The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-04-24
BY N. A. JENNINGS.

VERA CRUZ, Mexico, April "a
The American flag has been trampled
on by mobs in the City of Mexico,
American citizens are being insulted,
the police look on listlessly while riot
ing students and Mexicans of the
lower classes shrek Death to the
Yankees" Death to the Gringoes."
Some of the police even joined in the
shouts
Conditions are steadily growing
worse since the occupation of Vera
Cruz. Newspapers. are inflaming- the
people by publication of the bitterest
are permitted to parade the streets
day and night singing the national an
them and calling for the death of citi-
zens of the United States.
There we're many women in the mobs
and in some instances their manifes
tations of hatred outrivalled those of
the men.
.le day before I left Mexico City,
l saw a big mob in San Fransico
street with large American flag,
which was thrown upon the mud and
the women walked upon it shouting
and singing.
SoIOIcF8 on Outy.
This was repeated again and again
ognizable. When I left Mexico City,
the United States embassy was guard
ed by squad of twenty Mexican po-
lice. There were then two machine
guns in the embassy and ESQ rifles and
about $4,000 rounds Of ammunition
Upon my arrival in Vera Cruz l learn
ed this would be confiscated by the
Huerta government. Mobs attacked
the American club, smashing all the
windows. They withdrew muttering
- threats to return and burn the build
ings.
The mob attacked Porter's hotel,
breaking down doors and smashing
windows Fisk's big curio shop in
Mantle street was wrecked and a num-
ber of stores owned by Americans
were attacked. However, they were
not looted.
| really believe that General Huerta
desires to protect foreigners, especial
lly Americans He issued orders from
the national palace that no foreigner
should be molested This belief is
based on an opinion current in Mex
leo City when I left there that the
Constitutionalists would not join
forces with the Federals.
Thus in the event an uprising in the
capital, Huerta would rely on the for
eign colony to protect him.
Anti-Huertista demonstrations had
begun to occur in the suburbs at the
time of my departure, indicating that
the political forces of the dictator
were preparing to take advantage Of
their present opportunity.
Oppose Huerta.
-.
skirts of the city, reading: Death
for the Tyrant and Death to Huerta,
the Traitor"
The police went through the streets
collecting all these cards and burn
ing them. The Mexicans of the bet
ter class would undoubtedly welcome
intervent as the best means of OBJ
tanning relief from the armed turmoil
which has existed for three years.
Tales of the seizure of war muni-
tions from the American embassy in
the capital did not come as a big sur
prise to me, for l had been told by a
member of the embassy staff before
my departure from Mexico City that
Huerta had threatened to seize these
arms if the United States took any
aggressive or warlike steps.
O'Shaughnessy Ready.
On the evening of my departure
falkeA with Nelson O'Shaughnessy
the American charge, who said he
woR& leave at once for Vera Cruz
MiH.t his wife and child.
All Americans who can are getting
out of the capital, for to remain there
would be to court danger unneceses-
sarily.
Huerta is the only restraining force
in Mexico City. He typifies the gov
ern1eent and he alone is responsible
for law and order: His assassination
would throw the whole Federal dis
trict into state of absolute anarchy,
FOR there is no man strong enough to
kucceed him
A pecuharity I noticed about the