New-York tribune., 1920-05-06
Warships Go
rOm,Here to
MexiicanDuty
Destroyers Rushed to Key
West To Be Ready for
Action as Carranza Pow
er Crumbles Rapidly

WASHINGTON, May 5--Recognition
Of Carranza's rapidly diminishing power
in Mexico was admitted by government
officials to-day, but the dispatch of q
flotilla Of six destroyers and a tender
to Southern waters to-day was not
taken to indicate that foreigners are
in immediate danger. The destroyers
which sailed from New York will arrive
at Key West tomorrow and will be
used along the east coast only in the
event that necessity arises. Before his
departure Captain Byron Long, COM
manding the f1otilla, conferred with the
Secretary of the Navy, who gave him
instructions as to the policy to be pur-
sued
Development Of the revolution as re-
ported to the government has been so
rap as to convince many officials, and
especially army officers, that Carranza
cannot maintain his authority much
longer, not so much because he is op-
posed by q formidable military force as
because he commands an army that is
daily dissolving before the rebels ad-
vance instead of offering battle
Rebel Forces Increased
Information obtained through official
channels has been the basis of an esti-
mate that places the strength of the
rebels at almost double that of the
government. The coordination of the
rebel forces has been hindered rather
than aided by the rapidity with which
new groups form in the different states
and the promptness with which the
EoIn
movement, even before being directly
threatened
Rebel claims that Carrama would
have difficulty now in leaving the
country are supported by reports from
official sources. East and West coast
ports are closed to him by the opera
tions Of rebel units at various places
along the connecting lines His entry
into the United States might yet be
effected over the long line of railroad
from the capital to Laredo and the
possibility OF escape through the
Tehuantepec Isthmus into Guatemala
garded as impracticable on account of
rebel operations in zones he would have
to cross.
In any event, the revolutionists as
sert, his departure would have to be
made after the manner of an ordinary
fugutive and not like that of so many
deposed Latin-American rulers.
Safe Conduct for Carranza
Al the same time it was indicated
that the United States was prepared
to offer a safe conduct to Carranza
should he request it.
Such information as was available
here continued to indicate the blood
less character Of the revolution. The
southwark movement Of the rebel forces
along the west coast was continued, but
no reports Of any engagement were re
ceived. The request for naval protec-
ton at ports on the east coast was
construed as precautionary. Although
no overt act had been recorded in the
vicinity of any of the ports, it is un-
derstood British consular officers con-
Cured with American representatives
that ships should be available near
Tampico, TuXpam, Vera Cruz and From
terra to afford a refuge for foreigners
if conflict made temporary retirement
advisable.
The destroyers ordered to Key West
Today are the sherwood, Case, Lard
ner. Putnam, Dale and Reid. Captain
Long is on the tender Black Hawk.
Captain Long was in conference with
Secretary Daniels here last night and
| left Immediately afterward for New
York to get his ships ready
The Secretary said that Captain Long
tepl