Evening star. [volume], April 25, 1914, Image 1

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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I
WEATHER
Showers and warmer tonight;
Sunday partly cloudy; moderate
south winds.
FULL REPORT ON PAGE THIRTEEN.
About every one in Washing
ton who reads at all reads The
Star.
No. 19,568.
WASHINGTON, D. 0., SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914 -TWENTY-FOUR PAGES.
ONE CENT.
But Secretary Garrison Will
Only Say Troops Are Going
to Vera Cruz "for Duty."
STATEMENT BY DANIELS
CONSIDERED SIGNIFICANT
Announces Army Officer Will Soon
Be in Command at Mexican Sea
port?Troops for Border.
"For duty," was Secretary Gar
rison's laconic reply today to in
quirers who asked what the
I rnited States Army troops were
going to Vera Cruz for. "I can
not say more," the War Secretary
added, "I cannot say more."
This, coupled with the state
ment by Secretary Daniels that
an army officer will be in supreme
command at Vera Cruz and that
as soon as the army forces were
installed there and had the situa
tion well in hand the bluejackets
and marines now holding the
Mexican city probably would be
withdrawn, is believed to portend
anjijp invasion.
IVe significance of Secretary
Garrison's reticence lies in the fact
(that he previously had declared
in reference to the proposition of
seizing the international bridges
at Laredo that "there is no inten
tion of invading Mexico under ex
isting conditions."
Arizona Awkw for Troops.
A telegram from citizens of Arizona
to Senator Ashurst asking tor the imme
diate dispatch of regulars to the Arizona
border was today laid before Secretary
Garrison. The telegram declared that
there was evidence of restlessness among
Mexicans across the border, and fears
were expressed for the safety of Arizona
cinsens unless troops were sent.
..r?v' of Arizona is in communica- i
t*on with Secretary Garrison today over
of raoMIMna the Art ion*
militia for patrol on the Mexican border
HL.<2",e<L*ttl> the regular troops. No
decision has been reached.
Gov. Colquitt of Texas today tele
graphed the War Department to ask If
the department will bear the expense
of moving the Texas militia to the
border, where It will co-operate with
the regular troops In patrolling the
border. Gov. Colquitt will be told that
there is no authority to give his state
u-oops such financial assistance. The
eo-operation of the state troops in
patrolling the border will be accepted,
however, under other conditions.
Texas Militia Ordered Out.
Gov. Colquitt notifled Secretary Gar
rison that he had ordered ten com
panies of Texas Infantry, a detach
ment of cavalry and a battery of ar
tlUery to Brownsville to aid in pro
tecting the state border. *
He had asked I he War Department
what steps were being taken to meet
what he regarded as a grave situa
tion on the border. Secretary Garri
son replied that a brigade of infantry
and several batteries of artillery were
n?inS^8entr?.ti? Join the command of
?hiRproWe ? "? ? W" dealinB wlth
The department had under considera
tion a plan of all-->vinK the Texas
militiamen to aid in patrol work bv
assigning them to a particular portion
of the border.
Other Troops on the Way.
Secretary Garrison has received reports
that the 6th and 16th Infantry, ordered
to El Paso from San Francisco, were
under way. and other reports said the
batteries of the 6th Field Artillery or
dered from Fort Riley to El Paso. Fort
Sam Houston and Brownsville had en
trained. With the infantry troops or
dered from Galveston to Vera Crux also
under way and preparation well along
for the embarkation of the 4th Field
?Artillery from the Texas port. War De
partment ysgcia Is are waiting for further
developme^Jflp Mpessltate other troop
movements. ? ^
The War Depa"ment announced today
a**.*? ??"y of the troops of the 4th
Field Artillery as can be taken on the
liner San Marcos will ieaw GaWesI?
later today for Vera Crux. The troopers
wtll take their equipment with them The
remainder of the regiment, including the
animals, will sail later on the liner Sa
Explains Withholding Seizure of
Bridges.
"We are not prepared to Invade Mexico
under present conditions." This was Sec
retary Garrison's explanation of the
War Department's refusal to authorize
Gen. Bliss to seize the InternaUonal
bridges at Laredo. El Paso and other
points on the Rio Grande.
In the Secretary's opinion such an in
vasion of Mexico would be an act of war,
though this view was strictly limited by
the phrase, "under present conditions."
