIL ON VERGE OF BREAK
II Guatemala Comes In, Will
Help to Hold Mexico
in Check.
BRAZIL ON VERGE OF BREAK
lRv As.ocinteh rre.si

WASliINGTON. April S. Early en-
trance OF several Of tho South and Cen
trai American nations into the war
against Germany is regarded here as
practically certain. Brazil. aroused by
Iao sinking Of her steamship I'arana.
's expected To become a bclliGcrent this
week and IL is assumed that her lead
VIII be followed promptly by other
countries.
REPORTS Of divided opinion III ArEcn-
Una have given officials here little en-
Gourasemcnt To look for aggressive ac-
'ion by that country. Active support
OF tho United States by at least two
or the nvc Central American republics
and possibly by four, would not he sur
prising. Official and unofficial reports
that Estrada Cabrera. President Of
guatemala. ia contemplating seriously
break with Germany. have been re-
ccired. SO long as Mcxico's course is
Underlined. unusual interest is attached
TO tho position OF the Central American
governments. especially that OF Guate-
mala controlling tho southern frontier
OF Mexico In the event Of the develop
'ncnt OF AN unfricndly situation In
Mexico. II is realized that C;uatcmala's :
role would be far from unimportant.
GUATEMALA HAS
MOST EFFICIENT ARMY
In Guatemala. Estrada Cabrera has
built UP what is regarded generally as
the most Efficient army in Central
America, aud with It he would be in
? position TO lend valuable assistance
20 the United States. Ant!pathy be-
tween the Guatemaians and the Mex
leans has existed for years 1t is
known that earnest efforts have been
made by Counsciors OF Cabrera 10 iu-
ducc him 10 enter promptly into the
war. n he does place his country in
the list II is expected that Nicara ua
viii quickly follow, and that the long
standing differences between those two
countries and Salvador and Honduras
may be swcp, away in "a desire to pre-
sent a united Central America. An odd
situation would, be left i'm The posi-
tion OF Costa Hica. There, IA new gov
crnnient has just been installed and
has apparently no opportunity OF rec
ognition by the United States. Fed
crico Tinoco. who overthrow the gov
crnmcnt OF Alfredo Gonzales in Jam
usry, was elected Prcsidcn, on April
-. omcial notification Of his election
was received ut tho State Department
yesterday. Tho couritry is at peace
but prior to tho election aud inm edi-
ately after the overthrow OF Gonzales
the United States government an
nounced that il would not recognize
the dc facto government and would not
recognize Tinoco II elected
Hrs OPPOSITION
or No CONSEQI ENCE
5Sorne anxiety has been manifested
in the probable position Tinoco would
take, hut in case the executives OF
tho other four Central American gov
cruments join in the war any. ohstruc-
Ton Tinoco might set up would be OF
little consequence.
American officials continue TO watch
closely every move in Mexico. but little
real anxiety remains. II is believed
now that German Vaccinations in that
country have failed. and that tho worst
that may be expected from that quar-
Ter Is n declaration OF neutrality.
Investigation by officers OF the
vnerican army showed the reports Of
German reservists crossing from tho
United States into Mexico have hcen
exaggerated. and that tho total num-
bnr crossing the Rio Ggandc since the
breaking Of relations with Germany
up TO ten days ago was not moro than
100.