The Washington herald., 1914-05-18
FEDERALS WRECK
RAILROAD BRIDGE
Funston Reports the Line to
Mexico City Has Been
Broken.
VERA CRUZ SURROUNDED
Three Thousand Huerta Troops in the
Vicinity and Officials Here Worry
Over Developments.
VERA CRUZ SURROUNDED

2 Brig. Gen Funsebn reported from Vera
Cruz yesterday that the Mexicans had
dynamited and destroyed the San Fran
cisco bridge, on the line of the Inter
oceanic Railway. twenty-eight miles out
from Vera Cruz
The bridge was one of the most i'm
portant on the line Of the Interoceanic
and its destruction greatly increases the
dificulties of this route for an American
invasion to Mexico City.
The San Francisco bridge crossed the
Antigua ravine, and was 164 feet in length
and fourteen feet high. The Interoceanic
is a narrow gauge line and has not been
used for. the removal of refugees from
Mexico City. 1t has been the second
choice as route for the American troops
to the Mexican capital The broad gauge
= line of the Mexican Central being pre-
ferable.
Gen. Funston does not say how the San
Francisco bridge was destroyed, or by
whom, but apparently IL was the work Of
federal troops ~
Gen. Funston also reported a rumor
that Gen. Navarette, the federal COM
manfer. is in the neighborhood OF Vera
Cruz with a force of 5000 men,
OniciaIs Are Anxious.
The fact of the actual blowing up of
the bridge was not SO disconcerting to the
Washington officials as was the evidence
which it presented Of the continued ac-
tivity OF Huerta's forces almost within
the shadow Of Vera Cruz. This uneasi
ness was increased by the suggestion by
Gen. Funston of the nearness of the Mex
lean commander with his 1000 followers.
The likelihood is that the United States
" will cite the blowing up of this bridge
IN he iatn nj oh
that Huerta has violated the armistice.
The blowing up Of the railroad bridge,
while causing the government some worry
today, is not to be compared with the
situation growing out of the execution
OF Private Parks and developments in
Tampico relating the oil fields. The
two latter constitute the really serious
phases of the present Mexican crisis.
The developments at Tampico involve
the constitutionalists. 1t is charged tina,
they already are extorting money from
foreign owners of the oil fields. So Sc
rious are these reports that the Dutch
Minister at Washington has called at the
Navy Department and asked for an i'm
mediate investigation. The United States
officials have not received any informa-
ton to confirm these complaints and 1t
is not clear whether the Dutch Minister
obtained his Information through off,
cial or private channels. 1t, is apparent,
though, that this government is greatly
concerned over the situation and has in
structed Admiral Mayp to report at once
whether any exactions have been made.
Fear Serious Consequences.
The fear expressed in Washington is
that the constitutionalists will seek TO
obtain from each of the foreign interests
as much as each will pay and in that
event there will surely be serious de-
velopments.
The Dutch Minister in Washington
could throw no light on the demand of
the constitutionalists at Tampico for the
removal of the Dutch marines who were
landed in the oil field. He presumed that
they referred to action taken by the
Dutch cruiser at Tampico about two
weeks ago. At that time one of the largest
oil wells in the district, the Corona, with
a maximum capacity of $4,000 gallons
day, was deserted by the men who were
operating the well. The commanding
officer of the Dutch cruiser, according to
the minister here landed an officer and
three marines, all in civilian dress, to
cap this big well and protect it The
Dutch Minister contends that this party
was in no sense a military expedition,
but consisted solely of mechanics who
were needed in the emergency. He as
sumes that these are the men whom the
constitutionaiists have ordered out.
The situation in regard to the eXecu-
ton of Private Parks was unchanged yes
terday. 1t is true that the note sent
by the government to Huerta amounts
practically to an ultimatum. The United
States demands the production of Parks
body and the immediate punishment of
all those who were responsible for his
execution. Huerta is called upon also
for a full explanation of the incident. |
which the United States characterizes |
as an act of hostility. |
Notwithstanding the warlike character |
of the note to Huerta, this government |
will not permit the death of Parks to in |
terfere at this time with any prospect |
of settlement of the Mexican situation |
through mediation. This cause of COM
plant will be held in reserve as a ground |
for action by this government in the |
event of the failure of the conferences at
Niagara Falls.
5 The Navy Department had not been
able, up to late hour last night, to
ascertain whether the constitutionaIists
or the federals are in possession of the
Tampico oil field. Admiral Mayo has been
instructed to investigate and report on
this phase of the situation at the earliest
possible moment.