The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-03

Arms ARE LANDED
GERMAN STEAMERS DELIVER AM
MUKITlON To MEXICANS


i. 5. KEEPS ARhlSTICE
To Stop Landing Would Have Neces
STATED Seizure Of Customs al
Puerto, Mexico, Which Would Have
Violated Agreement Pending Nego'
tiations.
Ammunition consigned to the
Huerta government in Mexico, which
had been kept in the hold Of the Ger
man steamship Ypiranga since the
American occupation of Vera Cruz
was reported to have been landed
Wednesday at Puerto Mexico. Con-
sui Canada, at Vera Cruz, cabled this
information to the state department,
It was reported from other sources
that arms consigned to Huerta had
been landed at Puerto Mexico from
the German steamer Bavaria. Both
steamers belong to the Hamburg
American line.
x A press dispatch Wednesday night
from Vera Cruz stated that the Ba-
varia had arrived at that port with
out a manifest, and that Brig. Gen.
Funston had ordered her held. Ac-
cording to this dispatch the captain
Of the Bavaria admitted landing am
munition and a large quantity OF
barber wire at Puerto Mexico for
Huerta.
United States officials made no ef-
fort to prevent the delivery of the
ammunition, as Puerto Mexico is an
open port, and the United States has
agreed to suspension Of hostilities
during the Niagara mediations. The
state department made it plain that
the only way for the United States
to have prevented the delivery would
have been to seize the lstoms house
at Puerto Mexico, as was done at
Vera Cruz. This would have violated
the armistice.
Robert Lansing, counsellor Of the
state department, made public the
reports concerning the delivery OF
the ammunition, Secretary Bryan be-
ing absent. When Mr.. Bryan return
ed to the state department later in
the day he was informed Of the mes
sages. what" he said, eyincing
some surprise. ALREADY landed the
arms?" Mr.. Bryan then read the dis
patches and declined to make further
comment.
A dispatch from Vera Cruz says
that the German steamer Bavaria has
been held upon her arrival without
manifest at Brig. Gen. Funston's or
der. The Bavaria recently landed
a large quantity of ammunition on
Mexican soil.
It is estimated that the Bavaria
put ashore 100000 rounds Of am
munition. The cargo was destined
for Vera Cruz, but was diverted to
Puerto Mexico. The steamer reached
there Sunday. The captain could not
produce manifest, declaring it had
been taken away from him by the
American authorities. Later he ad-
mitted landing the cargo, which in
cluded also 5000 rolls OF barbed
wire.
Gen. Funston understands the am
munition and wire reached Cordoba
by way Of Terra Blanca. The Ham
burg-American steamship Bavaria on
May s was reported to be on her way
to Mexico with a shipment Of arms.
Later it was understood that the wal
supplies were to be returned to Ger
many. The Bavaria arrived at Havana
on May II and sailed two days later
for Progresso.
The Bavaria's captain is liable to
a fine under the American laws, and
these are the laws that are being ad-
ministered by the collector Of the
port. The landing at Puerto Mexico
Of arms consigned for Vera Cruz vio-
lates the laws, and the absence of
manifest is a second violation. The
Bavaria is held only because clear
ance will be refused until the mat
ter Of fines is adjusted.
The customs officials assert that SC
far as they know the arms shipment
on the Yparanga, Of the same line
which precipitated the seizure Of Vera
Cruz by the American forces, still
were aboard when that vessel left
for Puerto Mexico two days ago
They assume that there is no pos
sibility that the $50 machine guns
100000 rounds Of ammunition
and other war material aboard the
Yparanga would be landed, as the
liner is under charter of the German
government and was ordered to Puer-
to Mexico by the German minister tc
pick up German refugees.
Rumors have been current that
some of the materials for which Huer-
ia had contracted in Germany had
been fltering through to the Fed
erals by way of Puerto Mexico. The
Bavaria incident is the first positive
information of the landing Of sup
plies received, although there have
been intimations that the army and
navy have knowledge Of other land
ings or attempted landings.
Gen. Funston admitted that he hac
no information as to what became o.
the shipment after it reached Cor
doba, and it is assumed it already i
on the way to Mexico City. The BARI