South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-24
AIM ERICANS IN
A PANIC after
PORT SEIZURE
First News of Landing of U. S.
Forces at Vera Cruz Causes
Demonstration Against Citi-
zens in Mexico City.

WASHINGTON, April 24.-Anxiety
over the fate Of the Americans now
in Mexico City Was increased today
by the receipt Of a press dispatch
from Vera Cruz stating that the
United States flag had been trampied
upon in anti-American demonstra-
tons at the Mexican capital. 1t is
feared that the weapons secretly
gathered by the American colonists
in that city for the defense OF its
members have been seized by Huer-
ta's soldiers following the confsca-
/ ton Of the machine guns and am
munitiOn at the American embassy.
The navy department early today
made public this statement from Ad-
miraI Fletcher describing conditions
in Mexico City following the receipts
of the news there OF the landing of
United States marines at Vera Cruz
Alarm at First News.
AT 10 u. IN. Thursday following
statement by Americans from Mexico
City:
First news of landing received
about noon Tuesday and there was
much alarm followed by reports i'm
the newspaper FL Impartial. The re-
port not confirmed until 4 p. IN. In
the afternoon news was was circuIat-
ed that General Huerta would accede
to the demands OF the United States.
Later General Huerta received the
l nd az a. .
and announced that ne had definitely
refused the demands of the United
States In spite OF this. general
opinion was some time would elapSe
before any definite break i'm dipIo-
matte relations would occur. Tues
day afternoon, after news of the
landing demonstrations were made
largely by students and clerks i'm the
streets, which were hardly paSSable
Speeches were made. The recent OF
further news of an alarming charac-
ter which was given To- the public
through extras of the newspapers
caused the character OF the mani
festations to- become rather more
boisterous: Rocks were thrown at
some of the American buildings,
notably the American club and some
commercial establishments. IL was
reported that few Americans while
intoxicated had been killed on the
street but no confirmation of this
was obtained. The American colony
largely gathered around the United
States embassy watching for further
news and particulars from Vera
Cruz. Tuesday night the cable Office
was still receiving cables subject 10
censorship.
Government Takes Cable Office.
Early Wednesday morning the
cable office was taken over by the
Mexican government. There were
manifestations throughout the night.
one of which was an. attempt to pull
down the statue of Washington. The
procession proceeded TO the Ameri-
can embassy. where speeches were
made but apparently OF pactTic
character
Charge O'Shanghnessy had an
interview with General Huerta Tues
day afternoon between the hours of
and q, accompanied by Lieutenant
Rowan. General Hucrta promised
protection to all foreigners, particu-
larry Americans and the same even
ing sent his chief of staff, General
Colona. To the embassy building at
the request OF Mr.. O'ShaughneSsy.
About 20 federal soldiers with a
force OF eight policemen guarded the
embassy. The American consulate
which had suffered some damage al
number of federals. In the morning
IL was announced that the Mexican
government had taken over the man.
agemcnt of the railroads and that no
trains would be allowed to leave
Mexico City without special permits /
sion. 1t was further announced that
all the rolling stock OF the Mexican
railroads would he concentrated at
APizaCO and all the InterOceanic roll I
ing stock at Puebla. also the Vera
Cruz isthmuS roads.
Train for Refugees.
"'Reports were hoated that the /
British and German ministers were
making an effort 10 send down a
train with refugees from their colo !.
mics and finally OH Wednesday after I
noon it was announced that such a
train would leave at q O'clock, but il
was not known until late i'm the after +.
noon whether Americans would be
allowed TO travel upon it. However,
at the station tickets were sold APP
parently To all who presented them I
selves. without any question OF .
nationality. The approximate num- 4
bers on this train were: Americans. /
$50: British. about 90; Germans /
about 20, and 500 NIcxicans.
- First day alarm gradually sub +
sided. Americans preferred remain- |
inc I'm tine city than TO take chances
coming down to Vera Cruz on this .
train. General Mas al SOledad. /
about 4S kilOmeters out with about 4
5000 troops.
(Signed) Fletcher"