The Washington times., 1914-04-25
ONLY INVASION CAN
SAVE THE AMERICANS
Every interior Mexican City
Holds American Civilians as
Hostages.
Nv WILLIAM G. SHEPHERD.


ing American prisoners as hostages
with the exception of Charge Nelso
OShauyhnessy, every member of tn
diplomatic party arriving at Vera Cru
rom Mexico City last night, privatel,
expressed the opinion that the earl
arrival of troops in the capital AM
the overthrow of the dictator Huerti
viii save the marooned Americans.
At almost every town between Fer'
Cruz and Mexico City Americans ar
being held prisoners.
This learned upon meeting O'Shaugh
messy and his party four miles from
Vera Cruz, where they were trans,
ferred from the special train furnished
by Huerta to the American train that
bore them into this city.
Tho passage of o'Shaughnessy' train
from the capital was most dramatic
The charge, with his wife and son
Consul General Shanklin, and members
OF the embassy staff, left Mexico City
at midnight Thursday Mobs were ther
in front of the embassy.
Al the station, Americans besieged
the train. pleading that they be per
nitted to accompany the fleeing party.
Col Ramon Caraona, assigned by Huer-
"a TO escort o'Shaughnessy from the
city, aatly refused.
Huerta Sei.es Rifles.
Before the departure, Huerta sent 100
soldiers to the embassy to seize the Us
-i3es and machine guns which were
stored there for the defense of the
american citizens. The American vol
Inteer guards were expected to defend
their arms, but on the advice of
O'Shaughnessy they surrendered the
weapons without resistance.
Then began the trip for Vera Cruz,
iurine which the heart Of every one IN
he diplomatic party was to be touched
hy the appeals Of countrymen for aid.
At the towns OF Orfza1a, Cordova, and
Ialapa. Americans were crowded about
The stations. They pleaded with the
american charge to be taken aboard his
rain. O'Shaughnessy was helpless
These stranded Americans had been ta-
ken from trains bound for Vera Cruz.
At Cordova- an American wearing a
British flag. sneaked to the side of the
rain and handed a note to one of the
ronsulate employees. This note read:
"Blisser, Erford, WhitcoRsb, and a
good many other Americans are being
held n jail here. They were taken off
train, and are being held as hostages
m case Americans attack the town. They
want to know IL you can't help?"
Hold Them as Hostages.
At Tejeria, the last station before
reaching the American lines, o'shaugh-
Messy saw several Americans who had
Deen taken Of trains. They pleaded
ptteously to be carried the remaining
thirty miles to safety. They told
OShaughnessy they had been on a refu-
gee train which left Mexico City Thurs
dsy morning. Some of the party had
been sent clear back to the capital
Their train had passed O'Shaushnessy's
during the night
When O'Shaugiuessy left the capital,
Huerta had ordered that no more
Americans should be permitted to depart
or enter the city. This order prevents
Unprotected Americans in the small
towns from seeking what little refuge
there may be in the capital 1t also
makes 1t possible for every small town
to hold the American civilians as hos
tages
Huerta ordered that the homes of all
americans be searched for arms, and
thursday night the American residents
OF all hotels were stripped of arms.
The protectorate established by Sir
Lionel Garden, the British ambassador,
vas unavailing in this matter. as the
indictive dictator was determined
Americans should have no means of
defense In case Of an uprising against
Them, which he will accept as a demon
stration CT sympathy and support for
MIN.
The newspapers of the capital have
issued the widest extras. One advised
me Chopping up of the dogs
Transfer of Party.
On a railroad embankment, running
through tropic swamp and with the
skyline marked by cocoanut trees, tae
transfer of the O'Shaughnessv party
from the Huerta train 10 the American
Ines was made last night. A mile OF
uptorn track separated the American
train from the Mexican.
Capt. II. Mel. P Huse, CARRYING
nag of truce, proceeded across the Cpen
space alone. AS he approached the
Mexicans, he waved his white flag as
TeI as a Mexican flag which he csr-
rieo. Colonel Carona had gone out to
meet him, and half way between the
lines they met
Colonel Carona and Captain Huse
shook hands in friendly fashion, and the
Mexican officer said
I deliver, by the order of my PIesi-
tent, the American charge d'affafres.
The American consul, and their staffs."
Captain Huse. shaking hands with
Oshaughnessy and Shanklin. thanked
Carona and then said:
have brought to the line on nv
LII d idIBe nuInDer OF Me8ic2nS who
desire to leave Vera Cruz Admiral
Fletcher desires me to say he under
stands many Americans are Ia the capi-
tai who wish to depart. He would be
pleased to open passenger traffic both
ways between the two cities. As an
earnest of his wish he desires me TO
turn over to you the wife and daughter
Of General Mas
At this point Colonel Carona greeted
both women. who are relatives OF
Huerta- Carona had been especially
ordered by the dictator to secure them
in trade for O'Shaughnessy and other
members OF the diplomatic staff. Huse
then permitted $50 Mexican refugees TO
cross the American line.
Carona's attitude changed entirely
after he reached the Mexican train with
the Mas women. He held the train
only long enough to permit the removal
OF Mrs. O'Shaughnessy. her son, their
baggage, and one automobile. He then
said he must hurry and departed with
two automobi es belonging to the en-
bassy still on the train. Carona
promised to send the automobiles to the
American lines Saturday.
Two hours had elapsed from the time
the Mexican train arrived, when Colonel
Carona ordered his train to start the
return trip to Mexico City, and the
American party was being bundled
aboard the train which bore them TO
Vera Cruz and safety.
Copyright 1sls. by the United Press.)
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