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Show FLETCHER STOPS LANDING OF ! MIERTA MUNITIONS OF WAR if. 5 Broad Powers Given Commander Congress Debates on I Wording of Resolution While President and Cabinet ; Take Action Made Necessary by Arrival of German Steamer With Guns and Ammunition for i i . Mexican Government. t ; " f r m 3 j Washington, April 21. 5:30 p. m. Secretary Daniels, j i v announced late today that Rear Admiral Mayo with his flag- ; ship Connecticut and most of the other vessels under his command com-mand at Tampico had steamed for Vera Cruz. I All the vessels of Rear Admiral Badger's fleet had been ordered to go directly to Vera Cruz. I Secretary Daniels late today chartered the liner Moro j Castle at New York as a Transport to carry to Mexican waters j ; the regiment of marines ordered assembled at Philadelphia. ' Washington, April 21. In response to a question by Senator Weeks on the floor of the senate, Senator Shively I ' said : 5- "I don't want to speak with positiveness of just what has m occurred at Vera Cruz, because I might be mistaken but my S impression is that the city of Vera Cruz has been taken ; that fcK5-it;has been taken without the-firing -of a gun; thafifis in pos m session of our forces." iff Washington, April 21. While con- j gress was debating the Mexican sltua-tlon, sltua-tlon, President Wilson ordered Rear I Admiral Fletcher to seize the Vera I Cruz customs house and prevent I Huerta from setting several million i rounds of ammunition and two bun-t bun-t dred field guns, on a German steamci L bound for that port. I The orders went out from Wash- I ington early today when St became I apparent that the delay in congress I was accruing to the advantage or I Huerta, ! At noon the cabinet was in session I and, so far as was known, no word t had been received from Admiral f Fletcher of his action. The orders, officials said, left tb the admiral's dis-I dis-I cretion when to act. As there Is no blockade, the American forces could I not interfero with the German I steamer. The orders were to seize the guns and shells after they had 1 landed or to seize the customs house CiwlS to prevent their landing and thus keep them from going to Mexico City. President Has Ample Power. Officials declared that President "Wilson had ample authority for his action without the approval of. con-. con-. grcss. E Meanwhile both house and. senate reconvened and the senate began f work on tho resolution of approval of the president's course. The orders went out to Admiral Fletcher at daybreak after President Wilson and cabinet officials had been in conference since 4 a. m., mostly over the telephone. The orders to the admiral, it was said, conferred the broadest authority on him and directing that if necessary he take the town of Vera Cruz as well as the customs house, to prevent the land-I land-I ing of the munitions. ! Officials here said the admiral ; might act in several ways. He might wait until the Gorman steamer had j landed her cargo unmolested and then take the customs house and the i munitions, or when the German E steamer comes to tho port he might seize the customs house and if the guns were landed, they would come f into possession of the American forces. That the steamer might take her cargo to some other port was a possibility of which officials wore cognizant. Awaiting Reply. J Some report from the admiral was t being awaited momentarily. I When news reached the capilol that the order had gone to Admiral Flclch- er, it aroused considerable enthusl- asm among senators and rcprescnta-jt rcprescnta-jt tives. I Democratic senate leaders believed s au order to the American commnn-A commnn-A der to begin actual operations would ' serve to hurry action on the resolu-j resolu-j tlon to back up the president's course. 4 Republican loaders were planning J to champlpn the substitute submitted I by Senator Lodge, which refers to the long series of outrages against 3 Americans in Mexico. This was not accepted, however, by the Democrats. I Neither will it be accepted by house j leaders, it was stnted. ij The bouse resolution, as amended I by the foreign relations committee, A was laid before the senate soon after i It met at noon. Li A now resolution to1 accept the uj apologies already offered by Huerta as "sufficient reparation" for the Tampico incident was introduced by Senator Works, Republican. Secretary Daniels left the cabinet meeting at 12:20 o'clock. He was asked about the orders to Admiral I Fletcher. j "It would be very unwise for me i to say anything at this time," wab j his reply. , Lodge Opens Debate In Senate. Senator Lodge opened the debate: , "In a situation of high seriousness, serious-ness, such as now confronts congress, it is well to remember the responsibility responsi-bility of the senate," he began. "The power to declare war rests, under the constitution, with the congress. "When the president lays an international inter-national controversy before congress he takes the last step that precedes war," contniued Mr. Lodge. "The president might have taken further steps, but he has come to the body, which alone has power to declare war. I think he has done well " Senator Lodge resented any imputations impu-tations that the Republicans were "lacking in proper regard for the honor of tho flag." Outrages Are Recalled. "But we must also think of that which the flag covers the citizens of the United States." he said, "150 American citizens have perished on Mexican soil. I cannot, in demanding demand-ing atonement of the insult at Tampico, Tam-pico, overlook these outrages. I cannot can-not pass these murders silently by without saying that here Is a greater wrong to be atoned, a wrong which must not be and shall not be repeated. re-peated. "I cannot be put In a position