New Britain Herald Newspaper, April 20, 1914, Page 1

rlERALD BEST OF ALL L NEWSPAPERS NEW BRITAIN HERALD: PRICE THREE CENTS. NEW BRITAIN, CONNECTICUT, MONDAY, APRIL 20, - 1914—TWELVE PAGES. HERALD “ADS” MEAN E'ITER L. SIEN E ESTABLISHED 1876. "HUERTA'S REFUSAL TO SALUTE BRINGS CRISIS - PRESIDENT APPEARS BEFORE JOINT SESSIO Seizure and Blockade of Mexican Coast Ports Will Probably Follow Permission by Assembled Houses to Take Step; War Is Against Hueita, Not Mexico. * BATTLESHIPS AND COMPANIES OF MARINES RUSHING TOWARDS SCENE OF UNRECOGNIZED DICTATOR’S STRONGHOLD TG AUGMENT MANY ALREADY THERE — PRESI- DENT -STATES THAT THERE WILL BE NO WAR WITH MEXICO, BUT THAT HUERTA WILL SUFFER FOR HIS ACTS Washington, April 20.—President > Wilson today answered Huerta's de- fiance by asking congress, assembled in joint session, for approval to ‘‘use * the armed forces of the United States in such ways and to such extent as may be necessary to obtain from . Géneral Hierta and his adherents the fullest recognition of the rlzhts and dignity of the United States.” The president did not ask for any appropriation of money at this time nor for authority to call out the na- tional guard. ““There can be no thought of ag- gression or of selfish aggrandizement” declared the president to the sober faceéd throng of senators and repre- sentatives which packed the hall of the house. Just as soon as the joint session had dissolved this resolution was in- troduced in the house: “A, resolution justirying the em- ployment of the armed forces of.the TUnited States'in enforcing certain de- mands against Victoriano Huerta: ‘‘Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives in congress as- sembled that the president of the > Uniteq States is justified in the em- ployment of the armed forces of the United States to enforce th¢ demands upon Victoriano Huerta for unequjvo- cal amends to the government of the TUnited States for indignities com- mitted against this government by General Huerta and his representa- tives.” At 3 P, M., sharp, President Wil- son delivered his address to congress asking for approval to “use -the armed forces of the United States in such ways and to such extent as may be mecessary to ohtain from Huerta and his adherents the fullest recog- nitions of the rights and dignity of the United States.” The president finished his reading of the message at 3:12 P. M., and left the chamber amid a rear of ap- plause and cheers. The text of the message follows: “It is my duty to call your atten- tion to a situation which has arisen in our dealings with General Victori- ano Huerta at Mexico City which calls for action and to ask your advice and cc-operation in acting upon it. On the ninth of April a paymaster of the U. 8. 8. Dolphin landed at the Itur- bide Bridge landing at Tampico wit{s a whaleboat and boat's crew to take oft certain supplies needed by his ship, and while engaged in loading the boat was arrested by an officer and squad of men of the army of General Huerta, Neither the paymaster nor any of the Doat's crew was armed. “Two of the men were in the boat when the arrest took place and weré obliged to leave it and submit to be taken into custody, notwithstanding the fact that the boat carried, both at her bow and at her stern, the flag oI the United States. “The officer who made the arrest , 'was proceeding up one of the streets ¥ of the town with his prisoners when met by an officer of higher author- ity, who ordered him to return to the landing. and await orders, and within an hour and a half from the time of the arrest orders were re- ceived from the commander of the ‘Huertista forces at Tampico for the release of the paymaster and his men. The release was followed by apolo- gles from the commander and later by, ap expression of regret by Gen- eral Fluerta himself. General Huerta, urged that martial law obtained at the time at Tampico; that orders had heen issued that no one should be allowed to land at the Iturbide Bridge, and that our sailors had no right to land there. Our naval com- manders at the port had not been no- tifled -of any such prohibition and, even if they had been, the only jus- tiflable course open to the local au- thorities would have been to request the paymaster and his crew to with- draw and to lodge a protest with the commanding officer of the fleet. Ad- miral Mayo regarded the arrest as so serious an affront that he was not satisfled with the apologies offered, but demanded that the flag of the United States be saluted with spectul ceremony by the military commander of the port. i Incident Cannot Be Regarded As Trivial “The incident cannot be regarded as a trivial one, especially