An old decision of the law officers of
the War Department holds that such ex
changes of shots as those at Laredo yes
terday, and first reported in a postscript
edition of The Star, are not acts of war.
There have been a number of such ex
changes across the Rio Grande, begin
?22? the Madero revolu
tion, whir h did not disturb the theoret
ically peaceful relations of the two coun
* tnea
Tivopi May Have to Crow.
Ths dancer In the present situation lies
in ths Possibility that it might become
necessary for the American troops to
crou the river to drive ofT the annoying
federal sharpshooters, which mlghf re
salt In the creation at Nuevo Laredo of
Just such a situation as exists at Vera
Crux.
Tor the present, however, the Ameri
can troops will make no effort to seise
the International bridges, even though
as Is commonly understood, several o(
them are of American ownership. The
troops probably will, content themselves
with training artillery. upon "y?
can ends of the bridges to prevent their
destruction by any one on that side.
Not Significant, Says Blias.
Declaring he placed no significance in
the firing on American soldiers at La
redo, Tex., Brig. Gen. Bliss last night
telegraphed the "War Department an offi
cial confirmation of the disturbance at
Nuevo Laredo. Mexico, just across the
International line. It was reported in the
following terse messages:
P-ro., thirty-two cars of federal
soldiers came Into Nuevo Laredo. At 2
. o clock several explosions blew up car
, shops, customhouse, flour mills and other
? buildings. Two-thirty, detachment of
1 cavalry moved slowly west from town.
Think they were destructive party. Col.
j Crane moved two battalions Into Laredo
City to satisfy citizens and protect
bridges."
The following message from Col. Crane
was transmitted to the department by
Gen. Blias:
American Patrol Tired On.
"During evacuation of Nuevo Laredo
our patrol at railway bridge was fired on.
Tire was returned and Mexicans disap
peared."
Commenting on Col. Crane's dispatch.
Gen. Bliss wired: "I think there Is no
J significance In this instance."
With the 9th Regiment of Infantry,
three troops, I, X and L of the 14th
Cavalry. Battery A of the 3d Field Ar
tillery, at Laredo, War Department offi
cials said there was no occasion for
alarm, because the town had been fired
upon by Mexican soldiers.
As far as is known here, the Mexican
federal garrison at Nuevo Laredo com
prised about 1,500 men with .1,000 other
federals scattered between the border j
city and Monterey. There are about 3,000
rebel soldiers at Guerrero, Mex., below
Nuevo Laredo on the Rio Grande. 1
quietOsonrumor
OF DIVIDED MET
? ? I
Variance in Opinion Over Mex- j
ican Policy, But No Seri
ous Disagreement.
ADVISERS OF PRESIDENT
UNITED IN HIS SUPPORT
Secretary Bryan Emphatically States
He Has Ho Intention of Be
signing His Office.
The White House had today resumed
something of its normal Saturday
routine. Except for the belated ar
rival of Secretary Tumulty and other
officials who have been getting to bed
very late each night, and the pres
ence of an unusually large number of
newspaper men, the ezecstlre offices
were almost Hke any Saturday of Hw
year. The President wont out for
his Saturday fresh-air trip, returning
toward the hour for luncheon, and
there wore only a few visitors. Sen
ator Stone, chairman of the Senale for
eign relations committee, hobbled into
the executive ofllces on crutches, still
disabled as a result of his long illness.
Finding the President and Secretary I
Tumulty absent, he went to the State
Department for a chat with Secretary
Bryan.
Denial of Cabinet Differences.
Reports of cabinet differences over the
Mexican troubles were denied by Secre
tary Tumulty, who said he would not
dignify them by a formal statement.
Those acquainted with the facts under
stand that there have been differences
among cabinet members as to whether
there should be speedy action or delay in
the movements of the government, but
these, it is understood, are similar to
differences between any three or four
who^,l_meS5^ and begin discussing
Mexico. The President has desired the
views of his cabinet officers, and thev
^HnVeJi?E *iven* >'aturally, all of the
ten members would not have identical
opinions. Some would advise aggression
and others conciliating delay.
The report is that Secretaries Garri
son and Une head one element favor
ing Immediate aggression, while Sec
retaries Bryan and Daniels are the
leaders of the view that the future may
be improved if a little time is taken
for consideration now.
President Would Avoid War.
The President, like every other chief
executive who has been confronted
with probable war. wants to exhaust
every efTort to avoid the horrors of in
ternational war if he can do so. and
therefore finds the Bryan view in ac
cord with his own, it is stated by those
in position to know.
