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Show OPTIMISM FELT ! BY HERS IP ISONCIET Villa's Expression of Friendliness Friendli-ness Toward the United States Gives Pleasure to Officials, WASHINGTON, April 24. While the attention of the American government, for the most part, today was concentrated on restoring order at Vera Cruz and expediting ex-pediting the departure of Americans from all parts of Mexico, a watchful oye was trained on the transcontinental boundary between Mexico and the United States for signs of hostility from constitutionalists. President Wilson and his cabinet had a long meeting, after which optimism was conspicuously apparent, both In their demeanor and in formal discussion of the situation. There was no particular development to wliich the feeling of hopefulness that real war would b averted could be traced, but General Villa's friendly pronouncement, pro-nouncement, it was admitted, had Impressed Im-pressed many officials here with the possibility pos-sibility that the constitutionalists would remain neutral while tho American government gov-ernment sought reparation from Huerta. Othor officials wero not so sanguine and the army moved with precision to protect the American boundary ajid reinforce re-inforce tho expeditionary forces of marines ma-rines and bluejackets at Vera Cruz. Bryan Urges Neutrality. Conferences at the state department betweon Secretary Bryan and representatives representa-tives of the Mexican constitutionalists resulted In tho dispatch to General Carranza Car-ranza of a telegram by the latter strongly strong-ly advising him to remain neutral and assuring him that the American government govern-ment Intended to withdraw Its forces from Mexico as soon as satisfactory reparation had been made for offenses committed by Huerta. The advice given Carranza here was that by assuming a hostile attitude he would draw all Mexico Into a war; Huerta would be perpetuated and the constitutionalists' cause lost in tlm melee. Four countries, among them France and Spain, came forward with inquiries to tho United States about possible means of mediation between the Huerta government and the United States, but Secretary Bryan said theso advances could not be descrlbod afs "overtures" and he wan inclined to attach little importance im-portance to them. Signs of uneasiness abroad because the United States, although not having declared de-clared a blockade or a state of war. is exercising Jurisdiction at Vera Cruz between mensurcs "short of war" and actual war, began to be apparent today. Cabinet officials said no attempt would be mado to Interfere with th0 regular channels of commerco anywhere, cargoes being allowed to land at all points. Munitions Mu-nitions of war alono will bo held at the Vera Cruz customs houso If landed, Outsldo of the diplomatic branch of the government, the army and navy continued con-tinued their plans for tho holding of Vera Cruz, tho care of refugees, the provisioning pro-visioning of American forces and tho maintenance of a strict border patrol, not only to prevent raids and uprisings, but to keep all factions Ln Mexico from obtaining arms and ammunition from the "United States. Tho war department continued Its plan for tho mobilization of regulars and volunteers vol-unteers should the president call for them. The army transports, bearing infantry in-fantry and artillery, sailed for Galveston to reinforce the naval forces at Vera Cruz. Shooting at Laredo Expected. The sporadic outbreak at Nuovo Laredo, La-redo, Mexico, where the evacuating federals fed-erals burned tho town and fired across tho American border, was not unexpected, unexpect-ed, but it was significantly pointed out by officials here that the American troops returned the fire merely in defense of the international line and did not become the nggressors. Both the military and naval forces arc operating under thla principle, defending themselves from attack, but making no offensive move without instructions in-structions from Washington. Congress still talked about Mexico. Senator Lodge read a long telegram from many prominent persons, urging an Inquiry In-quiry Into the Mexican situation before war was declared. Representative Fitzgerald, Fitz-gerald, chairman of the house committee on appropriations, asked the president If ho wanted any "war appropriation." and Mr Wilson said . "Not as yet." Secretary Garrison practically Is without with-out funds for the particular movements of the army now being made, but he Is drawing on the future- Leaders in congress con-gress have assured him that they would back him up ln the present emergency. Tho president lias hesitated to approve any request for an emergency appropriation appropria-tion for the war department, for fear it might bo interpreted as a forerunner of war. Will Sign Volunteer Bill. Mr. Wilson will affix his signature, Srobably tomorrow, to the volunteer army 111 providing for raising a volunteer army force In any time of emergency. The possibility that the militia might be needed need-ed at this time led to an appeal to tho supreme court of tho United States for decision of a pending case to remove legal obstacles in the use of the militia for volunteer service. Estimates by urmy officers as to the number of men the president might call for in case of war range from 50,000 to 100,000, but not a syllable has come from the White house as to this point. Secretary Bryan talked to a procession of callers today. The Spanish embassador embassa-dor had a brief conference, presenting, 11 is believed, an Inquiry from his government