Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-05-02
FOOD SITUATION
MATTER0F CONCERN
Continued From First Pagel

out that three federal gunboats have
thus far easily repelled the attacks.
The situation of the town is such
that force cannot approach without
exposing itself to the re of four-inch
quick-fring guns except from one di-
rection. That point is defended by a
triple line of trenches and many ma
chine guns and field artillery. Gun
boats and soldiers are plentifully sup
piled with ammunition.
The rebels heretofore have been
without artillery
Unless guns have reached them
from the northern rebels. 1t is believed
impossible for them to drive out the
federals.
The fall of Tampico into rebel hands
might help solve the food situation in
Vera Cruz. In that event 1t is pre-
sumed the trade between Vera Cruz
and Tampico would be resumed and
that the territory about Tampico
would supply the market here to some
extent.
Just now the only supplies reaching
Vera Cruz are coming from the small
ranches near enough to the city for
owners to feel assured of American
protection. Scores of natives carry
ing eggs and milk arrive daily. but
this supply is absorbed almost without
effect on the demand. The hotels are
May Carry Out Order
II the order of the Mexican gov
ernor of the state of Vera Cruz threat
ening execution of anyone bringing
food to the city is effective, even this
small supply will be cut off and the
will be forced to depend upon goods
shipped from the United States and
elsewhere.
Many ranchers from northern and
southern truck gardens a few miles
out called at Governor Kerr's office
to-day; and wished to know if they
would be protected if they brought in
supplies.
The order not to extend the Ameri-
can lines, however. prevents giving the
protection desired and the only
ranches which the authorities can
count upon are those within the mar
row boundaries of the outposts OF
within range of the pickets' rifles.
The money situation is also peculiar.
The banks have been virtually at
standstill for all except small ex-
change business because of the lack
of stamps required by the Mexican
laws now in force, Nearly 10000
pesos of captured stamps were placed
in circulation to-day to relieve the
situation. "
1t is getting almost impossible to
find Mexican change and every $5 bill
presented to pay for a small purchase
causes disturbance. for there is vir-
tually no Mexican silver and the sup
ply of small bills in exhausted.
Double Standard
Some merchants are doing business
on a double standard. Goods bought
in the United States or abroad are
sold only on a gold basis. while goods
bought in Mexico City are sold for
Mexican money.
But little American change is avail
able and small business is hampered.
The city is becoming flooded with Mex
lean bills of large denomination
through the efforts of refugees to OBJ
tain American money for Mexican
money brought from the interior.
In some instances they have paid as
high as to 1, while some business
houses are demanding for |, the
result being unreliable exchange quo
tations.
Brigadier-Gen Funston yester-
day sent into the Mexican lines his
flrst letter. 1t was addressed to Gem
eral Gustavo Mas, the former Mex
lcan commander here, and said Gen,
eral Funston was holding forty-eight
prisoners in Vera Cruz whom he was
willing to send to General Mas Most
of the prisoners here who were incar-
cerated for political offenses have been
n
eral Funston are charged with serious
oifenses-eight of them for murder.
should General Mas not want them.
they Will be placed in some other
prison than San Juan de Ulua, from
which they We're taken because of un-
sanitary conditions.
Z. l. McReynolds, a cousin of the
United States Attorney General, will
become identied with the Department
of Justice here. The exact capacity in
which he will be employed has not
been determined.
Dead OH SoIace
The bodies of the Americans killed
in the fighting with the Mexcans are
on the Solace. They will be taken
sofa. leaving the Solace here to care
for about a hundred sick and wounded.
all of whom are doing well.
With the arrival to-day of Rear
Admiral Frank f. Beatty's squadron.
consisting of the battleships Virginia,
Nebraska and Georgia. Rear Admiral
Badger has fifteen battleships in his
fleet. No shore liberty is being allowed
the men and the admiral could dis
patch at an hours notice a force large
enough to seize and hold every impor-
tant port on this coast should the
necessity arise.
The German liner Ypiranga is still
at the custom house wharf. The arms
and ammunition she brought for the
Huerta government are still on board.
but her other cargo has been landed.
Bull lighting will be barred in Vera
cruz II the suggestion of the native
city council is approved by Civil Gov
ernor Kerr.
1t is not the intention of the civil
government to interfere with the GUS
toms of the people any more than is
necessary and when the aldermen. in
session last night, proposed depriving
their own people of their most popuIar
form of sport there was much surprise
in the governors office
That there will be little, if any.. on
position to the aldermens suggestion
is practically certain. Bull lighting
is not indulged in so much In this
state as in most of the others and for
many years 1t was prohibited 1t was
not until Franciso Madero's rule that
permission to revive it was given,
One Man "Twice Dead"
H. w. McClelland pineapple
grower. was twice strung up by the
neck by ten of his workmen, robbed
and left for dead on a plantation at
FL Burro. near Santa Lucrecia. He
arrived here with other refugees yes-
.erdhy in penniless condition and
was taken in charge by the Red Cross
MeClelland had received Consul
Canada's warning to leave, but de-
layed his departure. He was seized in
the yard of the plantation. bound and
beaten, and ordered to produce his
money. He declared he had none.
whersupon he was hung up to a limb
of tree. After a few minutes he
was ht down and again ordered to