The Ordway new era., 1914-05-08
TRY TO SHUT OFF WATER
-HuERTA SOLDIERS DEMAND SUR.
RENDER OF WATER PLANT.
Get Curt Reply From Major Russell
and Marines Scatter Army Of Fed
erals at Vera Cruz Outpost.

Western Newspaper Union News Service.
Vera Cruz, May 4.-What had prom
lsed to be the first fight between the
United States army and the Mexican
troops Saturday ended in the exchange
OF not more than half a dozen shots.
The Mexicans threatened to attack
Immediately unless the Americans sur
rendered their positions at the water
works at Ell Tejar within ten minutes"
but failed to fulfill their threat.
Twelve hundred infantry were rushed
to the assistance of the $40 marines
under Major Russell.
The Mexicans still are holding po
sition beyond the waterworks station
and the American troops have received
no orders to advance.
At II o'clock a Mexican force esti-
mated at from 300 to 500 men appeared
mile beyond the waterworks station.
AS Major Russell of the marines had
received orders not to assume the Of
fensive he and his men watched the
Mexicans with much interest.
Suddenly Mexican lieutenant and
a non-commissioned officer. bearing o
white flag advanced and presented o
demand for the Americans to surren
der within ten minutes. Major Rus
sells reply was:
Hurry right back and do not waste
any of the time your commanding OF.
ficer has stipulated"
Foodstuffs Limited.
The supply Of any but imported ar.
ticles Is becoming steadily smaller
and the small amount of foodstuffs
brought in from the outskirts OF the
city is not nearly enough to supply the
demand, 80 that prices are increasing
as the volume Of products decreases
The governorship OF Vera Cruz was
handed over by Robert ]. Kerr, who
was recently appointed civil governor,
to Brigadier General Funston. The
ceremony was wholly formal.
According to a number OF foreign
refugees, mostly American citizens
who left Mexico City. the Federal cap.
ital was quiet and free from demon
strations by the mob.
c. L. Baker, manager of the Amer.
lean Smelling and Refining Company,
who had been held prisoner at Aguas
Calienties, was among the passengers.
He was released and taken to Mexico
City with no employees Of the com
pany, about forty Of whom were sent
to Coatxacoalcos.
Asked to iHek Msaiataon confsrsss.
Washington. May 4.--After confer
ence between the Argentine. Brazil
and Chile mediat6rs and the Secretary
of State. Bryan gave out the following
statement:
"The mediators have delivered to
this government and are sending out
to General Huerta and General Car.
rama requests that representatives be
appointed to confer with the media
tors"
While the United States has not yet
acceded to the request, the indications
are that 1t will do SO. Secretary Bryan
said he did not know who would be
appointed.
John Lind, the Presidents personal
envoy in Mexico for several months;
John Bassett Moore. late counsellor
for the State Department.: DR.. David
j. Hill, formerly United States ambas-
sador to Germany, and Hannis Taylor.
minister to Spain under President
Cleveland. are being given considera-
tion for the appointments. M
The general belief is that both Gen.
eral Huerta and Carranza will grant
the request Of the mediators. General
Huerta has q representative here now.
as has General Carranza.