Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-13

]
armistice and decision what to do with
the five South American snipers ar
rested from Norwegian boat. without
recognizing Huerta-these four mat
| tors still await final action.
From the French legation in Mexico
City came positive information that the
who had been held prisoner b. Mexican
| federals at Saltillo. was actually on his
way to Mexico City under guard, to be
turned over to the Brazilian minister
there. who would guarantee his safety
until he reaches Vera Cruz. The State
Department had vigorously insisted that
| Huerta release Silliman.
Full Report Is Asked.
Secretary Garrison today notified Gen.
| Funston to ask the Mexican commander
for full report on Parks death. Sec
rotary Bryan made similar demand on
Huerta through the Brazilian minister in
Mexico City.
I'VE should be very glad to have the
| Mexican lightkeepers return and take
charge of the light at Lobos Island. v
said Secretary Bryan today when inquiry
was made concerning the latest phase OF
the situation growing out Of the landing
American forces Inefc.
This government. it was reaSSerted, did
not consider the manning of the light
house an act of war, but would continue
to operate the light unless Huerta sends
a Mexican force back there.
Silliman's Safety Pledged.
Disposition of the FIVE South Ameri-
cans detained by Gen. Funston at Vera
Cruz for sniping was held in allegiance.
and the Lobos Island occupation" Incl
dent had not been lost sight Of, yet
reassuring development was the dispatch
from Huerta's acting foreign minister.
Ruiz. at Mexico City to the South Amer
lean mediators that the American vice
consul, Silliman, under arrest at Saltillo.
charged with aiding the rebels. had been
ordered sent to Mexico City under guard.
to be delivered to the Brazilian minister
for return to the United States.
The message said:
referring to the telegram of your ex-
cellencies in regard to Mr.. Sfllman, con-
sui at Saltillo. 1 have the honor to in
form you that notwithstanding the acts
Of said consul against federal forces, 1t
has already been ordered that he be sent
back to Mexico City, under proper guard.
and placed at the disposition of the Bra
lillian minister. in accordance with the
desire expressed 10y him in order to ar
range for the return Of said Silliman to
the United States.
The Mexican foreign ONCE hopes that
your eXcellency may see in this action
of the government a further proof OF its
fulfilling its international obligations, and
of its showing to the friendly nations the
consideratio which they merit. | beg
to reiterate. your exceilency, the assur-
ances of high consideration:
(Signed) "A ESTEVA RUIZ
The result of the Lobos Island "occu-
patton" incident was awaited with CON
siderable interest. Rear Admiral Bad
gers declaration that no occupation IN
a military sense has occurred assured
the administration officials Of the trend
OF what happened at the east coast light
house station.
There was. however, a disposition In
some quarters to believe that the Incl
dent had not been closed. and that there
might be review of that phase of
the situation which arose when Huerta
was said to have ordered the suspen-
sion of lights on the west coast to him
der navigation of American ships.
Whether the mediators had made any
suggestions concerning the immediate
future Of the island was not revealed.
The United States government, 1t was
understood. had maintained in reply to
Huerta's protest that the island was
the beacon in the interests of shipping
along Mexico's gulf coast
Secretary Bryan's visit to the medi
ators last evening to explain the Lobos
ment on the diplomatic side of the
situation here. His statement was
based on official reports from Rear
Admiral Badger which were sum-
married. in the following statement, is
sued by the Navy Department.:
Navy Departments Statement.
THE facts giving the details regard
ing the maintaining Of the light on
Lobos Island have been received from
| Admiral Badger and afford a possible
| explanation Of the impression received
| by Huerta that we had actually taken
possession of the island. The dispatch
| Is given in its entirety and literally:
Replying to the department $
message midnight Sunday determined
that the only thing that could be con.
| strued as occupation Of Lobos Island
was that the lighthouse keeper when
| leaving light was prevented from TAX,
| ing away with him certain essential
parts of light machinery and for per
sonaI protection of light keeper he
was given by Commanding Officer
Tanning certificate that light was
taken by force. The operation OF this
light is considered of greatest impor-
| THE previous telegram to which this
Is an addition is here repeated IN or
| der that the matter may be cleared up:
"'Replying departments message
midnisht Sunday, destroyer flotilla is
using anchorage in lee of Lobos Is
land as a base for fueling. provision
ing and repairing. About one-hait
fotilla habitually there and one-half
off Tampico.
Only inhabitants on the island were
| lighthouse keepers who abandoned the
island four or five days ago. They were
offered provisions and supplies II they
would remain. but declined to do so
Since then fiotilla has maintained light
and guarded property on shore. Light
house keepers were told they were free
to come and go as they pleased. Nc
occupation in military sense has oc'
CURED. Badger.
No Intent to Seize Island.
From these two kilograms. it is evil
dent that there was no intent to seis<
the island or to occupy it in any mill
tray sense. The light on this island is
essential to navigation, not only for tn.
ships Of the navy. but for the merchant
vessels Of all nations frequentng thu
| coast
Apparently on his own responsibility
the lighthouse keeper not only abandoned
. the light. but desired to permanently dis
able it by taking away essential portion
OF the machinery. To have permitted th
|