as two of the men arrested were taken from tha boat itself—that is to say, from the territory of the United States; but had it stood by itself, it might have been attributed to the ignorance or arrogance of a single officer. Unfor- tunately, it was not an isolated case. “A serles of incidents have recent- ly occurred which cannot but create "We impression that the representa- i forces of the United States in such vays and to such an extent as may be necessary to obtain from General Huerta and his adherents the fullest recognition of the rights and dignity of the United States, even amidst the distressing conditions now unhappily obtaining in Mexico. “There can in what we do be no thought to aggression or of selfish ag- grandizement. We seek to maintain the dignity and authority of the TUnited States only because we wish aiways to keep our great influence un- impaired for the uses of liberty, both in the United States and wherever else it may be employed for the benefit of mankind.” Wilson Talks To Newspaper Men tives of General Huerta were willing to go out of their way to show dis- regard for the dignity and rights of this government, and felt perfectly safe in doing what they pleased, mak- ing free to show in many ways their irritation and contempt. A few days after the incident at Tampico an or- derly from the U. S. S. Minnesota |« was arrested at Vera Cruz , while ashore in uniform to obtain the ship's mail and was for a time thrown into Jail. An official dispatch from this government to its embassy at Mexico City was withheld by the authorities of the telegraph service until peremp- torily demanded by our charge d'af- faires in person. So far as I can learn, such wrongs and annoyances have been suffered to occur only against representatives of the United States. I have heard of no complaints from other govern- ments of similar treatment. Subse- quent explanations and formal apol- ogles did not and could not alter the popular impression, whicn it is pos- sible it had been the object of the Huertista authorities to create, that the government of the United States ‘vas being singled out, and might be singled out with impupity, for slights and affronts in retaliation for its re- fusal to recognize the pretentions of General Huerta to be regarded as the constitutional provisional president of the Republic of Mexico. “The manifest danger of such a situation was that such offenses might grow from bad to worse until some- thing happened of so gross and in- tolerable a sort as to lead directly and inevitably to armed conflict. 1t was necessary that the apologies of Gen- eral Huerta and his representatives should go much further, that they should- be .such -as to attract the at- tention of the whole population to their significance dnd such as to im- press upon General Huerta himself the necessity of seeing to it that no further occasion for explanations and professed regrets should arise. B therefore, felt it my duty to sustain Admiral Mayo in the whole of his demand and to insist that the flag of the United States should be saluted in such a way as to indicate a new spirit end attitude on the part of the Huer- tistas. General Huerta Has Refused to Salute “Such a salute General Huerta has refused, and I have come to ask your approval and support in the course I now purpose to pursue. “This government can, I earnestly hope, in no circumstances be forced into war with the people of Mexico. Mexico is torn by a civil strife. If we are to accept the tests of its own constitution,* it has no government. General Huerta has set his power up in the city of Mexico, such as it is, without right and by methods for which" there can be no justification. Only part of the country is under his control. If armed conflict should unhappily come as a result of his attitude of personal resentment towards this government, we should be fighting only General Huerta and those who adhere to him and give him their support, and our object would be only to restore to the people of the distracted republic the oppor- tunity to set up again their own laws and their own government. “But I earnestly hope that war is not now in question. I believe that 1 speak for the American people when I say that we do not desire to control in any degree the affairs of our sis- ter republic. Our feeling for the people of Mexico is one of deep and genuine friendship, and everything that we have so far done or refrained | from doing has proceeded from our desire to help them, not to hinder or émbarrass them. We would not wish even to excrcise the good offices of friendship without their welcome and consent, The people of Mexico are entitled