govern-ment about oosslble mediation. The German Ger-man embassador, it. was understood, told Mr. Bryan about the uncertainty abroad whether a blockade had been declared or a state of war existed. The American government holds that its seizure of the customs houso Is in accord with international interna-tional precedent as an act of reprisal. No blockade ha? been declared and no interference inter-ference with commerce will be attempted. German Boat .Lands. The German vessel which carried the big shipment of arms, which It was feared might reach Huerta, has landed Its commercial cargo, but the captain of the vessol, for reasons of his own, has not put the ammunition ashore. There has been no effort on the part of the United States forces at Vera Cruz to prevent its landing. " The accepted theory here Is that the ammunition was not landed because be-cause of the certainty that It would not reach tho consignee If deposited in tho Vera Cruz customs houso. American naval officers will not Interfere with the Interior shipment of the cargoes, but will collect tho customs and hold them until reparation has been made for ail offenses. Mr. Bryan gave much attention to arranging ar-ranging for the supervision of American Ameri-can consulates in Mexico. Ho Issued orders or-ders authorizing all American consuls, both In federal and constitutionalist territory, ter-ritory, to withdraw from Mexico, but left It to tholr discretion when to leave. Tho secrotary announced the consuls of Groat Britain, Chile and Franco would look out for American Interests at points where the Brazilian government had no consulates. Brazil already has taken chargo nt the American embassy at Mexico City, Consul General Shanklin still Is In Mexico City, according to the latest word at the !tato department, and has been Instructed to use his discretion ahout leaving. It is believed he will ntzy until un-til the last American is cared for, taking tak-ing refuge finally. If necessary, In some of the other foreign consulates. Thero was no Information about tho condition of Americans ln Mexico City beyond a brief message early In the day saying everything was qulot and no harm had befallen njiy Americans. At the war department Secretary Garrison Gar-rison spent most of his time arranging fpr the departure of the Fifth Infantry brigade from Galveston, commanded by Brigadier General Funston. The fleet put under way, with thirty days' supplies, within a period of eighteen hours. No accommodation for the cavalry was possible possi-ble on the ships which departed today. The artillery taken was enulpped with rapid-fire guns and field pieces of tho mountain type, and plenty of pack mules to carry them, Tho disposition of the forces on arrival at Vera Cruz has not been determined, but It Is practically certain cer-tain a movement will bo begun on their arrival to take possession of twenty-seven miles of the railroad to the big bridge which Is the keystone of the railroad between be-tween Vera Cruz and Mexico City. In all, about 4000 troops will reinforce the 5000 and upward of marines and bluejackets. Seventeen Americans Killed. The navy department was again a center cen-ter of Intense interest. The occupation of Vera Cruz by the naval forces was reported re-ported complete The total Americans killed thus far Is seventeen, and seventy-fivo seventy-fivo wounded; Mexicans, 12G dead and 195 wounded. Secretary Daniels gave most of his time to arranging for tho departure of American refugees. Most of tho Americans Ameri-cans at Puerto Mexico are aboard a Hawaiian-American steamship anchored there, while the British cruiser Berwick was ready to take on more. The gunboat Nashville has gone to relieve the congestion conges-tion there. Preparations for keeping the army and navy supplied with plonty of food and provisions were advanced by tho secretary secre-tary of the navy. "We will send a ship to Vera Cruz in a day or two." he said, "which will contain con-tain supplies for sixtv days for our forces. Another shin will follow ln a week. All ships now at Vera Cruz are amply nrovl-sioned." nrovl-sioned." Conditions at Tamplco were said by Mr. Daniels to be unchanged. Tho Bsperanza. a Ward liner which has left Vera Cruz with many American refugees, will stop at Tampico for more and then proceed to Galveston with her passengers. Evidence of Good Will High officials of the administration, who were confident that the constitutionalists constitution-alists would remain neutral in the present pres-ent situation, pointed to the correspondence correspond-ence between Goneral Joaquin Telloz. commander of the federal forces at Guaymas. and General Obrcgon, commanding com-manding the constitutionalists at Cullcan. as concrete evidence of tho hostility of the two factions. The federal general had asked Obregon to join with him against tho United States, but Obregon replied that Huerta was deliberately provoking a foreign war. and, that while the .constitutionalists themselves protested against the capture of Vera Cruz and would resist invasion, they would never como to the assistance of the Huerta troops. Washington officials regarded as of the utmost Importance General Obregons declaration to Tellcz. In which he said: "Should you be attacked by tho American Amer-ican boat now In the harbor of Guaymas and defeated, as you always are. we will allow you to retreat, but hold you prisoners pris-oners until we receive Instructions from General Carranza as to disposition." The American government Is receiving receiv-ing much Information along this line from tho border. |