Albuquerque morning journal., 1913-12-31
Washington Knows Nothing of
Authority by Which United
States Officer Turns Back
Refugees,
INTERNATIONAL FLEET
IN MAZATLAN HARB0R
Report That Fifty Japanese
Officers Had Offered Ser
vices to Huerta Is Officially
Denied From Toxic,

lay soHsiso JouHNAL srrciAl tusstn wiprl
Washington. Dec 3e.-ln response
To dispatches received today from G..
j. o'Connor. in charge Of the Amerl-
can Red cross on the Mexican bor-
der Ernest Z. Bicknen, director OF
the Red cross, ordered that relief be
sent to the Mexican side for the
wounded and sufferng Of the con-
tending Mexican forces at Oiinaga if
tssurances OF protection would be
e1arantced.
MI O'Connor was directed to pro-
cure pledges that adequate protection
would be- given The doctors and nurses
before he sent them across the bor-
der. II assurances are procured. Mr
Blckncu stated the Red cross officers.
nurses and supplies now stationed az
Ei Paso. the nearest point to Ojinoga.
would be instructed to proceed 10 the
scene Of the battle.
Limited means or communication
between the isolated border town of
Preside. TcSus. and the north, ia
giyen by officials here as thc reason
that no news reached the state on
war departments today regarding the
battle reported in progress across the
border in the MeMcun town OF OIi-
naea.
some doubt was expressed as Go the
procedure said TO have been adopted
b, the Amo,d .aatg aomI. ndrr
m Preside n The treatment of the
federal soldiers who are seeking TO
cross the line into Texas. The state
department has given no instructions
and made no requests looking 20 amy
different treatment for such refugees
than was accorded 20 the federals
Who were driven across the line sew
cal months ago at Naco, Ariz, and
at Brownsville. Tex In these cases.
,he soldiers were dsarmed aud in-
termed the Naco fugiuvcs being sent
to Fortress Roseerans. Calf. for safe
keeping. and the Brownsville refugees
being detained at tnat place.
II is said at the war department
that no new Instructions have been
given TO the American military com
manders. and it is assumed. IL Mexican
federal soldiers VINO crossed the line
we're disarmed by American troops
and then forced to return into Mexico.
that II was because the American
commanding officer did not believe
that he was thereby endangerlng thor
lives or violating any Of the laws a.
humanity
state department reports today ore
that the financial tension IN the Mes
lean capital has been relieved by lie
enforced bank holiday Conditions
at Acapulco continue serious BAN
dis are in evidence throughout tine
state and the military authorities are
said TO be cxacting forced loans
Americans and foreigners are af-
feeted by these demands.
For the first time since the dis
patch Of foreign vessels to the west
coast Of MeNlco. as far as officials rec
cal. the craft Of three different MAJ
lions are in the same Mexican por-
This international fleet, now at aia-
zatlan. IS composed Of the Japanese
cruiser Gdzuna. the British cruiser
Shearwater ana the American cruiser
Pittsburgh and the supply ship Gia-
/ cier
Officials here have received no add
( vices as to the reason for the concen-
ration Of so formidable squadron
at this western port
Interest occasloned in official circles
by the report that fifty japanese Of
ficers have applied for permission To
attach themselves 10 the Mexican fed
eraI army. was dispelled today when
lit was learned that the report had
been denied at Toxic today. by Senior
Pardo Mexican minister 20 japan.
Reports continue 10 pour in from
many sources describing the desttu-
ton and suffering which seems 20 be-
widespread throughout Mcxico in con-
sequence of suspension Of industrial
activities and the total failure of crops
2 throughout wide areas
Il has not yet been determined to-
what extent the Red Cross can con-
unue the RELIEF work recently begun
in sinalaa.