Taft Rushes Ships To Latin Republics.

New York Times 100 years ago today, February 8, 1913:
Central American Revolutions Planned to Bring About a Federation.
EXPECT NEW POLICY HERE
Annapolis, Denver, Nashville, and Des Moines Receive Hurry Orders to Protect United States Citizens.
Special to The New York Times.
    WASHINGTON, Feb. 7.— To forestall an outbreak in Central America believed to be impending. President Taft to-day ordered war vessels dispatched to effective points as a precaution against violence. The gunboat Annapolis, at San Diego, was ordered to proceed immediately to Amapala. The cruiser Denver, at Acapulco, was sent to Acajutla. The gunboat Nashville, at New Orleans, was ordered to Puerto Cortez or Puerto Barrios. The cruiser Des Moines, engaged in target practice, will go to Bluefields.
    There has been fear for several months that the various unsuccessful elements of recent revolutions in Central America would begin insurgent operations soon after the new Democratic Administration should be installed. According to the advices of Government secret agents, there has been great activity among the Zelayistas, and the recent attack on the life of President Araujo of Salvador has given sharp accent to the growing apprehension of trouble soon to come.
    The Central American Junta in New Orleans is said to be fitting out a filibustering expedition. Orders were sent to-day from the Department of Justice to seize any vessel or any property clearly intended for use to promote disturbance an any Central American Republic. The feeling in official circles for months has been that the malcontents of the several republics, with the exception of Costa Rica, were looking forward to a change in the Latin-American policy of the United States with the inauguration of President-elect Wilson and the probable appointment of William J. Bryan as Secretary of State.
    A general revolutionary circular has been sent to the deposed leaders, and the plot is to bring on a revolution in every Central American country, with a view to the domination of some one leader, and the creation of a federation strong enough to resent interference from the United States and to inaugurate an era of self-rule under the iron hand of the man who can make himself master of the proposed coalition.
    A resolution calling on Mr. Trift for a statement of the reasons why American marines invaded Nicaragua last Summer, "took forcible occupation of the territory of a friendly nation, and entered into armed combat with its citizens," was introduced in the Senate to-day by Senator William Alden Smith of Michigan. Chairman of the committee investigating conditions along the Mexican border. The United States Government's action has been condemned sharply and defended warmly in debates.