Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-08
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice Asks
Secretary Bryan to Protect
One Syndan.
DRIVEN FROM HIS RANCH,
AND PROPERTY IN DANGER
State Department Instructs United
States Consul 60 Act Despite Car
ranza's Recent Attitude.

Another British subject has gotten into
trouble In the Mexican state of Chi
huahua, where William S. Benton was
killed. and the State Department has
again been called upon to extend its
protection. despite. the attitude of Gen.
Carranza- the constitutionalist leader,
that negotiations about Englishmen must
be carried on through the British au-
thorities.
Sir Cecil Spring-Rice. the British am
bassador here, called at the State De-
partment yesterday to inform Secretary
Bryan that an Englishman named Syn
dan had been driven away from his
ranch and his property at least was
in danger of destruction.
Secretary Bryan Immediately tele-
graphed to American Consul Letcher
at Chihuahua City to make an inquiry
and report the facts. If necessary
protest will be made to Carranza-
Technically the commission which was
charged to investigate the killing of Ben
ton continues in existence and Secretary
Bryan yesterday stated that it's func-
tons had simply been suspended. There
is now, however, little idea that the COM
missoners will proceed to Chihuahua IN
the expectation of uncovering any evi-
dence of value, though it probably Will
be required to carry out its original IN
structions merely to establish the prin-
ciple of the right of the United States
government to act in this matter. Mean
while nothing further has been heard at
the State Department from Gen. Carranza
or his subordinates regarding the in
, vestigation which he is making.
No Answer for Huerta.
There seems to be no present inten-
communication from Gen. Huerta pro-
testing against the removal of the en-
barge on the expectation of arms into
Mexico The administration. it Is
thought probable. does not care to risk
the construction that such a response
would constitute formal recognition
Of the Huerta government
Consular agent >CarotherS at Chlhua-
hua was directed by Secretary Bryan
to intercede with constitutionalist lead
ers in behalf of Luis Terrezas of the
wealthy Mexican family of that name.
Press reports stated the young man
had been condemned to death unless a
paid by his family. The American agent
was directed to use every effort to pre-
vent the carrying out of this threat,
pointing out that American sympathy
the constitutfona1ist cause by such
acts.
Reports were current here last night
that Gen. Felix Diaz, who is ambitious to
be President Of Mexico, was still at the
New Willard Hotel. but A. A. Brownley
of New York, who came here with h m,
insisted that Diaz left for New York Fri
day night. Diaz registered under an as
suned name when here, as did the Next
can members of his party. Another man
said that Diaz left for New York yester-
day afternoon. He was not at the hotel
last night
F. Tennyson Nicely. publisher and
Mexico. told a Star reporter last night
that in his opinion many of the reports
concerning Americans killed in Mexico are
due to the fact that many of the lowest
kinds of Americans have gone to Mexico
and taken part in every conceivable kind
of dishonesty. and have been killed In bar
room brawls and common fights. He op-
posed intervention, and said there is no ex-
cuse for interfering in the struggle. He
upheld the Presidents stand.
Poorer Mexicans Ground Down.
Mr.. Nicely said that the poorer Next
cans have been SO ground down by the
greedy and grating upper class that
they are compelled to fight for life itself.
He said that the constitutionalists are
fighting for their rights and have shown
| this by serving without pay. Most Of the
federal soldiers. he said, are taken
from the penitentiaries and prisons. He
ventured the opinion that the solution
for the trouble will be the division of
Mexico into a northern and a southern
republic.
He said that terrible conditions exist
in Mexico today, that little regard Is
pie are burned to conceal the cause
of death and that little quarter is
shown prisoners. He showed photo
graphs illustrating the "barbarous"
conditions.
Giving graphic pen picture of the
Mexican federal army located in Ell Paso.
Tex. Leonard NJ. Coyne railroad traffic
| man. in a communication addressed to
Francis NJ. Ottinger, chief of the rate
force of the Southern Railway Company's
passenger accounting department, de-
clares that conditions among the federals
are deplorable.
Increasing in Numbers.
I'VE have had a considerable addition
| to our population recently writes Mr..
| Coyne by the acquisition Of the federal
army that fled from Villa at Ojinaga
They are camped at Fort Bliss and sur
| rounded by a barbed wire fence eight
| feet high. There were but AGO at the
| start, but actual count few days ago
revealed some 5.296 Of them. And the
| addition cannot be ascribed to births,
| even though new babies appear on the
| scene with astonishing frequency.
| Il went out to see them when they
| were brought in and they looked like
4 the migration of an immense band of
| gypsies, instead of like soldiers. 1t would
| appear that when a man joins the Next
| can army his entire family joins with
| him, including the dogs. cats and par
| rots, as well as the innumerable progeny
| for which only the fine-tooth comb hath
| terrors' to quote one famous literary
| luminosity.
Their army has no commissary, SO
| the women go along to do the cook
| ing. and if the women go along so must
the children. and if the children go
| along SO must the dogs. cats. and par
rots. and the aforesaid innumerable
| progeny They also brought along
some smallpox, which has caused the
| entire army, men. women and children
| TO be vaccinated.
| Cooking Beyond Their Ken.
They have no mess tents. as each
group does its own cooking. They had
a few mess tents at first. after the man.
, ner of the American army. but they