Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-05-06
COMMANDER GIVEN
FREE HAND IN HANDLING
SITUATION At VERA CRUZ.
DOES NOT LOOK FOR ATTACK
UNLESS U. s. ADVANCES
Admiral Badger Reports General Villa
as Preparing to Attack Tarpieo and
That Rebels Threaten TO Burn City
Fiohtina Between Rsbels and Fed
erals at Several Points.

Washington, May S.-Orders have
zone from the war department to Gem
eral Funston. it was learned To-Day
authorizing him to extend his lines
about Vera Cruz as far as In MS
Judgment 1t is necessary"
This. it was explained. gives the
American commander virtually free
hand in dealing with the situation at
Vera Cruz, and II was said that the
American lines would be at once eX-
tended and heavy fortifications thrown
up.
General Funston at Vera Cruz re-
ported tc the war department today
that he had no definite information
regarding movements Of Mexican
troops and said he thought 1t prooaole
that such concentration as :he Mex
ican forces had made was only for the
purpose of defending the lines OF rail-
roads to Mexico City In case the
United States troops should advance
Mexican natives reported that the
track of the Inter Oceanic railroad was
being torn up.
Villa to Take Tampieo.
Admiral Badger reported to the navy
department today that constitutional
forces made sharp attack yesterday
on Mexican federal troops in the
northwestern portion Of the provincd
of Vera Cruz and to the west Of Tam
pico. There was no decisive result as far
as he could learn, the report stated.
Admiral Badgers report said fur
ther thai Admiral Mayo informed him
h~N ~
Tampico that General Villa was on his
way with reinforcements Cor the con-
stitutionalists and intended to take
and burn the city" Admiral Mayo
stated that he did net pu: the slight
est faith in the truce supposed to have
been arranged between the constitu.
tionalists and fedesais at Tampico
There ahad beensno trouble recently in
the Did welY district. he sdded.
Fighting At Maxstian.
Admiral Inward reports from
Mazatlan that the constitutionalists
entrenched on Piedra Island fired con-
tinuously all day yesterday with rifles
and field guns on the Mexican federal
gunboat Morelos, lying in the harbor
and that the fire was returned by fed
erals from batteries on the shore.
Oil Mon Ask Protection.
A large delegation from New York
representing American Oil interests .,
Tampico, asked Secretary Bryan today
what steps had been taken 70 protect
oil properties in the Tampico distric,
and urged Mr.. Bryan to take i'm
mediate steps to safeguard one prop
erty thought to be In greater jeopardy
than the others
Free Mail For Soldiers.
American soldiers. sailors and ma
rines. whether In the United States oI
not may send their letters without pre-
payment of postage to any place ir
the domestic mail service by marking
them Soldiers letter" sailors letter,
Or marines letter." and having then
endorsed by their commanding office,
under an order issued by the post
master general today. Only single
rate postage will be charged and thi,
will be collected when the letter Is de
livered.
Consul Bonney Safe.
The Brazilian minister in Mexico
City informed the state department. to.
day that American Consul Bonney re.
ported under arrest In San Luis Potosi
had arrived in Mexico City with Mrs
Bonney. Both were safe and well. Tht
minister added that at last accounts
all Americans in San Luis Potosi were
safe.