Ripley County democrat., 1917-03-16

i
reached Tanpico and Vera Cruz when
the authorities In Washington learned
TINT several German ships laden with
arms and ammunition, bought by
Huerta, were on their way to Mexican
| ports. II was this news that caused
President Wilson to order the seizure
Of Vera Crnz, which was effected April
Il The Yplranga, 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 B G powers began media
tion, not on their initiative, but on the
suggestion Of dlplomatists of otherpow-
ers. Britain was really the prime NOV
er in this. So the A b G mediation
prevented war when 1t seemed certain.
"IIuerta quit Mexico shortly after
this--without saluting the American
tiag--and the American feet gradually
withdrew. The chance Of the United
States going to war with Mexico had
passed. Germany's schemes had been
baked. for the time being, at least.
Remember that the Austrian crown
prince had not been assassinated in
Serbia and Germany did not have that
excuse for starting world war, for
which she had so long been preparing.
Above all things she wanted to get q
firm footing In the West indies, III Cen
tral 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 II was decided to start the con-
fagration by SELLING Haiti.
A Hair Trigger Situation. =
"on July. 2s. 1914, several United
States warships were at Port an
Prince, Haiti, under command of Capt.
John ]. 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 enforte 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. &
# 1T was common talk In Port au
Prince that President Oreste Zamor
had been promised $5,0Oo,000 II he
would break or negotiations with the
American minister, Arthur Bailly-
Blanchard, for proposed new treaty
with the United States, and he had
done so.
"When Sir Lionel saw President Will
son little was said about II, for liplo-
mntlc 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 II, the first
wireless telegraph system between
Germany and the United Stated had
been put In operation from Nauen, 25
miles northwest Of Berlin. to SayyfIle,
L. l., the distance being 4.000 miles.
This plant was owned by the Athntlc
Communication company. Subsequent
events are the best answer to the ques-
tion whether this wireless system was
purely a 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 of Vera Cruz had sent d de-
tachment Of marines with quantity
Of arms and ammunition to the capital
rs part Of the legation guard.
Military Organization. \
'It was about this time that Cap
tain yon Papen. military attache Of
the German embassy In Washington.
and OF the German legation In Mexico
as well. found It necessary to 80 to the |
IL I|t. II