OCR Text |
Show TELEGRAMS CAUSE I OF APPREHENSION I Killing of Americans and Seizure of Homes By f Mexican Troops Reported Many Driven to f Streets and Exposed to Fire of Rebels and Federals CLOSE WATCH OF EVENTS BEING KEPT I Diplomatic Situation, Naval Viewpoint and Mili- tary Standpoint Discussed at Joint Meeting of Army and Navy Board Course of Ambassa- ! dor Wilson Approved Washington, Feb 13 Ambassador I Wilson's overnight dispatches were laid before President Taft today lm mediately upon bi6 return from Plill- adelphia. They contained principally a report of the most disquieting feature fea-ture of the fighting in Mexico Oltr the killing of two American women yesterday. Administration officials look with much apprehension upon tbe effect of the killing or two Americans and ono of the first results of the incident was I last nighfu order to Ambassador Wil j son to warn all Americans out of the danger zone. Americans Driven to 8treets. Ambassador Wilson's dispatches today to-day report many houseB occupied by Americans have been seized by federal feder-al troops and occupants driven to the streets. Homeless and exposed to Hie fire of both rebels and federals, tho dlsmaved refugees made their way. at the risk of their lives, to the Ameri can embassy, which Is now open to all refugees Ambassador Wilson, however, how-ever, is now distributing th majority among the adjoining houses by means of a committee which he organized. Many Non-Combatants Wounded. All dispatches to the American em-bassv em-bassv rrom the state department urge the ambassador to exact every Influ lence to keep non-combatants from the streets. He reports the wounding or several American men and says h has given refuge to betweeo 600 and 600 Americans Three Polntj to Consider. The president is keeping in con stant touch with the situation rrom three points of view. From the dip loinatlc side, which Involved the action ac-tion of Ambassador Wilson in making representations to President Madero and General Diaz in the interest of foreign life and property in Mexico; from the naval viewpoint, as It concerns con-cerns the extent of the activities ot several thousand marines and blue jackets who will appear In the Mexl cau ports within tbe course ot the net 4S hours, and from the military standpoint, which involves a determination determi-nation of the question of when If at all. ho shall give the word for the en trnlnment of the first brigade of the first division of the newly organized armv or regular troops, which no lies under arms, with knapsacks packed pack-ed and emergency rations ready tor an Immediate departure for the south Ambassador's Course Approved Ambassador Wilson's course so rar has the unqualified approval or his ad ministration, though some of tbe army men question his attempt to stop hos tillties Admitting that his aim was to protect lives and property of Americans Ameri-cans and other foreigners, they believe be-lieve there -will be less bloodshed and a Bpeedy termination of tbe revolution If the combatants are allowed to fight 4t out , , M. Secretary Knox and his immediate advisers however, do not accept this view and although Instructions have been sent to the ambassador to do everything ev-erything possible to Induce the American Amer-ican residents of Mexico City to va-cate va-cate their homes temporarily and go to some place of safety, there Is no disposition to criticise Mr. Wilson for his forcible representations yesterday. Preparing for Further Call. Prepared for a further call for battleships, bat-tleships, the navy department has kept Admiral Badger, In command oT the Atlantic fleet, at Ouautanamo. advised ad-vised of developments. The ships, with bunked fires, are ready to move at once to Vera Cruz or Tamplco The murine, corps, "always ready, iu prepared for immediate embarkation embarka-tion of Its companies at the Atlantic coast naw yards, and stations. The marine force on the Panama caua) zone also Is roady to move. Telegrams to tho war department from the three posts in New York state, where the regiments of the first armv brigade are stationed, report that body of about 3,000 men in condition con-dition to start for Newport News within three hours after an order from the chief of staff It lias been suggested to the president presi-dent that it might be prudent to dls patch the first brigade to Vera Cruz at once, even If the troops are to be kept aboard ship indefinitely, as were the 1 000 marines on the Panther, who dav in San Domingo harbor for mote ilwtii a month last summer Fear to Inflame Mexican Public Km because there is some fear thai such a gathering of foreign nillltarj forceH in their ports, though not landed, land-ed, might inflame th- Mexican public to acts of violence against Americans throughout the country, the authoring authori-ng hesitating to take such an action ac-tion Besides, it is held bv some officials that the dispatch or a military expedition expedi-tion ol tins kind might be construed as an act of war and the president is determined to do nothing thai could be regarded as an Infringement of the I i constitutional rhileg of congress in r j that respect. fc. Joint Meeting Hedd. L A significant proceeding of the dav was the early assembly of the joint army-navy board In Admiral Dewey's office. The call was Issued by direction direc-tion of Admiral Dewey himself. i It brought together at an opportune i time for consideration of Joint use of 'the army and navy, the highest rank-Ing rank-Ing officers of both services and the ablest strategists. I Beside Admirai Dewey and Major fJenenU Leonard Wood, the army and 1 navy were represented by Major Gen- 1 era! Wot herspoon, assistant chief of j staff; Brigadier General Weaver, chief of the coast artillery, and Brigadisr i General Crozier and Osterhaos. This board Is charged with the prpp-aratlon prpp-aratlon of plans for the co-operation of the army and the navy when it b-comes b-comes necessary to conduct joint op-eratlons op-eratlons either offensive or defensive. ii Its proceedings are alwas secret I and may bo known only through the resulting orders to ships and troops, L. Issued by the secretaries of war and the navy The board Is advisory In scope and not capable of execnting , Its own projects. I |