.Tilere is n?t the slightest idea in offi
? ii6"* how*ver? that the differences
jWaTbe^ Sru"p 'by ' t he? PresN
?&raSataa,tes.
Bryan Denies He Will Resign.
Secretary of State Bryan today em
phatically denied widespread and per
sistent reports that he would resign from
the cabinet. When informed of published
reports that he would relinquish his post
should war be declared against Mexico
Mr. Bryan said: "The subject of my res
ignation has never been discussed with
anybody nor thought of by me."
White House officials pointed to the
general denial Issued a few days ago
of the story that Secretary Bryan would
resign, saying that statement was suf
ficient to cover all rumors of cabinet dis
sension. They said they did not regard
it as necessary to repeat the denial with
each published report.
Persons close to the admlniKtr-aH?,
council described the divergent 0??,^"
as the product of natural differences
among those charged with responsibility
for executive action. Official*
out. for instance, that the War D^arl
ment is naturally anxious to take everv
reasonable precaution with Its
forces, and the navy is bendinU
energies likewise to perfecting lts oreiw^
rations for actual warfare Pr?Pa
They say also that the state n?
partment, which is directly resf^.iM
for relation, with other for"gn ?ov
ernments and which is trylnl thr^fJn
diplomacy to prevent agg7es8?v?
ments which mlKht aggravate HS7?~
by the constitutionalists and the M?
lean people as a whole, is bu.iiv
copied in friendly repression of thm
war spirit of its allied deDa?tm<.V,,!
Ail the cabinet Secretert^ .J
selves denied that there I. ?|rr
division and point to their cToH ??d
frequent conferences as evtd??EL^5
their co-operation. . evidence of
Georgia Women Offer Services.
COLUMBUS, Oa., April 25 Local re
cruiting officers have received-more than
a score of applications from Columbus
women who, offer their services as nurses
in the army in case this country goes to
-with. Mexico.. ,
IMAGINARY RICHES
OF HARD-UP CAPITAL
Is Washington Lightest or
Heaviest Taxed, the Rich
est or the Poorest of
Our Cities?
NOT A FIFTEEN-MILLION,
BUT A SIX-MILLION CITY
Taxed Fraction of Besonrceless
Washington Can Bear Tax-Burden
of Hew Orleans or Minneapolis,
Not Twice Baltimore's.
BY THEODORE W. NOTES.
Since the text of "A Square
Deal for Washington" was last
discussed in this column things of
consequence have happened to the
half-and-half provision. The Pres
ident of the board of Commission
ers has held up his finger at it in
dubious denial of absolute proof
of its equity, ^t>d in mild reproof
of it as a trouble-maker, because
it resists with vigor the attempt
to kill it. The President of the
United States has listened to a
brief discussion of it in time
snatched from urgent national af
fairs. It is now under savage as
sault by a faction of the House
District committee, monopolizing
the hours of District day in the
House. Mr. Prouty's recent speech
concerning it condenses, reiterates
and buttresses with misleading
statistics most of the vicious fal
lacies and injurious delusions
which have been used as weapons
of attack upon Washington.
Since the Johnson-Prouty prop
osition means certain death to the
half-and-half provision, and since
a vote upon it may possibly be
secured next Monday?District
day?if the use of that day is per
mitted, the attention of the de
fenders of Washington may well
now be diverted from the educa
tion of the country at large and be
concentrated upon the capital s
legislators in the House of Rep
resentatives. Locally the subject
is of greater vital interest than
free tolls, and is worthy to receive
consideration during a lull in the
war news from Mexico.
Mr. Prouty. co-operating with Mr. John
BO*n, has converted the George taxation
bill into a direct and deadly attack upon
Washington. In his speech last District
day he carried his views to their logical
extreme. He holds that Washington is
at once the lightest taxed and the richest
among American cities, that It can raise
$15,000,000 In taxes annually with ease,
that It can meet alone all the cost of ade
quate capital maintenance and upbuild
ing and that the national contribution to
capital development should cease and the
half-and-half plan be abolished.
We contend, on the other hand, that
Washington's tax burden is heavier than
that of three-fourths of the American
cities, and. owing to the capital's pe
culiar disabilities, it is heavier than In
any other American city.
We say that In proportion to popula
tion Washington has the absolute mini
mum of taxable resources.
