Evening star., 1914-04-10
ACTS ON INSTRUCTIONS
FROM NAVY Department
Bitter Fighting Continues to En-
danger American
Property.
OIL TANKS FIRED BY SHELLS
All American Women and Children
Gathered in Places of Safety.
Victory for Villa Near Saltillo
Reported by Constitutionalists.

Fear Admiral Mayo. in command OF the
United States warships at Tampico has
twice demanded that Gen. Soaragosa the
federal commander at Tampico cease
firing from the gunboats into the cit,
This action was taken on instructions
sent to him through the Navy Depart
ment last night
Bitter fighting around Tampico con
tinues to endanger American property
and. following the protest to the federal
commander. officials in Washington ar. IN
hourly expectation that the United
States may be forced to take Offensive
action.
Cabinet officials are greatly concerned
over the safety of American and British
oil properties in Tampico.
Urgent inquiries regarding the latest
Information concerning these properties
are made almost hourly of Washington
officials by the owners of these valuable
properties. with the demand that they
be given every possible protection.
Several Oil Tanks Afame.
Several oil tanks have been struck
by shells from the Huerta sunboats.
| several are in flames. and oil is pour
| ing into the, river. An oil tank at
| Arbol Grande was officially reported
to be on fire at $50 this morning.
Reports to the State Department
state that Dona Cecilia and Arbol
Grande are in possession of the rebele.
| Assurance has been given that all
| American women and children have
| Admiral Mayo emphasizes in his re-
| ports to the Navy Department that the
refugees want shelter and protection.
not removal from he war zone.
All Of the valuable oil properties IN
Tampico are either American or British
and wires from New York and other
centers where owners of these proper
| ties have their offices are kept warm
| safety and what protection is to be at
| forded them by this government.
Among those most concerned are the
| Waters Pierce concern, the Mexican
Petroleum Company, the Magnolia Pc
| troleum Company, Lord Cowdray's in
terests, known as the Aguila, and
! about a dozen others.
Two Women Reported Hanged.
| The latest reports to the Navy Depart
| ment are summarized in this statement
AT 3 pm. Thursday Admiral Mayo re-
ported from Tampico to Admiral Fletch
er at Vera Cruz that there had been bur
| women have been reported hanged for
J attempting to release prisoners from
| Cuarre. A constitutionalist prisoner has
| been reported hanged for having bullets
| in his possession.
AT 10 pm. Admiral Mayo reported
| further that there was a lull in the
| fighting during the afternoon. The Vera
! Cruz moved up to the vicinity of Tolisi
| road at 3 pm. and did some firing.
There also was lighting in trenches near
| There also was lighting in trenches near
Atamira road. Admiral Mayo has de
| livered another letter to Gen. SearasoSa
relating TO damage by gunboats to Pierce
| oil plant An oil tank at Arbol Grande
was on fire at $50.
"Sfxty women and children have been
| taken on board the Des Moines and all
American women and children have been
| brought up from points on the river be
| low the city except at Labarra. Those
| who were there have gone aboard tn"
German tanker Osago. Admiral Mayo
emphasizes that refugees desire refuge.
not removal
State Department reports lay greater
| emphasis on tie seriousness of the fight
| ing at Tafnpico. which is described as
heavy. with the rebels in possession OF
Dona Cecilia and Arbol Grande The
situation concerning the oil properties
is thus described in an official statement:
Refugees Aboard Warships.
Several oil tanks have been struck, one
is on fire and oil is running into tne
| river. \ number OF refugees are on tie
| warships.
From Monterey the. first train from
SaltilIo for several days was expected 10
arrive the morning of the 3th Tele-
grams are dispatched via Vera Cruz. and
no mail is arriving from the United
States Monterey is said to be quiet
Dispatches from Gen. Carranza TO con-
stitutionalist headquarters here last
night. stated that he had received al.
oificia report from Gen. Villa concerning
a victory over the fedcrals in the vicinity
os San Pedro, about forty miles east "f
Torreon.
The statement Of Gen Blanauet. min
lister of war in Mexico City, that Nelasco
had returned to Torreon and had mount
ed artillery on an eminence known a. III
Cerro de La Cruz adjacent to Torreon.
was received with derfsion by consttu-
tionalist leaders.
Reports from Gen. Carrsnza give as
surance that there are now no federal
forces within fifty miles of Torreon, and
that the Huerta army is making its way
eastward to SaItillo. 1t is believed that
VeIasco made this rear-guard action TO
protect the rich cientificos who left Tor
reon with him.. carrying with them their
yalrtabes, in an attempt to escape TO SAL