to settle their own domestic affairs in their own way, and we sin- “The following portion of President ‘Wilson's talk to the Washington cor- respondents on the Mexican situation was authorized today at the White House: The president said: “I wagnt to say to you gentlemen, do not get the impression that there is about to be war between the United States and Mexico. That is not the outlook at present, at all. In the first place, in no concelvable circum- stances will we fight the people of Mexico, ““We are their friends and we want to help them In every way that we cam to recover their rights and their government and their laws, and for the present I am going to congress to present 8 speclal situagion and seek their approval to meet that special sltuation. “It s only an 1issue between this government and a person oalling him- self the provisional president of Mexico, whose, Tight to call himself such, ‘we have never recognized in any way. “So that I had a Tfeeling of un- easiness as I read the papers this morning ag if the country were getting on fire with war enthusiasm. I have no enthusiasm for war; I have an enthusiasm for justice and for the dignity of the United States, but not for war. And this need not eventuate into war if- we handle it with firmne and promptness.” ° The president said that in reality he ‘Wwas going to corigress on an occasion for which, strictly speaking, it was not necessary to obey, but that it was ‘his desire to have the full co-operation and thought and purpose of congress. Mr. Wilson said that the executive could take steps which would fall short of a declaration of war, Patience Not Lost By President Wilson The president emphasized that he had not lost his patience with Mexico, for to lose patience seemed to him an act of weakness on the part of a per- son strong enough to do as he ought, but that he felt such incidents as recent ones might g0 from bad to worse and eventually bring about a state of conflict. The president returned to Wash- ‘ington from White Sulphur Springs, W,_ Va., at 7:64 o'clock and went at ionce to the White House for a con- | terence with Secretary Bryan. This called for 10:30 o’clock. message last night while traveling, and after going over a first draft with the | secretary of state submitted It to the cabinet, House and senate leaders were early at the White House to learn the details of the president’s plans 80 they might prepare the necessary | resolutions putting congress squarely behind the president and giving him full authority to.act. While the president's cerely desire to respect their right. The present situation need have none of the grave complications of inter- ference if we deal with it promptly, firmly and wisely. Asks Authority to g Use Army and Navy “No doubt I could do what is neces- sary in the circumstances to enforce respect for our government without recourse to the congress, and yet not exceed any constitutional powers as president; but I do not wish to act in | a matter poesibly of so grave conse- quence except in close conference ond co-operation with both the senate and | house. I therefore come to ask your approval that I should use the armed not officially disclosed it weas oen- ceded in official circles that B¢ w ad ask congress to known in international law as ‘“meas- ures short of war.” which, while not being a declaration of war on the part of the United States, might be construed by Huerta. best informed officials these consist of the following. 1—Seizure of the ports of Tampico {ana Vera Cruz. would in those waters. 3—Seizure of the " railroad | Vera Cruz to the Mexican capital to a point including a - trestle twenty miles west of Vera Cruz to prevent the route to the Mexican capital be- ing Dblocked. 4-—Probably a request for a special appropriation to carry out these meas- ures. This latter point, however, was not definite early today. Major General Wood to Command Forces Secretary Garrison announced that Major General Leonard Wood, chief of staff of the army, would command the American forces should it finally become necessary to use them. In the naval establishment every- thing was in readiness for action. Few orders remained to be given. Secretary Daniels was early at his desk scanning over night reports of the movements of the big fleets steaming to both coasts of Mexico. Rear Admiral Badger’s ships will be at Tamplco early Wednesday, accord- ing to latest calculations. Attitude of Rebels Is Very Favorable The attitude of Carranza.and Vilia, leaders of the constitutionalists, the secretary said, he considered very favorable, and he did not expect any compli¢ating developments from that phase of the