We say that if Washington is taxed
as other cittes are taxed a maximum of
six or seven millons would be. derived,
and that, owing to its peculiar condi
tions which require extraordinary ex
penditures. and which deprive It of the
usual taxable resources, it would reel
heavier pressure from these six or seven
millions of burden than any other city
in the United States approximaUng It in
STlie Issues are distinct and clean cut.
The facts are at hand and easily availa
ble. The way to the truth is plain.
Juggling With the Tax Bate.
The two factors in measuring tax bur
dens are the rate and_ the assessment.
In combination they Rive the total tax
levy or actual total burden, and when
divided by population the per capita tax
burden is ascertained. _
Mr. Prouty Juggles both tax rate and
assessment, or. rather, he accepts en
thusiastically H. J. Browne's Juggling
with the assessment figures, and Juggles
the tax rate on his own account. ?
His table of comparisons of tax rates,
bv which he attempts to show that
Washington's tax burden is about one
half that of the average American city,
or as 10 to 10. Is concocted. In a fashion
which instantly and completely dis
"fn'add'i'tion to the actual figures of tax
rate, assessment and tax levy the census
collected the opinions, estimates, guesses
of municipal officials as to the re.
lation of the assessed to the true
value of property, and' th'eh filled
out what the tax rate would, be . on the
full value of property. It these estimates
opinions or guesses wer# coTtect. BUt
the census authorities knew . that. these
reports of the relation of assessed to true
vaJue were almost universally Inaccurate
and misleading and that only false con
clusions could be derived from them. And
the census authorities said so, warning
agalfist reliance upon these figures.
Census Bulletin 118 Saya:
oRfierM Bants at. AMdOint la Prac
tice.?For most cittes the figures shown
in the table as the reported basis of as
sessment in practice are estimates fur
nished by local officials of the percentage
which the assessed valuation of property
subject to the general property tax in
those dtles forms of its true value. For
certain of the cities of Minnesota. Wash
SSrton and Wisconsin the figures given
wire obtained from the state tax com
missions. and represent approximately
the proportion that the assessed valuation
hears to the selling value, having been
determined by a critical Investigation in
(Continued on Ninth I-"
QUIETIN VERA CRUZ
UNDER U. S. CONTROL
! , .
, - ? * 1
American Lines Completely
Encircle the CJity?Food
Supplies Growing Short.
VERA GRUZ, April 25.?Almost normal
tranquillity has been restored in the city,
but occasionally sniping occurred during
the night There was, however, no gen
eral disorder, the domination of the city
by the American forces having been gen
erally accepted fcy the residents.
?The order issued from the admiral's
headquarters for the closing of all sa
loons remained in effect today.
The restaurants are having difficulty in
furnishing the usual quantity and quality
of food, owing to the impossibility of
obtaining supplies. Prices have, there
fore, been advanced.
The American lines, some ten miles in
length, now completely encircle the city.
Outposts have been established covering
all points from one to five miles out.
Street Cleaning1 Resumed.
The Mexican street sweepers were in
duced to return to work yesterday, and
it is hoped that other municipal em
ployes will follow suit shortly.
Fleet Engineer Kalbfuss is laboring
with the battered locomotives left by
the federals in the hope that he can
repair them sufficiently for service as
far inland as the federals will permit.
Col. John A. Lejeune, commanding the
marines who are holding the outposts
covering the railways and the inland
front of the city, reported that he had
not been disturbed since he established
his outposts. His men are now en
trenched with eight field pieces and
many automatic guns.
Appeal for Protection.
Dozens of Mexican business men are
besieging the American headquarters
hourly to obtain assurances that their
lives and property will be protected If
they reopen their shops. Every effort
Is being made to reassure the Mexicans
and many of the native shops were open,
giving the streets an ordinary appear
ance, except for the patrolling squads,
who, however, interfered as little as pos
sible with citizens.
Public Funeral for Southern Seaman.
NEW ORLEANS, April 25.?Gretna, La.,
opposite New Orleans, is arranging a pub
lic funeral for Louis O. Pried, who, Rep
resentative Dupre yesterday stated in the
House of Representatives, was the first
southerner to die in the fighting at Vera
Cruz. Admiral Blue, chief of the bureau
of navigation at Washington, has inform
ed the boy's father that the body will be
sent home as soon as possible. Pried was
an ordinary seaman on the battleship Ar
kansas and was killed Wednesday.
THE DAY IN CONGRESS.
