The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-05-15
Mexican Minister Makes Protest.

mChI~dH mlHlSlEF WAKES FFoIeSt.
Washington.-President Wilson re
ceiVed Sunday at the White House
| Ambassador Da Cana of Brazil, rank.
ing member of the South American
mediators, who are trying to compose
| the Mexican trouble. A dispatch from
the City Of Mexico stated that Foreign
Minister Ruiz had protested to the
mediators that several United States
torpedo boats with a transport and
tender had landed party on Lobos
Island about eight miles off the coast
and had taken the lighthouse, was
believed to have been the purpose of
the ambassadors unusual visit to the
White House Sunday.
The mediators had held an early
conference previous to the ambassa-
doris call at the White House and this
meeting on Sunday indicated develop,
ments of more than ordinary impor.
lance.
Admiral Howard cabled Sunday tc
the navy department that Huerta had
ordered lights on the Pacific coast ex
tinguished to impede navigation OF
American ships. The same order by
Huerta is reported to have been made
as to lighthouses on the Atlantic side
so that the reported securing of the
lighthouse on Lobos Island might be
held to be precautionary measure tc
keep the lights burning and thus pro
tect all shipping along the east coast
where many British, French, Spanish
and other foreign vessels ply.
AS such precautionary measure
the taking of the lighthouse, it is con.
tended, would be without significance
as an occupation or territorial acquisi.
ton of the island and therefore would
not justify any charge of violation OF
the armistice.
Associate Justice Joseph r. Lamar
of the United States supreme court
and Frederick W. Lehman of St
Louis, formerly solicitor general, will
represent the United States in the con.
ference.
Arrangements for transports con.
tinue. The steamer Chippewa of the
Clyde line at New York Sunday was
substituted for the Dorchester, Of the
Merchants and Miners line, which was
found unsuitable.
At the navy department much an.
xiety is felt over the reports that the
German steamer Kronprinzessin Ce-
ellie actually had discharged her arms
and ammunition at Puerto Mexico.
Acting Secretary Roosevelt had called
on Admiral Badger for information on
the reported landing of the arms.
The adjutant generals office of the
war department has ordered all re.
tired enlisted men, which includes
noncommissioned officers, to report
their availability 'in case of emer
gency" and many seasoned soldiers
thus may be added to the active list. !
Much apprehension is felt in diplo.
matte quarters as to the fate of for.
eigners at the City of Mexico in case
a sudden revolt should overthrow
Huerta and permit the entry of the.
lawless hordes of Zapata and other I'M
rebel bands. Foreigners in
the capital are said to number 5000,
not counting Americans, most of
whom have left. zapata is regarded
as the most immediate menace. A gov.
eminent official who recently arrived
rom the City of Mexico describes the
lapata forces as the most desperate
.ype Of Indian
Word also has reached some of the
legation at Mexico City of threats "a
pata has sent from time to time to
eading citizens and their wives and
daughters in towns near where he is
operating. One message is said to
nave notified a prominent citizen that
when the town was captured zapata
would cut off his ears and "eat them
ried," Another from Zapata to the
laughter of merchant is said to have
informed her in revolving language to
Prepare to become his wife on his
:aking the town.