where I appear to pick and choose between the factions that today tear Mexico asunder, I cannot join in any resolution which puts the United States in the position of performing one murder and cut throat above another an-other murderer and cut throat. Huerta Condemned. "I have no desire to criticize President Pres-ident Wilson for his failure to recognize recog-nize General Huerta. He no doubt proceeded on grounds appearing to him as sufficient. I condemn as strongly as I can the methods ol treachery and bloodshed by which Huerta reached his present position. But the fact that I condemn his methods meth-ods does not lead me to put myself in a position which by distortion of the acts which we take here, or of the words which we utter here, would put me behind Villa Villa who began be-gan life as a hired assassin, nwl whose pathway has been marked with bloodshed, raping, plunder and by-unnainahlc by-unnainahlc crimes, which are a disgrace dis-grace to the country in which he lives, "It is for that reason that the minority min-ority of the committee on foroign relations re-lations has presented the substitute for the preamble of the resolution. Not one sentence "can be denied. Bach Is a melancholy truth." Great Historic Action. The senator added that the first act under the resolution would be the taking of Vera Cruz. "We are engaged en-gaged at this moment," he declared, lowering his voice emotlonaly, "not In dealing with a question involving tho gravest responsibilities that can confront the congress, but as not oft- REAR ADMIRAL FLETCHER IN COMMAND AT VERA CRUZ; ADMIRAL BADGER AND FLEET NEARING TAMPICO Rear Admiral Fletcher (left). Admiral Badger. en happens, we are participating in a great historic action. The grounds of our action here today will lie before be-fore the world and will come to the tribunal of history. If we are to intervene in-tervene in Mexico at any point. I want to lift it from the level of personal per-sonal hostilities and place it on the broad ground of great national action taken in the interest and for the protection pro-tection of American lives in a foreign for-eign country and for the purpose also of restoring peace and order, if we can.'- Resolution of Paramount Importance. Senator Shively, acting chairman or the committee, declared the pending resolution was of "paramount importance." import-ance." "The attempted parallel between the present proceedings and the proceedings pro-ceedings leading up to the declaration of war in Spain is futile," ho said. "It is never too late to declare war, it may easily become too late to secure se-cure peace. That action was a declaration dec-laration of war. This resolution is a good faith effort to preserve peace." He said the president had not asked ask-ed congress for authority, because he did not wish to pursue a war. Mr. Shively contended the Lodge preamble pre-amble "would have no result but war. Shively Urges Expedition. "Expedition here is vital," said Senator Shively emphatically, "because "be-cause this is an effort to preserve-peace." preserve-peace." "Would the seizure of Vera Cruz by force be an act of peace or an act of war?" asked Senator Brnndgce. "It would not be an act of war," said Senator Shively, "It would be an act of reprisal. On many occasions occa-sions has the United States landed forces and seized property and no war has ensued" Acts Meant as Insults. Senator Shively Insisted the true' complaint was of acts, not assaults on private persons or properly but acts that had all the evidence of being be-ing meant as Insults to the United States government and meant to impeach im-peach the power and sovereignty. "It was a plain, deliberate assault on our uniform, on all our navy stands for," said Senator Shively, referring re-ferring to the Tampico incident. "The situation In Mexico is bad enough. No one will disputo that. But here we are engaged In an effort ef-fort to avoid going further than is necessary and at tho same time to impress on those In authority that the dignity of the United Stales must be respected." Senator Shively said those who had beon "clamoring for Intervention" had not thought of the danger to tho thousands of American citizens In Mexico. "I say it is a moral In view of the character of that people, with GO.-000 GO.-000 of our citizens there, that we have escaped without a great number num-ber of casualties," he declared. Lodge Preamble Declaration, of War. -Mr, Shively referred to the Lodge preamble. ' "This proposed preamble would transform this resolution into"n" dec- j laration of war," he said "If we are to make a declaration of war then let us make It. Let us not engage In' the snivelling pharlsceism of citing, facts which justify war and instant' war and then adopt these resolutions Are we in the same breath to do- ciare half a dozen reasons why war( wttould he declared on Mexico and In i concluding the resolution declare our purpose not to do so? There can be no question as to what the natural effect of that preamble would bo If addressed to any great power of the world. All the recitations of tho resolves re-solves would be Idle." Senator Shively said that senators who wero anxious for war may well wait until "this resolution Is tried as a means for peace." Williams Takes Floor. Senator John Sharp Williams, Democrat, then took the floor in support sup-port of the committee's resolution. "The time may como." he said, "when war over a mere punctilio will not be basis for war. But today, if tho president had overlooked tills Insult In-sult to the flag, he would have been condemned from every hill and valley in tho United States. Therefore, with the world semi-barbraic, semi-civilized, I must support tho president. 