The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1914-04-25
MEXICANS THREATEN
/ LIVES AT MANY POINTS
Citizens of United States Held Prisoners BY Husrta
Followers-President Hopes For Peace But
Plans For War are Pushed

she'd
Their along. at Motzolongo Station.
three other Americans and an. Eng
lishman we're seized. Those captur-
ed at TERRA Blanca are W. A. Man
gan. superintendent OF the railroad:
Engineer Elliott and Conductors
Riley and Hart. At Moizolongo Ed
ward Weunch. his son Sydney. a. NJ.
Thomas. and Mr.. Boyd. a Brltisher.
we're arrested by the Federals.
The belief that the Federals in
tended 10 execute az least four OF the
! prisoners was gained from the con-
versation OF the soldiers who cap.ur-
/ ed them, which was overheard by
passengers on the train. The pris-
oners we're taken 20 Cordoba and. IL
is believed. later we're transferred
to orizaba, a point nearer the capt
tai.
Eighteen Americans are still in
TERRA Blanca. among them J. o.
Cook. Chief Engineer OF the lsthmus
Railway; J. o. Scheidner. ]. ID. Long
ston, c. ID. Harrison and wife and
children. and Mr.. and Mrs. George
| McComber.
An indirect report received here
today from Mexico City said that
mob attempted TO burn the terminal
Of the Mexican Railway. but was
prevented by President Huerta's
troops.
The Mexicans are confscatlng all
the locomotives and rolling stock Of
the Mexican Railway and concen.rat-
ing them at Arizaco. an hours run
south OF the capital. All the engi-
neers of that line have been held
and sent to Orizaba. The train dis
patcher at orizaba was arrested, but
released later and told TO leave.
Washington. April 24.-While the
attention of the American govern
ment yesterday was concentrated
mainly on restoring order at Vera
Cruz and expediung the departure Of
Americans from all parts of Mexico,
sharp watch was kept on the trans
continental boundry between Mexico
and the United States for any signs
of hostility from the Mexican consti-
tuticnalists.
President Wilson and his cabinet
had a long meeting. after which OPP
timism was conspicuously apparent
in their demeanor. There was no
particular development to which
could be attributed the feeling OF
hopefulness that real war would be
averted but Gen Villas friendly pro
nouncement 1t was admitted, had
impressed many officials in Washing
ton with the possibility that the con
stitutionalists would remain neutral
while the American government
sought reparation from Huerta.
Other officials were not so san.
guine, and the army moved with pre-.
cision and swiftness to protect the
American boundary and reinforce
the expeditionary force of marines
and bluejacke.s at Vera Cruz
Conferences at the state depart
ment between Secretary Bryan and
representatives of the Mexican con
stitutionalists resulted in the dis
patch to Gen. Carranza of a telegram
by the latter, strongly advising him
to remain neutral and assuring him
that the American government in
tended to withdraw its forces from
Mexico as soon as satisfactory repair
alton had been made for offenses
committed by Huerta. Carranza was
told that by assuming a hostile atti-
tude he would draw all Mexico into a
war; Huerta would be perpetuated
and the constitutionalist cause would
be lost in the melee.
Four countries. including Francs
and Spain, came forward with inquir
les about possible means of media
tion between the Huerta government
and the United States, but Secretary
Bryan said these advances could not
be described as ''overtures" and he
was inclined to attach little import
ance to them. The position of the
1
an ofIense against its dignity and
national honor has been committed
and that reparation must be made.
Signs of uneasiness abroad be-
cause the United States, though not
having declared blockade or a state
of war, is exercising jurisdiction at
Vera Cruz between measures short
of war" and actual war, began to be
apparent yesterday. Cabinet officials
said no attempt would be made to
interfere with the regular channels
CT commerce anywhere. cargoes be
/ ing allowed to land at all points.
, Munitions Of war alone would be
held at the Vera Cruz custom-houses
Meantime the army and navy con
tinued their plans for the holding OF
Vera Cruz, the care of refugees. the
provisioning of American forces and