situation. Cabinet members began arriving at the White House before the hour set | for the meeting, with the result that the session began before the appoint- ed hour. All other callers were turned away. Seeretary Garrison said no orders had been issued for any movement of troops. General Wood's four- year detail as chief of staff of the army will expire next ‘Wednesdey. He pmbu.bly will leave immediately for Texas City, where the Second Army Division has been mobilized for the last fourteen months. The general comment among con- gressmen and in hearty support of the president and the possibilities of action. Some, however, dissented from the president’s plan. Republi- can Leader Mann of the house had issued a statement saying he was not fn sympathy with the movement, and today Senator Bristow commented adversely upon the administration’s attitude. “When President Wilson comes 'tv congress today asking for the use ol the armed forces of the United States to compel Huerta to apologize he will not receive my vote,” announced Sen- ator Bristow. “If he asks for author- ity to put down insurrections or es« tablish a stable government in' Mex- ico, a more serious question for con- sideration will arise. This thing of making war upon the Mexican people merely because a man the president calls a bandit refuses to apologize iu idiotic.” Secretary Bryan announced that he had received the full text of M, O’Shaughnessy’s message from Mex- ico City containing Huerta’s repiy. He said it was not a long message, but declined to make the full text public until after the cabinet meet - ing. Mr. Bryan said that so far as he knew the Mexican government had not given Mr. O'Shaughnessy his pass- | preceded a special cabinet meeting | | President Wilson had outlined his ports nor had the state department instructed the charge to leave Mex- ico. According to official advices Amer- (icans in Mexico already are begin- ning to leave. Officials understood that Hundreds of Americans left Mexico City yesterday for Vera Gruz. The cabinet meeting ended shortly after 1 p. m. “The president will tell the whole . story at the capitol at 3 o'clock,” sald the secretaries as they passed out. plans were | authorize whe avo ' ‘meeting | dents. s0 | According to | tits first 2—Selzure of the Mexican gunboats | | from It became known that they sldered Charge Algara’s latést munication as containing new, Counsellor Lansing of the state du- partment was taken into the cabinct to point out various precc- Cabinet officers said they had “the various steps in the con- com- nothing discussed situation.” The Jjoint headed & army and navy board, Admiral Dewey, today had ssfon in many months, It discussed plans for co-operation of the army and navy in case it becomes ! ! necessary to adopt measures in Mex- ico. Major General Leonard Wood, chlef of Staff, and Major General Wotherspoon, assistont chief, at- tended the meeting. New Proposition Is Submitted By Huerta The only suspicion of a break in the silence between Washington and Mexico City came during the forenoon when Charge Algara carried a com- munication to Secretary Bryan. The charge said he considered it was some- what different from the proposition which was refused last night, but Secretary Bryan declared it was the same as that forwarded by Charge O'Shaughnessy and could not be ac- cepted. Mr. Algara telegraphed to the Mexican foreign minister, Senor Portillo y Rojas, that Mr. Bryan had recefved his communication “with no encouragement.” Officfals who knew of Mr. Algara's message sald it might be construed as a proposal to eliminate the written guarantee for a return salute by the United States which Huerta demanded early yesterday, but stated that the officials evidently did not accept this as of such import. Huerta's telegram to President Taft on February 18, 1913, was given out again at the White House today and officlals declared its words had a significant bearing on the present situation. It follows: henor te inform ‘vou that I have over- thrown this government; the forces are with me, and from now on peace and prosperity will reign. ‘Your obedient servant, “VICTORIANO HUERTA. “‘Commander-in-Chiet.” Resolutions Passed for a Joint Session The house upon assembling imme- diately and unanimously passed a concurrent resolution for the joint session with the senate at 3 p. m. The senate without debate adopted the house resolution for a 3 o'clock Joint session. A bill to appropriate $50, 000 000 to be expended by the president was introduced by Senator Chamberlain, chairman of the military affairs com- mittee, to which the bill was referred. The Chamberlain bill provides: ““That the