House i
? Debate continued on naval ap
propriation bill.
Passed joint resolution author
ing Secretaries of War and Navy
to loan equipment for instructing
and training to sanitary organi
zations of American National
Red Cross. 0
Arthur R. Marsh of New York
Cotton Exchange, before agricul
ture committee hearing on anti
cotton futures, testified that if
proposed legislation were not care
fully safeguarded it might
eliminate cotton growers produc
ing low grades.
Senate:
Met at noon.
Interoceanic canals committee
continued hearings on toll ex
emption repeal bill.
SUMMARY OF LATE DEVELOPMENTS
Citizens of Arizona, through Senator Ashurst, appeal to
War Department for immediate dispatch of regulars to the
Arizona border.
Four Americans ai* reported to have been killed in
Mexico City. The State Department doubts the accuracy of
the report.
Most of army officers on detached duty in Washington,
including Engineer Commissioner Harding, apply for service
in field.
Capt. Douglas MacArthur, an engineer officer, has gone
to Vera Cruz to direct engineering work for intended advance
on Mexico City. *
????? t
Senor Riano, Spanish ambassador, announces he has
taken charge of affairs of Mexican government in Wash
ington.
Secretary Daniels orders Admiral Howard on west coast
and Admiral Badger on east coast of Mexico to give asylum
or passage on vessels to any American consul desiring to
leave Mexico.
Secretary Garrison says United States troops ordered to
Vera Cruz are going "for duty," when asked the purpose of
military operations.
Secretary Daniels says an army officer will be in com
mand at Vera Cruz when troops are landed, indicating base
of operations for attack on Mexico City.
Special war fund of $430,000,000 could be raised by the
Secretary of the Treasury without recourse to Congress.
House passes Hay joint resolution to meet needs in
Mexico campaign.
State Department hears Americans were taken from
refuge train and are held by federals.
Consul Canada reports that refugees from Mexico City
tell him there is a reign of terror in Mexican capital and
confirm rumors of anti-American demonstrations.
Col. Williaim E. Harvey appeals for volunteers for the
reserve corps of the District National Guard, which has first
right among militia organizations to go into service.
Secretary Bryan, denying report that he will resign from
cabinet, says he never thought of it.
State Department reiterates through Consular Agent
Carothers to Carranza that United States government merely
seeks reparation from Huerta regime, and is not hostile to
constitutionalists.
BULLET MOUNTED AS CHARM. CAN SERVE THEIR COUNTRY,
Presented to Frank L. Folk by
Mayor Mitchel.
NEW YORK. April 26.?Mounted as a
charm, the bullet from the gun of
Michael P. Mahoney, the demented
blacksmith, which passed through the
victim's chin a week ago, yesterday was
presented to Frank L. Polk, corporation
counsel.
The presentation was made '. t the
New York hospital by Mayor Mitchel,
for whom the bullet was intended. The
bullet was removed from the cheek of
the corporation counsel after he was
taken to the hospital. The mayor had
it mounted and encased in a handsome
box. Mr, Polk left the hospital for his
junta today, .
J.
Former Soldiers Are Eligible to Join
Army Reserve Corps.
N'EJW YORK. April 25.?Officers in
charge of army recruiting stations here
have called the attention of former sol
diers to the army reserve act of 1912,
under which they are eligible for active
service if called upon by the President.
This act provides that men honorably
discharged with a rating of "good" caij
enlist in the reserves if not over forty
five years old and physically capable.
There is a great array of these former
soldiers who can join the regular army
and serve while needed, and not for a
stated term. They cannot re-enlist with
the rank they held when discharged, but
as privates. Married men are not barred
ijom yiB^re*eeyj?.
DENIES EXECUTION
OF 19 AMERICANS
British Subject Among Rail
road Employes Arrested at
Orizaba, Says Bryan.
SECRETARY NOTIFIES
ENGLISH AMBASSADOR
Alio Asks Brazilian Minister in
Mexico City to Obtain Protection
for Natives of United States.
Secretary Bryan today notified Am
bassador Sprlngr-Rlce of the reported
arrest of a British subject at Orizaba.
Tie was one of twenty foreign railroad
employes nineteen of tliem Americans,
who were reported arrested there. Mr.
Bryan denied the report that these
prisoners had been executed, and stat
ed that the Brazilian consulate has
been appealed to In order to obtain
their release.
