New Britain herald., 1914-05-13
GARRISON TO LEARN
 FATE OF PARKS
Secretary Of War Orders General ! Funston to Investigate Matter.
LIGHT KEEPERS ARE WELCOME


 Fighting Fiercely to End seige of
 Stronghold.
 Washington, May 13.-With plans for the Mexican mediation conference at Niaga Falls, Ont, next week raploly maturing. tension of the international conflict was relieved somewhat today by several important developments.
 Assurances reached the government That no ammunition had been landed at Mexican ports from German snips' a matter that had been somewhat Tn doubt since the departure of the Kron- prinzessin Cecilie from Puerto Mexico several days ago.
 Silliman Under Guard.
 From the French legation in Mex ico City came positive information that the American vice consul, John R. Sil- lirnan, who had been held prisoner by Mexican federals at Saltillo, was on his way to Mexico City under guard to be turned over to the Brazilian plinister there who would guarantee his safety until he reached Vera Cruz.
 Secretary Garrison has directed Gen aeral Funston at Vera Cruz to ask Gen. eral Maas, the Mexican federal com mander, what has become of Samuel Parks, the United States private, who, while supposedly insane, rode through the Mexican lines and has not been heard from since. A like inquiry has been transmitted by Secretary Bryan to General Huerta through the Bra- gillian minister in Mexico City. It has been reported that Parks met sdeath in the Mexican lines.
 No Official Information.
 MT. Garrison said today he had had no official information concerning Parks fate. He said that General Repeated to him concerning the exe- cution of the American private, but has made no report based upon off, cial advices.
 Secretary Garrison said that his fu- ,ture course will depend entirely upon the nature of the replies to Inquiries now being made jointly by the state and war departments.
 win Await Facts.
 There is nothing to be gained by getting excited before we know what the facts are," the secretary added.
 General Funston's official report in the Parks case so far has been con- fined to the assertion that the Amer ican soldier with two horses disap- feared through the Mexican federal lines and has not since been heard from.
 Will Welcome Keepers. z 5 "We should be very glad to have the Mexican light keepers return and take charge of the light at Lobos Is- land" said Secretary Bryan j today, when inquiry was made concerning the latest phase of the situation grow ing out of the landing of American forces there. s M Carranza Still Obstinate.
 A report that the South American envoys tentatively were considering a plan for possible establishment of a form of government to include two administrators to be named by the fed erals, two by the constitutionalists and ; fifth by the mediators attracted some attention and immediately drew from Carranza's agents the declaration that any such proposal would not be ac- ceptable to their chief.
 Roberto Pasqueirs, Carranza's confidential representative, asserted We have beaten Huerta at every turn, and why should we yield our advantage when we have the re. forms for which we strive almost with in our grasp? This has been a figh, of 100 years for reform, and we will not be content to have those years of fighting wasted
 No Cooperative Basis.
 Other constitutionalists asserted there was no basis on which Huertista. and the rebels could cooperate in z provisional government.
 While reports of the mediators' ten .tative program attracted primary at .tention, yet the result of the Lobo Island occupation" incident wa awaited with considerable interest Rear Admiral Badgers declaration that mo occupation in militar, sense has occurred assured the ad ministration officials of the trend o what happened at the east coast ligh Y house station. There was, however disposition in some quarters to be lieve that the incident had not beer closed, and that there might be review of that phase of the situation which arose when Huerta was sail to have ordered the suspension 0 lights on the west coast to hinde navigation of American ships. Tn United States government, it was un derstood. had maintained in reply t Huerta's protest. that the island wa seized only as a means of operatin the beacon in the interests of ship ping along Mexico's gulf coast.
 Zapata Recognizes Carranza.
 Assertions of the constitutionalist that there was an understanding be tween Zapata, the southern insurrect leader, and Carranza that Zapat
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