WAR IN MEXICO

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 27 April 1914, Page 5

WAR IN MEXICO

MEXICAN OPERATIONS AGAINST

AMERICA.

ALL AVAILABLE YANKEE TROOPS

DESPATCHED.

STRONG ANTI-AMERICAN FEELING.

RIOTS IN MEXICAN TOWNS.

" PEATH TO AMERICANS."

STARS AND STRIPES TRAMPLED IN

THE DUST.

Cable—Press Association—Copy right Washington, April 2-1. The Mexican Federals have opened the campaign against the Americans, destroying public buildings at Nuevo Laredo, turning guns across l!:e boundary, and endeavoring to repeat the damage at the American town of Laredo, in Texas. Intense excitement is reported. Several Americans were killed during a skirmish with Mexicans. All available American troops are being despatched. The United States Consulate ar tfuevo Laredo is burning. A train has arrived at Vera Cruz from Mexico City with British and German refugees aboard. It is reported that mobs in Mexico City trampled the American flag in the lust.

There was a demonstration outside

the American Club, the crowd smashing windows and shouting insults. The position of Americans is regarded as critical. Excited Mexicans are continually parading the streets shouting, "Death Americans." It is feared if the Americans make a move forward from Vera Cruz outrages will occur. British, German and French residents •re preparing to concentrate in certain Siegne districts, in which provisions are being accumulated. The »ewspapers are under strict censorship, but they are publishing varied stories of Mexican successes against the Americans is wholly imaginary battles. ! Communication with outside is cut off.

Huerta is understood to have promised strict protection of all foreigners, and is providing guards for the Mexican Embassy.

Every available warship is now bound to Mexico. President Wilson is making unexampled preparations for war.

The Texas Guards liavs been ordered to patrol the entire border, as ]ittle reliance is placed on General Villa's protestations of friendship.

TROOP SHIPS WANTED.

VILLA LYJNG LOW.

Times and Sydney Run Services. London, April 24.

Enquiries are being made in Englaiyi for steamers to act as troop ship 3 and colliers for the fleet operating in Mexico.

Mexico City, April -24.

General Villa informed the American representative at Chihuahua that lie infused to he dragged into a war with America. % DISAPPOINTED MEXICANS.

ABE ONLY IMPRISONED, NOT SHOT.

London, .April 24. Vera Cruz telegrams state that a dramatic incident took place at Vera ' Cruz. The crews of the British cruisers Essex and Berwick lined the flecks and cheered the America nlanddecks and cheered the American landing place, and when the American dead were carried off in the boats the (lags of the British ships were half-masted. British efficera express unstinted admiration of the perfection of the organisation of the American landing. A curious incident of the capture was that five hundred Mexicans, evidently convinced that the Americans would follow the Mexican custom and intended their immediate execution, Yolubly protested thdir innocence. They were intensely surprised and relieved when they learnt they would only be placed on a warship. Danger spots arc developing at Fort Bliss, where, owing to the diversion of the American garrison to other border points, the five thousand Mexicans interned are poorly guarded in a 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 ensure their safekeeping.

Vera Cruz. April 24. A transport lias been despatched to pick up 120 refugees at Tampico.

London, April 24.

The Stock Exchange is depressed and rather panicky owing to the news from Masieo. Consols fell to £74 10s. but recovered to £74 15s.

DIAZ RETURNING. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 25, 5.5 p.m. Berlin, April 24. It i» stated that Diaz, the ex-Presid-ent, has sailed incognito f&c Mexico to • place his services at the disposal of the •country.

AMERICA MUST SEE IT THROUGH,

CRITICISM OF THE FOREIGN

SECRETARY.

Received 25. 5.5 p.m. Washington. April 24.

1 Senator Lodge asserts that nothiu . wm »ins fo£ the United States but t i Jpjt itie war through to the bitter end.

Many Congressmen Hold that the British recognition of Huerta as do iaeto President was a proper course for the United States to follow.

| Congressmen criticise .Mr. Bryan's supineness in dealing with Carranza at leading Carranza to think he was able to fool the United States regarding his real intentions. BOEDER TOWN IN RUINS.

.MEXICANS ROUTED )!V AMERICANS

Receiv.-d -iii. j..) p.m.

Washington, April 24.

The State Department is receiving despatches from the ex-South American Republics showing strong disapproval of the United States' action towards Mex-

The safety of the Americans as Esen-d'-i is reported officially. It is not stated whether property losses are heavy at Laredo, Texas.

Nuevo Laredo*. a thriving Mexican border town, is in. ruins as the result of the dynamite fire started by the Fe'dr erals. American troopers routed the Mexicans, and killed several, but wer« unable to save Nuevo Laredo.

•Many volleys were fired into the American city, but it is believed that not much damage was done.

MEXICO'S INTERNAL STRIFE.

LEADERS HAY NOT COMBINE.

Received 26, 5.5 p.m. Washington, April 25. Villa reasserts that he has no intention of fighting against the United States, and he believes that Carranaa will also refuse to join the Huertists, despite the statement to the contrary. Colonel Gocthals has placed the Canal Zone on a full war footing.

REPORTED MURDER OF AMERICANS,

MANY ARRESTED AND GAOLED.

UNITED STATES ARMY HURRYING FORWARD.

Received 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington, April 25. American refugees from Mexico City have Teached Vera Cruz, including Mr. O'Shaughnessy, Charge d'Affaires. Vera Cruz newspapers publish accounts of rioting at Mexico City, in which Americans were murdered.

The mob is reported to have killed three Americans in the streets, while another was murdered in the Y.M.C.A. building by the members of the baseball team to which he belonged. Vera Cruz is isolated from the capital, and the news is untrustworthy. It cannot be doubted, however, that many Americans have been arrested ill Mexico City and are held in gaol. ,

It is understood that Mr. Bryan is enlisting the good offices of the Brazilian Minister to secure the Americans' free-

Twenty refugees, nineteen American and one British, are reported to have been shot by the Huertists, according to information furnished to Mr. Bryan. Details are lacking, but it is believed they were executed in revenge at Nogalese, Arizona.

"Negotiations between the Constitutionalists 'and Huertists proved fruitless, Carranza refusing to ally himself with Huerta. It is not known, however, whether Carranza, will remain neutral or fight the United States independently. Vera Cruz, April '24.

The Mexican soldiers are reported to be holding a number of Americans prisoners near Cordoba, and threatening them with execution.

It is reported that Iluerta has refused to allow other Americans to leave tte capital. Three thousand men, with twelve machine guns, are now en route, ex Galveston, for Vera Cruz. An English engineer was arrested al Orizaba by the Federals. An American official was also arrested, but wis v>» leased.

MURDEROUS MEXICAN MOB.

SERIOUS SITUATION SAVED BY GERMAN CRUISER.

THE FOREIGNERS RESCUED.

Received 27, 12.30 a.m. Washington, April 2G.

After the United States fleet arrived at Tampico, they withdrew seawards at nightfall.

The Mexicans started anti-American riots, attacking the chief hotels in which tTie American* had taken refuge. The mob stoned and fired rides through the windows. The situation was serious when the captain of the German cruiser Dresden notified the mob that he would land marines unless they dispersed. The. foreigners were then taken aboaM the cruiser wifely.