Secretary Bryan has made repre
sentations to the Brazilian minister
at Mexico City to obtain protection for
all Americans employed on the Tehaun
tepec railroad. These employes, in
common with Americans working on
other railroads in Mexico, have been
discharged as a result of the present
situation. About 80 per cent of the
employes on the Tehauntepec railroad
were Americans, according to Secre
tary Bryan. He added that urgent ef
forts are being made to get these men
out of Mexico safely.
Engineers Not Released.
At last reports, the message said, the
engineers had not been released. No
names were given and the number of
engineers is not known. The reason for
their arrest was not given.
The news was announced in the fol
lowing statement issued by the Navy De
partment: , ,
"The.department is in receipt of a d.s
patch from Vera Cruz, at 3:25 P-ni*
terday, stating that from an authen ?
source information had been obtained
that English locomotive engineers or
Mexican railways were arrested by fed
eral authorities and placed in jail in
cigai* factory at Orizaba.
"The latest advices are that they have
not been released. The American chief
dispatcher at Orizaba was also arrested,
but later released, with admonition not
to approach station. All locomotives
were placed in hands of Mexicans, who,
it is not believed, can handle the class of
motive power operated on the mountain.
Brings Guns and Explosives.
"Gen. Navarette came as far as Cam
eron, sixty-four kilometers ftom Vera
Cruz, with one coachload of men and a
box loaded with machine guns and nec
essary explosives for blowing' up bridges
on the Mexican railway, which are nu
merous,- high and large, on this line, and
in some places it is impossible to ar
range a passage of trains by any other
provisional means. An unruly mob made
energetic efforts to burn railway equip
ment of the same railroad irt Mexico
City, but was prevented by federal sol
diers. This railroad Is mobilizing all
equipment possible at Apizaco. -88 kilo
meters from Vera Cruz, under instruc
tions, from federal government.
"The Tehauntepec railway was cut ana
operations suspended on the 21st and --d.
Officials of this railway promised they
might renew service on the 23d. This is
unlikely."
Taken From Train.
VERA CRUZ, Mexico. April 25.?Sev
eral Americans, prisoners of Mexican
soldiers, are being held at Cordoba or
Orisaba on the line of the Vera Cruz
Isthmus railroad, according to reports
received here. Four of the Americans
were taken from a train on the Vera
Cruz Isthmus line at Tierra Blanca, and
at Motzolongo station three other
Americans and an Englishman were
seized. Those captured at Tierra Blanca
are W. A. Mangan, superintendent of
the railroad; Engineer Elliott, and Con
ductors Riley and Hart.
At Motzolongo, Edward Welunch, his
son. Sydney: A. M. Thomas and Mr.
Boyd, an Englishman, were arrested
bv the federals.
The belief that the federals intended
to execute at least four of the prisoners
was gained from the conversation of
soldiers, who captured them, which was
overheard by passengers on the train.
The prisoners were taken to Cordoba,
and It is believed, later were trans
ferred to Orizaba. Eighteen Americans
still are in Tierra Blanca.
Confirmed by State Department.
CHICAGO. 'April 25,-Seven Americani
and one British subject have been taken
prisoners by Huerta's soldiers, accord
ing in a telegram received here last
night from the State Department by
Herbert A. Parkyn, president of a
Mexican plantation company.
Mr. Bryan's telegram in part follows:
"The following, dated April 24, at 10
am and received from the American
consul at Vera Cruz. Is sent for your^in
formation: 'Am Just reliably informed
soldiers stopped train in viclnity of
Tierra Blanca on V era Cruz Isthmus
railroad, taking foreigners prisoners:
W Mangum,. railroad superintendent,
Elliott engineer; Riley and Hart, con
ductors; all are Americans. These per
sons are taken to Cordoba or Orizaba
and believed--ordered shot.
"Some eighteen or more Americans
left for Tierra Blanca: C. B. Herron sec
retary Isthmus railroad, wife and four
children; J. O. Cook, chief engineer;
John F. Lighter, conductor; J. F. Lan8"
ston and wife. Kerwin. engineer, and
Mr. and Mr. George Macomber.
Other "Arrests" Hade.
"Same soldiers stopped train at Ha
cienda Motzolongo on same railroad,
taking prisoners Edward Wunsch and
son, Sidney; A. M. Turner, secretary of
the Hacienda Motsolongo, all Americans;
also a man named Boyd, British sub
lect. All taken to Cordoba or Oblzaba.
