Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-08
PARLEY|NG |SOVER
IN S|LL|MAN CASE
U. S. Government Demands
the Release of Vice and
Deputy Consul.

The state Department has taken steps.
with the support Of the Navy and War
departments. TO obtain authoritative IN
formation regarding the fate of Vice
and Deputy Consul John r. Silliman. be
leved to be under arrest by Gen. Mas.
Huerta's commander in Saltillo. and II
IT is found that he has suffered at the
hands of the federal forces redress viii
he exacted.
II was impossible to get confirma-
tion OF this from Secretary Bryan. but
reliable sources of official information
admitted that the department intends
TO make the guilty parties suffer for
any afrront TO the dignity OF the United
States through its consular agents.
It was admitted that the patience OF
the department in the Silliman incident
is exhausted. 1t is about ten days
since the department heard directly
from Mr.. Silliman, and II is five days
since the department heard unofncially
that he is under arrest
Yesterday the department received from
Vera Cruz confirmation that the reports
OF the arrest OF Mr.. Silliraan were true.
Through the Brazilian embassy the
State Department today made urgent
representations 10 Huerta for the i'm
mediate release of Mr.. SilNman. Inter
rupted Geographic communications he
tween Vera Cruz and the Mexican capi-
tai and Sstltillo are given as reasons why
direct word regarding Mr.. Siiliman's fate
has not been forthcoming.
No Details of Jalisco Deaths.
No details concerning the identity of
the American and two British subjects
killed at Jalisco have heen received here
nor Information as 10 what parties are
responsible for the killing. Yesterdays
dispatch left 1t uncertain whether fed
erals. conStitutionalists or simple br!-
eands committed the outrage. The fate
of Ransdell parties. reported cut off by
nrigands. is also unknown.
The British ambassador conferred with
Secretary Bryan as to conditions at Tam
pico and as TO negotiations which might
insure the safety of the oil properties
and oil company employees.
The British embassy here has made
representations 10 Mexico CITY in behalf
Of the American and English employees
in the oil districts in and about Tampico.
These foreigners when they attempted
70 land and resume their work were
driven off with threats. There has been
no response from the Mexican officials.
Refugees Reach Cordoba.
Consul Canada reports that he has word
from the Brazilian minister that the
refugee train from Mexico City has ar
rived at Cordoba The refugees are to
be taken on board the steams ship Espar-
ANA at Puerto Mexico.
II is stated that H. W. Thompson J.
Star Hunt and Burton Wilson are safe
and an American. whose name was not
learned and who was arrested in Mexico
City, has been released.
Admiral Badger at Vera Cruz reported
10 the Navy Department that the steamer
Esperanto had sailed for Puerto Mexico
TO take on the 500 refugees. The vessel
will proceed from Puerto Mexico to New
Orleans. Tho sailing Of the steamer City
of Tampico for Progreso and other Yucca
tan ports to take on refugees was de-
layed today. Mr.. Jenktnson of the Amer
lean Red Cross is aboard the steamer
and will assist in getting refugees out
Of that country.
American Engineer Reported Killed.
From Consul Miller. at Tampico. comes
the report that an American engineer
named Robert Burwell has been killed at
ozufuama. a town sixty miles inland.
No details are given. It is known that
there Is much rioting Whereabouts and
many skirmishes have taken place.
The country behind Tampico is the
worst disordered in the republic. One
village Is controlled by federals and the
next by rebels, and there are constant
clashes. This had driven many into Tam
pico. increasing the suffering there on
Secretary Daniels denied that Robert
Rurwell was his nephew. as has been re-
ported.
Mr.. Daniels stated that Burwell prob
home city Of Raleigh. who left that place
seven years ago to engage in the en-
sineering profession In New Orleans.
Trying to Reopen Railway Traffic.
A German steamship company Is en-
deavoring to reopen traffic on the Te-
huantepec railway which the company
uses for transshipping large quantities
OF freight between its steamers in the
Atlantic and Pacific This was the pur-
pose of the German ambassadors call at
the State Department yesterday. The
Huerta government had stated that traf
fc was open and no good reason was seen
here why the company should not resume
transit operations.
Dispatches received in diplomatic
quarters indicated that the northern
region OF Mexico. under constitutional
lists sway. was steadily becoming more
tranquil and many foreign refugees
from these districts contemplate re-
turning.
There will be 10 further attacks upon
uon-combatants by bombs from aero
planes at Mazat1an. as Admiral Howard
has Cdpicd tHt Navy from
that port under yesterdays date that
Gen. Obregon. the constitutionalist
eader Of the forces besieging the city
mas agreed to the establishment of
neutral zone.
Cen Obregon. has further promised
that his forces shall not injure foreign
ers. non-combatants nor their property,
and Admiral Howard said that many
Americans inside the constitutionalist
ines DO not wish to come out. consider
ing themselves safe
Trade Stops on West Coast.
Admiral Howard commenting upon the
order issued by Cen Huerta prohibiting
any American vessels to clear at a Mexi-
can Port. says that he has undertaken to
stve the Pacific mail steamers touching
at Mazat1an letters to the customs COL
lecope at San Francisco. explaining their
failure to have clearance papers.