president of the United Btates be and he is hereby authorized to expend in his discretion for the natfonal defense and for each and every purpose connected therewith the sum of fifty million dollars out of any moneys in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, which sum shall remain available until expend- ed.” . This is identical with the bill passed before the war with Spain. The senate passed the volunteer army bill for taking into the regular service militia regiments in time of war. The bill already has passed tho house, It was a solemn and quiet house that voiced a subdued but determined affirmative to the speaker’s question on the resolution for a joint session. Grave of face, the members stood while Chaplain Couden brought home the situation in his prayer, when he said: “Oh, God, a question of grave con- scquence confronts us here today. A crisis which affects thousands of people must be met. Impart to the president, his advisers and the mem- bers of this congress wisdom, courage and fortitude that they may act in ac- cerdance with the highest conceptions of truth and justice and right, so that civilizatlon may be advanced and things which make for peace and righteousness may progress.” Speaker Clark and Chairman Flood of the foreign affairs committee con- ferred with Democratic Leader Un- derwood and arranged that as soon as the president shall have read his message the foreign affairs commit- tee shall meet and report immediate- ly a resolution, Mr. Underwood after telephoning to the White House, said: “Congress will do whatever the president asks, which probably will be a blockade of the Mexican ports and steps to protect American lives and proper . The navy foday char- now in refugee war depart- department tered the Ward liner Mexico, Mexican Gulf waters, for a ship at Tampico. The “I have the’ Imenl took options on several ships to be used as transports. First Step of Policy Outlined By Wilson President Wilson had said that the first step in his policy of reprisal would be to seize the ports of Tam- pico and Vera Cruz, and that what happened after that would ,depend upon Huerta. It was understood, too, that seizure of the railway trestle connecting Vera Cruz, the principal Mexican port on the Atlantic side, with Mexico City, as well as a “pa- cific blockade™” of all ports controlled by the Huerta forces on both coasts, was contemplated. The fleets on their way to Mexican waters are strong enough to carry out this pro- gram and convey enough men avail- able for shore expeditions to execute any operations in the interior that may be necessary. What part is to be played by the army will depend largely upon the attitude of the constitutionalists who control the northern part of Mexico. Relations between Carranza and Villa, the constitutionalist leaders, and the Washington government have been described by high officials here in the past few days as entirely satisfac- tory. Consequently If the constitu- tionalists continue their campaign against the Huerta forces in the in- terior and make no attempt to inter- fere with the purposes of the United States there may be little for the American army to do. ‘Washington was fairly aflame to- day' with enthusiasm over the presi- dent’s determination to act. Army and navy officers say, however, the ope: . ations in Mexico will not be war; that the Huerta regime is in no posi- tion to offer real resistance to a first class power. There will be no for- ‘'mal declaration of war in any event, because the United States could not declare war against a government the existence of which it has not rec- ognized. Information as to the attitude of foreign nations generally toward the change in American policy was awaited with interest. All the facls as they developed had been present- ed to the members of the diplomatic corps, . who in turn had reported to their respective governments. To- day the news of Huerta’'s refusal to salute the flag, with the intentions of the United States, was conveyed to the foreign representatives. The state department through Mr. O'Shaughnessy and by direct messages from Mr. Bryan to American consuls throughout the Mexican republic has warned all Americans to leave. Such protection as the United States has undertaken to extend to foreigners will not be effected, according to tho present purpose. The diplomatic body in Washington has learned that the United States will continue to look after foreigners in northern Mexico in the constitutionalist zone, where forelgn governments have no consular representative. In the fed- eral territory their governments wiil continue to look after their own sub- Jects. Secretary