Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-20
Bryan'S Renewed Activity
Evidences Apprehen.
sion for American Com
sui at SaltilIO.
MAY SEND MESSENGER
TO DISCOVER HIS FATE
Acting Secretary of the Navy
Roosevelt Declares U. S. VIII
Make Every Effort to Keep
Port of Tampico Open to
Commerce.

WASHINGTON, May 20.-Anxiety
among officials here over the inability
to get definite word from American
vice-consul oJhn R. Silliman. wh0
was reported released from prison at
SaltiIlo more than a week ago.
aroused the state department to re-
newed activity today in the missing
Americans behalf.
Evidencing his own apprehension,
Secretary of State Bryan telegraphed
to American Consul Hanna at Nom
terey. asking If it would be feasible
to send a messenger TO Saltillo to
determine if Silliman ever had been
released.
That every effort will be made by
the United States TO maintain the
port of Tampico free and open to
commerce was declared today by Act
ing Secretary Of the Navy Roosevelt.
While no definite orders had been
issued. the acting secretary said that.
if necessary. steps would be taken to
prevent a blockade by either Mexi-
can Federals or ConstitutionaIists
With the stage set for the Begin
ming of the Niagara conference late
today, officials in administration and
diplomatic circles here turned their
attention to proceedings in the Cana-
dians border town, which. II WA
hoped, would result in complete set
tlement of Mexico's ills. President
Wilson was to keep close touch with
the progress of negotiations by means
1 of a special wire set up between the
White House and the headquarters
OF the American mission at Niagara
Falls.
Justice Lamar and former Soliei-
tor General Lehman are familiar
with the Presidents general view OF
I the Mexican equation, but they VIII
submit all important questions to
4 him before they take any action on
the proposals Of the South American
lenvoys.
While conditions appeared propi-
tious for the beginning OF the confer
ence yet government officials still
awaited word of the fate of Samuel
| Parks, the American infantryman
who strayed into Mexican lines out
side Vera Cruz and was reported to
/ have been executed. Vigorous repre-
/ sentations had been made to Huerta.
who had promised to investigate the
Parks case and fix the blame for his
reported death,
/ Reports that practically all the
Federals defeated at Tampico had left
| that territory without attempting to
damage oil wells, and news that the
Constitutionalists had refrained so
| far from attempting to levy forced
| loans at their first seaport, relieved e
menacing situation. The state depart
ment. acting on suggestions from for
eign sources, had informed the Con-
stitutionalists that they should not
administer the laws with severity
Apparently that hint had been UNDER
stood.
Continued reports from Mexico City
tending to support the theory that an
effort soon viii be made to unseat
Huerta renewed interest here in de-
velopments at the Federal capital
! Greatest fear in Mexico City. declare
| refugees, arriving in Vera Cruz. is
not that the plot against Huerta win
! he executed. but that it may not oc-
-ur before the entrance OF the Zapata
| forces. which might precipitste more
| serious trouble
That the Constitutionalists had re-
| rewed their active campaign south OF
/ Torreon. was indicated in reports OF
| desnerate fighting before Saltiilo.
I Villas next Immediate goal. Details
i Of The moVeme~t were lacking, but
one report stated the Constitutionalis
1 military chief had defeated 5 600 Fed
/ erals at Paredon and CAPTURED large
quantities of arms and ammunition.