The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1920-04-23
State Department Directs
Navy to Send Vessels
Asked by Americans.
EMBASSY DENIES NEED

/. Washington, April 23.-The state
department this afternoon requested
the navy department. to send two
Hight draft gunboats to MaxatIan
and TopoIobampo on the west coast
to Mexico.
RevoIutIorIsts are In control Of
Topoiobampo.
Americans In the vicinity Of
Maxatlan and TopoIobampo live In
the mine regions back OF these
ports but they have come down to
the port towns since the uprising
IN Sonora y, large numbers.
u Is understood that the light ),
draft gunboats viii be ordered TO
sail Immediately from San Diego.
Because Of the shallow waters about
these port II ls impossible to send
heavy draft vessels.
The Atlantic fleet is at Guantanamo
Bay in readiness should IT. be neces-
sary to- send warships to the Atlantic
coast of. Mexico. The warships Tacoma
and Niagara. from which marines
were recently landed at Gutemala, are
also In easy calling distance of the
Atlantic coast of Mexico.
Secretary Of State Colby was aues-
toned this afternoon as to whether the
United states had prepared any diplo-
matte program In connection with the
troubles with Mexico and he declared
that he, could not discuss the matter.
AT the Mexican embassy it was stated
that no information had been received
from Mexico today but that there had
been nothing to indicate a need fof
American warships in Mexican ports
Topoloban,po and Mazatlan are both in
the Mexican state of Sinaloa. on the
western coast OF Mexico. Frontera is
in the state Of Tabasco, on the Gulf OF
Campeche.
Topolobamop lies on a bay Of same
name in the northern part Of Sinaloa. 1t
ID at the terminus of a branch OF the
Kansas City, Mexico & Orient railfoad.
Mazatlan is one Of the chief ports. on
at the entrance Of the Mazatlan river.
on the Gulf of California. The popu-
lation is 10000. ft
Frontera is situated on the Tabasco
river three miles from its entrance into
the Gulf of Canpeche. 1t has small
1900.
The revolutionary measure, which be-
gan In Sonora, spread into Sinaloa.
The. governor Of Sinaioa is said to have
Joined the Sonora revolutionists. There
have been grave rumblings of unrest
Two 'yesseIs Dispatched.
Los Angeles, April 2s.--The cruiser
today ordered ~ Admiral Hugh
Rodman, commanding the Pacific
fleet, to. sail Immediately for Mex =
lean waters. & 3" t4 o.
Mexican Ports Closed.
1t was announced the vessels would
stop at Mazatlan. It was expected ac-
cording to word from the fiagshi} New
Msse ss .s nas S., tsss Sr Ssnsr vefsss sois
vessels are at san Diego, at present. y
y glkt the Offices ofSstti1e nfexican-C CALI
fornia Steamship company here it was
stated word had been received that the
ports Of Mazatlan and Topolobafnpo had
Washington, April 2s.--American rep
resentatiyes at the Mexican ports of
Topblobampo, Mazatlan and Fronteia
have asked that American warships be
sent to those points, the state depart
partnent refused to make any state
ment as to the, Incidents which have
led to the request for warships,
The matter OF sending warships Is
now under considera don. the state de-
partment announced.
The general attitude OF the state de-
partment was that the request for war;
ships was matter not to be taken too
seriously. and 1t was evident that the
state department was not anxious to |
create any unusual comment on the
matter. $3.50.
ut is a very reassuring thing to see
the American flag flying" was the COM
eent made by one high official in con-
hection with the equest for warships.
partment indicate that there is a very
unsettled condition In Mexico which |
may lead to a. serious outburst, and II |
is believed that 1t is to guard the safety |
of Americans In such an event that the
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