The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1914-05-01
South American Nations Offer Mediation;
Vera Cruz Cost Seventeen American Lives

city. with many of his troops. bu
those who remained continued a desu
tory fighting with American marine
as late as Friday.
III the fierce fighting in Vera Cruz
IN Americans twere killed and 4
wounded, and 1870 Mexicans were kill
ed and 1875 were injured. BY Satur
day quiet had been restored and civi
authority was being resumed.
Passports Given Ministers.
Nelson O'Shaughnesy, the American
charge at Mexico City, was given his
passports Thursday and reached Vera
Cruz with his staff and several hun
dred American refugees Friday night
Charge Algara, of Mexico. left Wash.
inston for Toronto, Canada, after re.
ceiving his passports from Secretary
| Pryan.
Reports from the City of Mexico
were that the anti-American sentiment
was running high, American citizens
were in imminent danger, mobs OF
MeNicans were shouting Death to the
Gr!ngoes," the Stars and Stripes were
trampled upon in the streets, and
Nashington's monument was torn
down by a mob led by Huerta's son.
Another report was that three Ameri-
cans were taken from street cars in
Mexico City and slaughtered.
Gen. Carranza early in the week
wrote Secretary Bryan protesting
against American occupation of Nex;.
co as an insult to the Mexican nation.
This gave rise to rumors that Consti
tutionalists and Huertaistas were
forming collation. against AmerI.
cans, but this was denied by Villa and
other leaders, who protested friend
ship for the United States. The EN-.
barge on arms being shipped across
The border, however, was re-establish
at, and the border patrol greatly
strengthened.
Carranza Assumes the Offensive.
Replying to message from Secre.
AIRY Bryan at Washington, General
Iarranza telegraphed that the United
states Is not justified in occupying
Mexican territory.
The invasion" says the letter, will
rag US (Mexico) into an unequal war
With dignity, but which until today
We desired to avoid"
General Carranza's note to President
wilson, declaring the seizure of Vera
'ruz by American forces violation of
ne national sovereignty of Mexico, in.
iting the United States to suspend
ostiie operations and withdraw its
'rces and suggesting that the Con.
htutional government should receive
for reparation of offenses
by Huerta, stirred the Next.
IN situation to new and acute crisis.
Opposition to the American govern.
ents action coming from this unex. n
9cted quarter after the Washington
had hoped for an atti-
re OF neutrality from the Constitu. I.
brought the government face
face with possible hostility from the =
eat body of Mexican forces lying +
proximity to the southern border of .
e United States. |.
Nuevo Laredo Set on Fire. .
Friday the federals evacuated Nuevo
redo, after setting fire to the town
q destroying many of the principal
ildings. Many shots were fired
ross the border into Laredo. Texas
d answered by American troops, but
'ualties were small On Friday the
'els captured Monterey from the
lerals after bloody engagement.
Che military and naval strength OF
United States is being rapidly mo-
lied in and around Mexico. On Fri.
four regiments of infantry with
machine guns embarked at Calves.
for Vera Cruz, commanded by Cen
nston.