Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1914 — GENERAL AND STATE NEWS [ARTICLE]

GENERAL AND STATE NEWS

Telegraphic Reports From Many Parts ot the Country. SHORT BITS OF THE UNUSUAL Happenings in Distant and Nearby Cities and Towns.—Matters of Minor Mention From Many Places. TO CONTROL LIGHTHOUSE. Mayo Denies Lobos Island Has Been Occupied, Guarding Point as Shipping Protection. Washington, May 11. —First official news of ihe landing of American sailors on Lobos Island reached the Navy Department late tonight. Rear Admiral Mayo cabled that the Mexican keepers deserted the great lighthouse on the island and that the destroyer tender Dixie was “maintaining it for the benefit of navigation.” Admiral Mayo’s report, responding to the Navy Department’s request for immediate information concerning the incident, complained of by the Huerta government to the mediators, said: “Lobos Island has not. been occupied. The Diiie and some destroyers anchored '’there and other vessels have coaled there from a collier. The keepers of Lobos Island light deserted it and the Dixie is now maintaining it for the benefit of navigation. I understand that the destroyers have had occasional swimming parties ashore.”

The report was sent at once to Secretary Bryan. Department officials were confident that the explanation would make it plain that there had been no violation of the armistice, and that the cornmander of the Dixie had done only \vhat was necessary to insure the safety of shipping. Assistant Secretary Roosevelt said the Dixie and the destroyers went, to Lobos Island only because it was a convenient place to coal and that the lighthouse keepers evidently quit their posts at the appearance of American warships. The lighthouse at this point, he added, was essential to safe navigation, and when it was deserted by its keepers it became the duty of the Dixie to keep it in operation. The incident will be the subject of a general conference. It is probable that the state department will be asked to bring the matter to the attention of the mediators, suggesting that the extinguishing of the lights is a violation of the spirit of the armistice.