The Washington herald., 1914-04-26
FIRST THOUGHT
FOR REFUGEES
Operations Are Halted Until
: Americans Can Be Taken
to Protected Ports.
NEARLY 5000 ON SHIPS
Grave Fear Felt for Several Thousand
Who Still Are in Small
Interior Towns.

lnteTl0r Towns.
The first thought of the American
forces in Mexico now is the relief oi
American refugees. All other operations
are being held up until steps can be
taken to remove the larger part Of the
refugees to protected ports, where war
ships and chartered steamers are wait.
ing to transport them to the United
States. g..
The United States is unable 20 push
military operations for fear vengeance
will be wreaked by Huerta upon the
Americans in Mexico. 1t is unable to
send forces to the relief of the refugees
for fear the murderous knife and bullet
will be used before these forces could
reach their destinations
Representations are being made through
the Brazilian and British representatives
throughout Mexico that Mexicans in the
custody of the United States will be
given safe conduct to the interior. This
is being done in the hope that the Mexi-
cans will relent and remove the obstacles
thrown in the way of Americans leaving
for the coast.
Have Located 4,S4O.
The best estimates possible are that
there were approximately 1850 Americans
in Mexico when the first shot was fired
at Vera Cruz. BY the emergency meas
ures employed since that time, 4,s4O have
been located. and the larger part of these
taken to protected ports. Nearly 5000
are now on ships bound for the United
States.
There remain nearly 1900, distributed
for the most part, in small numbers
through small towns and mining settle
ments in Central and Northern Mexico.
Huerta and his supporters thus far
e. nC
Americans to remain in the republic, pos
sibly as hostages against warlike opera
tions by the American forces. His ex-
cuse has been the report that the forces
at Vera Cruz were preventing the de-
-parture of Mexicans for Mexico City.
This was promptly replied to by the
United States through every possible ave-
nue. of publicity.
The limited States, according TO these
. official assurances, will facilitate the de-
parture of noncombatants from vera
Cruz The soldiers from the three Mexi-
can warships who landed at vera Cruz
Thursday and were taken into CUSTODY
will not be allowed to depart, however,
and 1t is feared that Huerta may make
their retention a further excuse for hold
ing IN the Americans in Mexico City.
The refugees located in the Mexican
republic are distributed as follows: Three
hundred and twenty-eight on board the
Cyclops which arrived at Galveston yes
terdays seventy-nine who have left "a
nanea& for Nogales; Ia who have left
Zacozari for Douglas on the border.
trainIohd number unknown. about 10
leave Cananea: 600 on Ward liner MeXi-
co. which sailed from Vera Cruz yester-
day afternoon; go at ranches five miles
below Ensenada: 100 at Salina Cruz: from
100 TO 300 at Mazatlan; unknown number,
probably about 100, at Ciudad Porfrio
Diaz: 200 at Peurto, Mexico; 1854 on
board EsperanZa, Connecticut, and Dixie,
which have sailed from Tampico; 800 still
at Vera Cruz from Mexico City; 80 at
Mexico City; fifteen on board Justin,
which has sailed for San Francisco.
Plans Have Been Upset.
The plans of the State Department
studied out carefully in the last year
have been completely upset by the ac-
ton of the administration in having vera
Cruz seized and then suspending opera
tions. These plans hinged entirely upon
a sharp stroke of intervention by the
United States and a hurried march TO
Mexico City. Departmental experts had
hoDed to make Mexico City the central
point toward which all refugees might be
hurried from which transportation to
the coast and safety would be practicable
over the open line to the military base
at Vera Cruz.
The seizure Of Vera Cruz and five days
Of vaciIIation not only thwarted the
plans of the department for the escape
of refugees, but have permitted full
knowledge Of the warlike step against
Mexico to be broadcasted throughout
Mexico. The result is that the Mexican
public has become infamed against
Americans before they have had an op-
portunity to withdraw.
confronting Americans in Mexico and
the desperate efforts being made to meet
il is partly told in bulletins given out
at the Navy Department yesterday.
They said. in part:
From Nogales il IS reported that %
Americans left Cananea on the sd.
many others preferring to remain 80
long as the copper company continues
in operation. Gov. Maytorena, of Sonora
has issued a proclamation directing that
Mexicans refrain from anti-foreign agi-
tation ana the attitude of the officials
continues friendly. in spite of a spirit
OF agitation among the masses The
Nogales district is reported quiet and no
violence to foreigners
Sent from Sncozari.
Americans in Nacozari were notified
on the 2Sd that they must leave and a
train was assembled. the Americans dis
armed, and placed on board. The party
arrived in safety at Douglas on the bor-
der, at s a. m. on the 9th. numbering
about 12i. The Cananea Consolidated
Copper Company is closing its mine at
Cananea, and a special second train is
being held to bring out all Americans
who will come.
Further details of conditions in Mex
leo City, as supplied to Consul Canada at
Vera Cruz by arriving refugees are 10
the effect that mobs entered Porter's
Hotel insulting the guests and breaking
windows All guests were taken to other
hotels and the proprietOrs went to Vera
Cruz. The windows of the American
Club were broken; also OF the Photo !
Supply Company. and several stores were |
sacked, with a loss estimated at 5000 |
pesos.
Conscription by the Huerta government
was very heavy for three days, ending
the 29d, after which men began to /
volunteer. Last Sunday and Monday. ap- |
proximately 2,O00 men were forcibly con- |
scriptcd- The American colony is said |
to be well organized for defense and all /
foreign colonies have concentrated in one /
zone to facilitate handling. All foreigners |
are well armed, but the rush of mobs is |
said to be the greatest danger. Prac-
tically all business houses closed on I
: |