1 don't want to kill any Mexicans. I don't want any Mexicans killing me." The Lodgo substitute. Senator Williams Wil-liams said was a declaration of war against Mexico and tho Mexican people. peo-ple. Wants Resolution "Short of War." "I want," said Senator Williams, "this resolution to be so worded that the world shall know It shall be war on Huorta until either Huerta salutes that flag or Huerta becomes an American Amer-ican prisoner or Huerta were to die." A wave of applause swept the galleries. Galleries Are Cleared. "The sergeant at arms will clear the galleries." directed the! vice president. pres-ident. About a hundred men. were immediately removed. "Huerta has studiously endeavored to Insult the president and the government gov-ernment of tho United States. It is not a matter of injury or property, or life, it's a matter of insult to the honor of the flag. The president sounded the right keynote Huerta. The house of representatives struck the keynote Victorlana Huerla, Ajid whon I vote for these resolutions I do It with the hope that the house in conference will Insist on naming Huerta tho Insulting party. "If war shall follow these resolutions resolu-tions tho civilized world should know that it Is war forced by Huerta. And IT war shall come it should be war against, not the Mexican people, but against Huerta." Enforce Respect for Flag. Senator Wlll'iins added that he was willing to enforce respect for the flag but when that was dono he be-. Hevcd the United States should get out of Mexico. "If you onco get Into Mexico, it will.be the hardest thing in the world (Continued on Vage -7) FLETCHER STOPS LMID1G OF HUERTA MUHSOFUR (Continued, from -Page 1) to get out of there again," he said. "I am for tho committee resolution because if this assassin, this traitor, this brute, who is now In authority in Mexico should saluto the flag be-fdre be-fdre we go into Mexico we would hot have to go. Under the Lodge resolution resolu-tion we would .have to go. Lodge Resolution Too Broad. "The senator from Massachusetts wants the resolution on such broad grounds that it will be sufficient to make us stay in Mexico when we get there. When I want it on such narrow nar-row grounds that if Huerta dies, if Huerta is assassinated, or if Huerta salutes the flag, we can come home." Senator Bradlej', Republican, of Kentucky, declared his willingness to support the president Bradley Supports President. "I am not only in favor of sending the flag to demand reparation for Insult," In-sult," he said, "but I am in favor of sending the flag to Mexico to protect American citizens from rapine and plunder and murder. I agree with the senator from Massachusetts that the present resolution is not broad enough." After Senator Bradley concluded, Senator Works offered his. resolution to accept Huerta's expression of regret re-gret as full satisfaction. Senator Works pleaded for peace. Works Pleads Tor Peace. "How much better It would have been," he said, "if the president himself him-self had declared that the apology of the discharge of our sailors from arrest ar-rest was sufficient I fear we lack the moral courage to say to this poor stricken nation that the apology already al-ready made Is enough." Senator Works insisted that he had not offered his resolution to criticize the course pursued by the president. He did not expect his resolution to be passed, the senator said, asserting further that "we are going headlong into the terrible conditionBGof war." Result Will Be War. "No matter what may be the limits lim-its in the mind 61 the president in tho matter," said Senator McCumber, Republican, "the result of the resolution, reso-lution, no matter how worded will be war. It will be all the war that a poor. Internally torn, pleading and exhausted ex-hausted country can maintain against this most powerful of all nations on earth." "Does the senator regard an Insult In-sult to an American flag on an American Amer-ican boat, representing American sovereignty sov-ereignty as a trivial offense?" demanded de-manded Senator Williams. "It is not trivial," said Senator McCumber, Mc-Cumber, "but I do riot place" tho uniform uni-form above a live American and If one justifies war, the many more times will the other justify war." Exodus of Americans. Secretary Bryan said just before en terlng the cabinet meeting that there was a general exodus of- Americans from Mexico City to Vera Cruz and that many Americans at the latter place were getting aboard the Ward liner Espcranza. Senator McCumber declared that under no circumstances should congress con-gress place the United States in a position po-sition of accepting "either by Implication Implica-tion or otherwise, an alliance with the murderer and bandit, General Villa." Vil-la." "Beside this atrocious murderer, General Huerta seems an angel of purity," he said. "I hope that we will give the president full and ample am-ple authority to make war or not, as he sees fit," Senator McCumber concluded. con-cluded. Washington, April 21. At 5:55 the senate recessed until 8 o'clock, when Senator Root will speak. Juarez, Mex., April 21. Max Weber, We-ber, German consul here, was instructed in-structed today to get Gorman subjects sub-jects out of his district in Mexico. May Have Landed. Washington, D. C, April 21. While the senate was still In debate, Acting Act-ing Chairman Shively of the foreign relations committee made a significant signifi-cant statement to an Inquirer. "I strongly suspoct Vera Cruz has been taken without a shot," said he. He declined to amplify his remark. Vera Cruz, Mexico, April 21. A large number of Americans and other foreigners are On their way hero from the capital today. The regular train Is being run In two sections and a special train Is also en route. Everything Every-thing remalnB quiet In this city. The American war vessels have not changed their positions. |