Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-01
DR.. EDWARD RYAN
REPORTED IN PERIL
Red Cross Official Said to Be
Sentenced to Die
in Mexico.

The state Department today exerted
every means to secure Information as
to the report that DIR. Edward Ryan. an
American Red Cross official. was being
he d in Mexico. sentenced to be executed.
Secretary Bryan. just before 4 conference
with President Wilson. sent urgent tele-
grams to Consul Canada at Vera Cruz
and the military authorities there asking
for immediate reports on the Ryan Incl
dent
Demand for Immediate Release.
Ambassador Riano was requested To
inquire into the matter at once. and. if
he found that DR.. Ryan actually was
under arrest, to insist upon his imme-
diate release, The matter also was
brought to the attention Of Senior da
Cana. the Brazilian minister. who COM
municated with the Brazilian minister
at Mexico City. in charge Of American
interests there.
DR.. Ryan is a physician and has been
active in relief work in Mexico for some
time. When the battle OF Torreon was
on he organized an automobile expedi-
ton. which went from Mexico City and
did general relief work among wounded
federalS and constitutionalists.
Officials here said any accusation of
spying or improper conduct against the
doctor would be absurd, that his activi-
ties had been confined solely to efforts
to relieve suffering humanity.
Had Cautioned DR.. Ryan.
Boaz Long. chief of the Latin Ameri-
can affairs division of the department
and a personal friend of DR.. Ryan,
said. when he heard the news:
III 1,< Il t,,t~
BILE if he kept on. Then he promptly
dictated a telegram of instructions that
Huerta personally be appriSed of the
situation and that DR.. Ryan not only
be assured a fair and impartial trial,
but that he be released on his own
recognizance Immediately.
1T is incomprehensible that DR..
Ryan should be found guilty on such
allegations the telegram said in eff
feet. especially in view of all the
Christian. humanitarian acts he has
performed in the recent past.
DR.. Ryan has been under arrest be-
fore. having been taken into custody
by President Maderos orders at the
closing in the capital. The American
physician was engaged in caring for
the wounded under the White Cross
organization. The work of the Red
Cross and White Cross had been sadly
hampered by the refusal of both sides
to respect the insignia.
Ryan happened to be at headquarters
when an aid from Madero arrived said
a State Department official last night.
land demanded that a dozen White Cross
flags be surrendered to him. They were
wanted to raise over automobiles contain
ing Maderisto soldiers.
Refusal in Face of Threats.
DR.. Ryan promptly refused and, con-
tinuing his refusals in the face of
threats. finally was arrested on the
downfall of the Madero regime
DR.. Ryan is native of Scranton. Pa,
and was graduated from the Medical Col
lege of Fordham University in June
1912. He went to Mexico City in the fall
Of that year. and has lived there since.
Besides his activity in Red Cross work,
DR.. Ryan has been attached to the Amer
lean embassy in Mexico as a special rep
resentative.
He lived with the family of Charge
d Affaires Nelson O'Shaughnessy, and
performed confidential missions during
the negotiations with Huerta which pre-
ceded the break. Twice within the last
year the doctor made trips to Washing
ton, delivering special messages to Sec
rotary Bryan.
Old friends of the doctor who talked
with him on visit here last summer say
he could tell an interesting story of the
fate of President Madero. He was in the
prison at the time the president was led
out to his death.