The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-05-02

Tampico and the effort of the Mexican governor of the state to cut off the food supply of Vera Cruz are dividing. attention.
 The reportedA Amassing of the consti-. tutionalist force against Tampfco is. ] regarded as important because it is felt to be certain that the fall of the city will have some bearing on the. immediate policy of the United States. Many persons who are well inform ed of the. federal preparedness in Tampico are skeptica1 of the predic- tions of an early rebel success. They | point out that three federal g7Inboats have thus far easily repe11ed all at l tacks.
 The situation of the town is such that force cannot approach without exposing itself to the fire of finch l quick firing guns except from one direction. That point is defended by a triple line of trenches and many machine guns and field cannon Gum boats and soldiers are pIentIfu1ly sup piled with ammunition.
 l The rebels heretofore have been ' without artillery. Unless guns have reached them from the north, it will 1 be difficult for them to drive out the l federals.
 FOOD PROBLEM SERIOUS. l The fall Of Tampico might help solve the food situation in Vera Cruz. l In that event. it is presumed the trade l between Vera Cruz and Tampico would be resumed and that the terri Itory- about Tampico would slpp1ant the market here to some extent Just now the only supplies reaching Vera l Cruz are coming from the small I ranches near enough to the city for I owners to feel assured of American | protection.
 Scores of natives carrying eggs and milk arrive daily but this supply is
 small The hotels are unable to ob- I tain fruit and butter. If the order of the federal governor of the state of ISVera Cruz threatening execution of I anyone bringing food to the city is eff fective. people will be forced to 4de- l pend upon goods shipped from the ] Limited States and elsewhere. Many ranchers and owners of truck gardens a few miles out called at the governors office today and wished to know if they would be protected if 1 they brought in supplies. The order I not to extend the American lines, how ever, prevents giving the protection I desired and the only ranches which I the authorities can count upon are a those within the narrow houndaries of
 the outposts or within range of the I pfckets' rifles.
 DOUBLE MONEY STANDARD.
 The money situation also is pecu- -f l1aI.sz me Dz1It45 zu1N9 E6cfl y
 at standsfil1 for all except small ex
 change business because Of the lack Of 4 stamps required by the Mexican laws I now in force. Nearly. 0O,0O0 pesos of captured stamps were placed in cir Eculation today to relieve the situation. lit is getting possible to find Mexican
 silver change and the supply of small 1 bills is exhausted.
 I 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 |t bought in Mexico are sold for Mexican Il money. Little change is available and
 business is hampered. The city is be
 coming flooded with Mexican bills. si ROBBED BY OWN WOREMEEN. I fH w McCIe1Iand, pineapple T grower, was twice strung up by the T neck by 10 of his own .workmen, rob bed and left for dead on plantation at Fl Burro, near Santa Lucreeia- He I arrived here with other refugees yes j, terday in a penniless condition and sl was taken in charge by the Red Cross s McClelland had received Consul Canadass warning to leave but delay Il ed his departure He was seized in the j yard of the plantation, bound and I beaten and ordered to produce his I money. He declared he had none
 whereupon he was hung up to li1nh i of a free. After few minutes, he I was let down and again ordered to
 give money.
 When be recovered consciousness I he was lying on the floor of his house
 which had been rifled, the robbers se- T curing $3,000 in gold and small ft amount of Mexican money. His cloth l ing, shoes and everything portable in
 l the house had also been stolen I McC1elland and his partner, w F I Gregory, the latter having been absent 7c ttheir way to Santa Lucrecia, and join I ed the refugees from the capital.