Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1914-05-15
MEX!CANS HOLD
CONSUL IN JAIL
Secretary Bryan Insists on Mr..
Si|IimaN'S Release.
NEWS FROM ADMIRAL MAYO

Mexican Keepers Deserted the Great
Lighthouse on Lobos Island and
That the Tender Dixie Is Maintain
ing It for the Benefit of Navigation.
Washington, May 12.-While peace
negotiations marked time pending
formal sttings of the South Ameri-
can mediators to begin Monday on
Canadian soil the mediators and Off
Gals of the state department here
were occupied with several serious
phases of the Mexican situation de-
handing immediate attention.
Secretary Bryan called at the Ar
gentine legation and spent two hours
in conference with the South Ameri-
can ENJOYS, discussing the continued
can vice consul at Saltillo, by Mexi-
can federals, the seizure of Lobos
island with it's lighthouse by Amer
lean torpedo boats and the case of
the five South Americans under ar
rest at Vera Cruz for firing upon
United States sailors and marines.
Mr.. Bryan insisted that the release
of Mr.. Silliman must be brought about
at once. When asked about the mat
ter later he would not say what would
happen if the vice consul were kept
in prison, but he was gravely en-
phatic in announcing the governments
determination to have him freed.
First official news of the landing
of American sailors on Lobos island
reached the navy department. Rear
Admiral Mayo cabled that the MeXi-
can keepers deserted the great light.
house on the island and the destroyer
tender Dixie is maintaining it for
the benefit of navigation"
Report From Admiral Mayo.
Admiral Mayo's report, responding
to the navy departments request for
information concerning the
incident complained of by the Huerta
government to the mediators, said:
"Lobos island has not Leen occu.
pied The Dixie and some destroyers
have coaled there from collier The
keepers of Lobos island light desert
ed it and the Dixie is now maintain
ing it for the benefit of navigation. l
that the destroyers have
had occasional swimming parties
ashore"
The report was sent at once to See:
rotary Bryan. Department official;
were confident that the explanation
will make it plain that there, has been
no violation of the armistce and tina:
the commander of the Dixie has done
only what was necessary to insure
the safety of shipping.
Authorities here are provoked at
belated reports that American Vice
Consul Silliman is imprisoned by
Huerta's soldiers at Saltillo. From
Tampico. where Mexican federals and
Constitutionalists have been prepar
ing for sanguinary struggle, came
Of battle, while reports that
Huertas strength is waning in Mex
co City and that the bandit leader
Zapata is about to attack the capital
from the south served to arouse diplo-
matte agents of foreign nations lest
heir people in Mexico City might be
in immediate danger of persecution or
leath.
Officials Are Indignant.
Cf,to dopo r+ ", opt >Ho;,l, uoro :,
1ignant when it became known that
Vice Consul Silliman and Jose A Mar
;hani, his clerk, as well as several
'ther Americans, have been prisoners
If the federal commander at Saltillo
md that the consul still is held de.
spite urgent representations for his
'elease made by the Brazilian minis !
er in Mexico City. Late dispatches
we're accepted as indicating that the
Mexican war minister's assurances to
he French charge last week that |
leither Consul Silliman or any men,
DER of the embassy staff or any Amer |
cans in Saltillo had been in danger"
vas intended only to deceive state de-
'artment officials.
Later Consul Canada reported the
trivial of Consular Clerk Marchani in
EZRA Cruz. The clerk informed Mr..
canada that before he was released
rom custody of the Mexicans he was
marched under guard from the Jail to
he consulate and compelled at the
'oint of a revolver to open the safe
nd surrender to the federal com
nander all the consular records and
II valuables, including money and
uantity of jewelry left there for safe
eeping.
1t is not known here how many |
americans were imprisoned. but
'ord was received that all have been
eleased except Consul Silliman.