MEXICAN WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 25 April 1914, Page 5

MEXICAN WAR

MORE TROOPS TO THE FRONT. VILLA'S WATTING GAME THE MUNROE DOCTRINE. [per press association—copyright.] WASHINGTON, April 24. A statement that General Villa has agreed to join the Fed era Is against the Americans i.s denied by the General. It is believed, however, that General Villa is merely waiting an opportunity to attack the Americans if possible with impunity. The Secretary tor War has order;<l additional troops for the protection of the Mexican border. Every effort will be made to prevent the export of guns and ammunition to Mexico. Troops have been ordered to leave Galveston immediately bound for Vera Cruz. The State Department is greatly relieved to find that General Villa refuses to side with General Huerta. Food supplies at Vera Cruz are running short. Admiral Badger reports that a few additional marines were killed during the “sniping” in the citv. NEW YORK.' Anri! 24. It is reported from San Diego. California. that anti-American rioting Ims broken out at Esenada. Hundreds of Americans are reported to be imperilled. The monitor . Cheyenne has been despatched from San Diego to rescue the Americans. Mr William Bayard Hale, after an unofficial investigation into Mexican affairs, declares that the President gave a- much wider significance to the Monroe doctrine than any previous President. Obviously President Wilson’s intention, was to establish the United States suzerainty only’ as a source of moral inspiration over South American nations.

Mr Hale declares that the United States does not want Mexico. The trouble is. however, that when the United States enters the country and restores order it will be very difficult to withdraw' owing to the pressure that business interests are able to bring to bear on Washington legislators and force a permanent occupation. General \ ilia has informed the American representative at Chihuahua that bo refused to be dragged into war with America.

LONDON, April 24. The Samuel Montague Company states that the Mexican trouble is preventing the transmission of silver ore. Mexico's production in 1911 was 71,000,000 ounces, out of the world's production of 225,000,000 ounces. The Washington correspondent of the Daily Telegraph states that General Carranza's note to President Wilson is’ interpreted that the Constitutionalists are prepared to unite with the rest of Mexico in fighting the United States unless Vera Cruz i.s evacuated. The loss of Mexican lives on Monday caused resentment in the Constitutionalist tanks, forcing General Carranza to act. Meanwhile the war fever in the United States is petering out. President Wilson hoped that the seizure of the Customshouse would have been .bloodless and that Huerta would have apologised. DEMAND FOR BRITISH SHIPPING. Enquiries are being made in England tor steamers to act as troopships and coiners for the fleet operating in Mexico. THE LANDING AT VERA CRUZ. DRAMATIC INCIDENTS. (Received this dav at 8.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 24. v Vera. Cruz telegrams record a dramatic incident at Vera Cruz. The crews of the British cruisers Essex and Berwick lined iho decks and cheered the Amercans landing force. When the American dead, were carried on to their boats the flags of the British ships were half masted. The British officers express unstinted admiration of the perfect organisation of the Americon landing. A curious incident in connection with the capture of 500 .Mexicans was that the latter were evidently convinced that the Americans, following the Mexican custom, intended immediate execution. They volubly protested their innocence and were intensely surprised ond relieved when they learnt that they wore only to he placed, on warships. Danger spots are developing at Fort Bliss where, owing to the diversion of the American garrison to oilier border points, some 5,000 Mexicans are interned in a poorly-guarded barbed wire enclosure. The Mexicans are chiefly Federal soldiers and their wives, who fled from Ajinaga some months ago. The American Government intended to take them to a point sufficiently distant from the border to insure safe keeping.