Evening star., 1924-01-21
Navy Department Gets Word
From Admiral Magruder
on Cruiser Richmond.
STERN WARNING ISSUED
AGAINST LAYING MINES
o. S. Threatens Action if Huerta Is
Defant-1,500 Federals Cross
Border.

THE rebel blockade of the port OF
Tampico has been postponed" until
the. end OF the present month. Rear
Admiral Magruder reported to the
Navy Department today on his arrival
off that port aboard his flagship, the
cruiser Richmond.
In announcing receipt Of this mes
cage, the State Department said that
Admiral Magruder had not Indicated
She source of his information. His
message served, however, to relieve
tension in Washington In connection
with the Tampico situation.
L. s. Protests to Huerta.
The State Department in formal
statement announced today that il
had lodged vigorous protests with
Adolfo de la Huerta against the plac-
Sng OF mines in the harbors of From
lera, Puerto Mexico and Vera Cruz
as IAN unwarranted threat against
the commerce of the world"
In lodging the protest, the state
ment said, Consul Wood at Vera Cruz
informed de Ia Huerta that If the
mining operations were carried out or
had ALREADY been partially or wholly
carried OUT" and the mines were not
inent will be constrained to adopt ap-
propriate measures to protect its
commerce and it's nationals
Following is the text Of tho State
Departments announcement:
Acted ON January 16.
"A decree issued at Vera Cruz on
January 12 and signed by Adolfo De
La Huerta, announced that q block
ade OF the port of Tampico would be
established on January 16. The de-
partment on January 1S instructed
the American consul at Vera Cruz to
protest vigorously against this inter-
ferencs with commerce and to ex-
press this. governments expectation
that immediate steps would be taken
by those responsible for the proposed
blockade to remove this threat.
Subsequently, on learning that the
order for the attempted blockade had
ordered the United States cruiser
Richmond to proceed to Tampico to
protect adequately the peaceful and
legitimate United States commerce
going in and out of that port from
Interference under any assertions OF
blockade.
The American, consul at Vera Cruz
reported to the department on Janu-
ary 10 that, following the presenta-
tion Of this governments protest, the
proposed blockade was postponed
until the end of this month.
Get Notice of Mines.
''On January II the American con-
sui at Vera Cruz informed the depart
nent that he had been notified by Mr..
de Ia Huerta that the ports of From
terra, Puerto Mexico and Vera Cruz
were to be mined. The consul was i'm
la Huerta that this government, not
only on its own behalf but on behalf
Of humanity. most vigorously pro-
tested against this proposed measure
as being an unwarranted threat
against the commerce of the world
and as involving grave danger to the
lives OF peaceful citizens Of all ma
rtonalities.
He was also told to inform Mr..
Ge la Huerta that. IL the proposed
measure is carried out or, in the
event that II has already been par
mines and other obstructions to
navigation are not Immediately re-
moved from the ports in reference;
his government will be constrained
TO ADOPT appropriate mea SureS to
protect its commerce and its nationals
from the grave and imminent danger
involved"
Richmond to Remain.
The Richmond will remain Off
Tampico for the present. No orders
have been sent to the cruiser Omaha
and the six destreyers accompanying
her from Banana to Vera Cruz. but
probably some of them will join the
Ischmond at Tampico.
Officials are unwilling to comment
On the Significance of the word post
poned" In Admiral Magruder's mes
sage. 1t is evident, however, that
they are hopeful that the blockade
problem will not be revived, and
((1nn ttnilel ON, . i