The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-05-30
SEIZE GERMAN CRUISER.
HOLD VESSEL WHICH LANDS
WAR MUNITIONS.
Skipper Must Pay Fine for Violating
Law by Putting Cargo Ashore at
Puerto Mexico.

vera Cruz, May 27.-The German
steamer Bavaria has been held here
upon her arrival without manifest at
Brig. Gen. Funston's order. The Ba-
varia recently landed large quantity
OF ammunition on Mexican SOIL. IT is
estimated that the Bavaria put ashore
100000 rounds of ammunition. The
cargo was destined for Vera Cruz, but
was diverted to Puerto Mexico. The
steamer reached here Sunday. The
captain could not produce a manifest,
declaring it had been taken away
from him by the American authori-
ties. Later he admitted landing the
cargo, which included also 5000 rolls
of barbed wire.
Gen. Funston understands the am
munition and wire reached Cordoba
yesterday by way of TERRA Blanca.
The Bavaria's captain is liable to
Ia fine under the American laws and
these are the laws that are being ad-
ministered by the collector of the GUS
toms at port at Vera Cruz. The
landing at Puerto Mexico of arms
consigned for Vera Cruz violates the
laws and the absence Of manifest is
"a second violation.
The Bavaria is held here only be-
because clearance will be refused until
the matter Of fines is adjusted.
The custom officials assert that so
far as they know the arms shipment
on the Ypiranga Of the same line,
which precipitated the seizure of Vera
Cruz by the American forces, still
were aboard when that vessel left
here for Puerto Mexico two days ago.
They assume that there is no possi-
bility that the $50 machine guns, 15,-
100000 rounds of ammunition and
other war material aboard the Ypir-
anga would be landed, as the liner is
under charter by the German gov
ernment and was ordered to Puerto
Mexico by the German minister to
pick up German refugees. 4g Be-,
Rumors have been current that
some of the materials for which
Huerta had contracted in Germany
had been filtering through to the fed
erals by way Of Puerto Mexico. The
Bavaria incident is the first positive
information of the landing of sup
plies received, although there have
been intimations that the army and
navy has knowledge Of other landings
or attempted landings.
Gen. Funston admitted that he had
no information as to what became of
the shipment after it reached Cor
dOba, and it is assumed that it al
READY is on the way to Mexico City.
The barbed wire will be of immense
value to small garrisons protecting
federal lines Of communication. Gar
risons north of San Luis Potosi have
been repeatedly attacked by rowing
bands Of constitutionalists.
President Huerta's defense plans,
as announced prior to the American
landing at Vera Cruz, contemplated
the construction of a series of block
houses along the railways in the vi
cinity Of the smaller towns, each to
be protected by barbed wire entangle-
ments. There is no evidence to indi-
cate that the federals around Vera
Cruz are making any elaborate prep
arations. Rumors have been current
Of the building of concrete breast
works and field gun stations in the
mountains along the Mexican rail-
road but reports Of eye-witnesses tell
only Of field guns mounted on fiat
cars and no great number of these.