Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-04-26
SHIP TO THE RESCUE
Americans in Danger in Mex
leo to Be Picked Up.
TRANSPORT TO BE USED
Buford Sails Sunday to Touch Ports
Of West Coast.
SITUATION GROWS WORSE
Marauders Continue Activity in
Sonora-Complaints Expected by
the State Department.

Inc army transport Bu1Ord VIII ledNe
San Francisco Sunday for the west coast
of Mexico. to pick up any American
refugees who may wi%l to return to the
United States. 1t will go first to Topolo-
bampo. then to Altata and Mazatlan. all
in the state of Sinalao; next to San Bias.
Topic. Manzanillo. in Colima, and then to
Acapulco in Guerro. The vessel Is sent
at the request OF the State Department
after urgent requests from many Amer
leans stranded in the states bordering on
the Pacific coast.
Since the rebels began to make head
way in their operations along the Pa
cific coast communication has been de-
froyed with many Of the interior towns
where Americans are known to reside.
That has left the State Department and
others without definite information as to
the safety OF these people. and that In
the face OF numerous reports Of wanton
acts of both bandits and organized rebels.
Buford Not Warship.
The Buford is now in San Francisco
harbor and under the orders issued from
the War Department today will be ready
to sail for the Mexican coast next Sun
day She is a vessel Of $40 tons. and
has accommodations for sixty-eisht first
class passengers, twenty-four hospital
patients and 906 troops.
She is commanded by civilian, Capt.
James Healy, and Capt. Frank D. Ely
will represent the quartermaster's depart
ment on board the ship. The Buford has
been out of commission for long time.
but 1t is expected that she can be made
ready to sail Sunday.
While this is q government vessel.
stress is laid upon the fact that 1t Is in
no sense q warship, for there will be no
soldiers aboard, and the only persons
bearing United States commissions be-
sides Quartermaster Ely will be the doc.
tprs and some members of the hospital
corps taken along to look after the sick
among the refugees.
Trip One Of Charity.
State Department advices collected
from various sources indicate that there
are perhaps five hundred Americans
likely to avail themselves OF this offer
of free transportation to their own
country About two hundred of these
are at Los Mochis and vicinity and
probably three hundred more scattered
down the coast as far south as Salina
Cruz. At first 1t had been suggested
up on the commercial liners that now
ply regularly along the Mexican coast.
But many Of the refugees were reported
to be in small seacoast towns where
liners rarely ever touched, and altogether,
in view Of the high cost of transporta-
tiou on the mercantile lines. 1t was de-
cided that the government transport Serv-
ice might be most economically employed
in this relief work.
The undertaking is one Of pure charity,
as no charge will be imposed upon the
refugees for transportation. but no at
tempt will be made to leave T4tions or
% r. ~
the reports do not indicate any need Of
such relief.
Conditions Grow Worse.
Today's reports to the State Depart
ment declare the situation throughout
Mexico as generally becoming worse.
Small bands Of marauders are moving
about from place to place In Sonora.
causing much uneasiness by their &C.
tivities Cautro Cienegas. central
Coahuila. is said to be in rebel hands.
At Julie, vera Cruz, the Mexican agent
of the Tehuantepec railroad was bound
and robbed by rebels.
Under the leadership Of Tomas Her
nandez, a large band OF rebels Is OPP
Grating in the vicinity OF Puerto Mex
leo, and a band of outlaws Is active
near Campo. Coahuila, on the American
border.
State Department oficials say they
fully expected more or less complaint
from the Americans who were obliged
to abandon their business and residence
in Mexico, in accordance With the warn
ing conveyed in President Tafts
proclamation. But they did not believe
that 1t would be necessary to go back
into the last revolution to seek instances
OF hardship and maltreatment Of foreign
ers by brigands. Yet they point out
tnat il precisely what has been done in
the case of the refugees at Gal
berry and murder Of a German woman in
Corvadonga- The departments records
show that affair occurred q year and
half ago, when Madero himself was
leading the revolution. and that 1t was
made the subject Of q claim against the
present government Of Mexico, which
has since been fully adjusted.