It is reliably stated that these prisoners
may be executed. Admirals Fletcher and
Badger have this information before
""(Binned) "BRYAN."
Rear Admiral
Mahan
On Going to Church,
Page 3.
! - 1
AMERICANS SLAIN
BY MEXICAN MOBS,
i VERACRUZ HEARS
Four Massacred in Mexico
City, Declares the News
paper Ei Dictamen.
THREE TAKEN FROM CARS
AND KILLED ON STREETS
Fourth Murdered at 7. M. C. A.
Building by Members of Base Ball
Team to Which He Belonged.
CONDITIONS GROWING WOBSE
Intense Anti-American Feeling in
All Directions. Refugees Report.
Situation All Over Republic
Looked Upon as Grave.
VERA CRUZ, April 25.?El
Dictamen, a Vera Cruz newspa
per, today says four Americans
have been killed by mobs in
Mexico City. It declares it has
received this information from
the federal capital.
The information as to the
massacre of Americans is not
confirmed from any other source
and is considered doubtful in
many quarters.
Three of the American victims
were taken out of street cars and
killed oh the streets, while the
fourth was killed in the Young
Men's Christian Association
building by members of the base
ball team to which he belonged,
according to El Dictamen, which
made its reappearance today.
State of Affairs Grows Worse.
Vera Cruz today was isolated from di
rect communication with the interior,
but the sparse news brought here by
refugees indicate# that the state of Af
fairs is bad and rapidly growing worse
so far as Americans are concerned.
The refugees arriving here bring word
of intense anti-American feeling In nil
directions.
The American military authorities In
Vera Crux -consider the situation of
Americans in the capital and all over
the republic grave.
Alarming for Americana.
The situation in the capital dally is
becoming more alarming for Ameri
cans, according to refugees who ar
rived here yesterday. The mobs in
the streets were increasing in size and
numbers, they said. They confirmed
the report that the rifles and rapid-fire
guns that recently were permitted to
i^ach the American embassy had been
seized by order of President Huerta.
and stated also that a house-to-house
search had begun for arms.
Only a few American refugees ar
rived here yesterday on the train that
brought Nelson O'Shaughnessy, the
American charge d'affaires. Several
who had boarded the train were re
moved by the authorities in Mexico
City and held in the capital for their
own "protection."
Prevented From Leaving City.
Among the Americans prevented from
boarding Mr. O'Shaughnessy's special
train were Burton Wilson. J. L. Starr
and Hunt -Lawrers, well known In the
capital and somewhat in New York.
Those who arrived here have but the
vaguest idea of the exact number of
Americans detained in the capital, but it
is known that a great many were at the
station to take the train, which they had
good reason to believe would be the last
to leave for Vera Cruz.
Mr. O'Shaughnessy brought with him
his automobile and his Mexican chauf
feur, upon whose cap was restored the
red, white and blue insignia which three
days ago in the capital had been re
moved because of the anti-American
manifestations against anything pertain
ing to the United States.
Vicious Tirades by Press.
The newspapers of the capital continue
to print vicious tirades against Ameri
cans, and mobs continue active. The
plight of Americans in the capital is re
ported to be more critical.
The statue of George Washington in
Mexico City was pulled down by a mob
led by Jorge Huerta, son of President
Huerta, wfco attached the ropes to it.
Two Americans are reported to have
been rescued by Huerta's aids from the
wrath of the mob.
OUSTED "SOPHS" REINSTATED.
Lafayette College Faculty Acts, and
Students Rejoice.
EA8TON, Pa.. April 25.?The faculty of
Lafayette College yesterday reinstated
the fifty-four sophomores who were sus
pended last week for hazing. There was
rejoicing among the student body and ali
four classes held meetings and adopted
resolutions of appreciation.
The members of the base ball team,
who were included among those sus
pended, were eligible to play with the
team against Dickinson today.
EMPEROR IS UNIMPROVED.
Francis Joseph Passes Another Night
Disturbed by Coughing.
VIENNA, Austria, April 25.?Emperor
Francis Joseph again passed a night dis
turbed by fits of coughing, but these were
not so violent as they had been during
the past two nights. The official report
on his condition says:
"His majesty passed a better night in
asmuch as during the first few hours his
sleep was but little interrupted- In the
second part of the night his rest was- fre
quently disturbed by coughing. His
strength and general condition this morn
i ing are about the ?me as yestardatx.''
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