Garrison conferred with General Wood, General Wotherspoon, who will become chief of staff next Wednesday; Brigadier-General Crow- der, judge advocate general, and other officials of the department. It was understood they were preparing recommendations to congress looking to the Immediate passage of legisla- tion providing for a large voluntcer army. The basis of the recommendations will be in the Hay bill, already passed by the house, which will permit the mustering into the United States army of militia organizations with thelr officers providing seventy-five per cent. of the men are willing to do so. Senator Shively called a meeting of the foreign relations committee after the cabinet had met. Emergency Appropriation Is Not Necessary Senator Martin, appropriations chairman of the committee expressed the belief that an emergency appro- priation was not necessary at this time, but that an appropriation of fifty million dollars, the sum appro- priated at the beginning of the Span- ish-American war, would be made if usked by the president Secretary Daniels said tho cabinet meeting that had been sent to Rear that before no orders Admiral Badger's fleet nor had any been | sued to the battleships New York Texas, which are almost ready sea duty. Dr. Danlels recelved message from Rear Admiral Flete! at Vera Cruz, dated Sunday, sayil “no further developments at Vi Cruz or Tampico. Admiral Fletcher informed state department that the Bril crufser Lancaster had gone Vera Cruz to Porto Mexico and the British cruiser Essex had from Vera Cruz to Tampico. State department estimates put number of Americens in Mexico O at 1,200; Vera Cruz about 800; pico 601 Torreon 150; Chi i50; Gllldulljl 200 and the scattered raulymu. Acapulco nnd other small l.ow Chairman Flood of the house eign affairs committee, and Cooper, the ranking republican, Acting Chairman Shively of the ate foreign relations committee, Senator Lodge, the ranking Tepubl can, conferred with the right after 2 o'clock on the tion congress will be asked to Second Division Hurries to Houston, Tex., April 20.—The ond Division of the United army, comprising 10,000 men, on a practice march, began a hi movement back to Texas City Galveston today on orders from Washington at 6 o'clock morning. The Fifth Brigade of division was rushed abosrd tm trains, but the remainder was o dered to make the sixty mile * back to the coast on foot. Plans we made for the Fifth Brigade to aboard transports, although It said no sailing orders have been ' celved, The ‘second .division which has grooming in Texas City and veston for a year, had marched Houston to remain until the m of the week. The soldiers were have paraded in a local celeb: April 21, of the Battle of San cinto, when Texas won Indepen from Mexico. Their march from the coast last week In the men are hardy, no case of ous illness appearing in the mand. Yy The fifth brigade, which retu to Gaiveston by train under the already worked out for tréop m ments by sea, would be the first to aboard transports unless orders embarkation should speelfy ohange in program. By daylight, than three hours after the orders return had been flashed into sleeping camp, the fifth brigade boarding trains. The quick m ment developed the fact that made up, except for hooking on engin had been held in readi for just such orders. The fifth brigade comprises 'd fourth, seventh, nineteenth twenty-elghth infantry and is in ¢ mand of Col. Danfel Cornman. station is at Fort Crockett, Galv: while the remainder of the seco division is stationed at Texas City General Frederick Funston, X manding the division, returned to | headqparters at Texas (/ty in ad of the army. The plan & to make the Trigade numbering nearly §,0 ready for sailing to Vera Cruz by day morning in case a troap ment should be ordered. . n Pensacola, Fla., April were received edrl the flotilla of tw: torpedo destroyers here to to sea this ternoon, meeting Réar Admiral ger's fleet in the gulf and accom ing it to Tampico. Officers sald destroyers, with two tenders, ready to depart. The battleship Mississippi took aboard 600 marines. Tt was that she would safl for Tampico accordance with previously announe orders early tomorrow. With her £o the scout cruiser Birmingham, ¢ Tving four navy hydro-aeroplanes. was announced that the Birmingha! the fastest cruiser of her class in ti navy, would make an effort to Tampico before any hostilities b out, so that her air craft may b used in directing any operations in t! surrounding country. Wall Street Shows No Signs of Uneasine 20 ‘today A New York, April 20.—The M can situation was almost t he topic of discussion in the (Continued on Eleventh