The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-04-10
Bursting Shells Cause Millions
Of Dollars Loss--Foreigners
In Serious Danger, Flock to
Vessels
Messages Report
Another Victory
Closer Around Sea-
port Town; Shells Fall Near
American Warships - Ma
ton Navy Gather In to Pro-
tect interests

VERA CRUZ. April s.--Accordinx TO
wireless dispatches received here this
evening from Tampico. the situation
at the oil port is extremely serious
The rebels made desperate attacks
and succeeded in gaining ground sew
eral TIMES only to be driven back from
the city itself by the fire OF the federal
gunboats Vera Cruz and Zaragoza
stationed in the Panuco river. The
shells from the gunboats have set hre
to many oil tanks and their contents
are flowing into the river.
Several large warehouses of the
Aguiia OIL company. the Pearson firm.
have been burned, and many tanks of
the WatersPierce firm have also been
set on fire by the shells. The losses OF
these two companII combined are
estimated at millions of dollars.
Shells from the federal gunboats
have exploded near the American war;
ships in the river.
Rear Admiral Mayo's last report
says that the fighting continues. and
that all noncom batants in the city lave
been taken aboard the foreign war;
ships.
The federal gunboat Bravo is being
prepared to leave tonight for hurry
trip with a large supply of arms to
Tampico.
The United States battleship Utah
left here for Tampico this. evening.
WASHINGTON, April 9.--As the re-
suit of developments at Tampico the
United States is again confronted with
serious problem involving its obliga-
lions to insure the protection OF Amer
lean and other foreign property IN
Mexico. Reports received today show.
ed that already the fighting has re-
suited in extensive property damage
TO foreign interests. Warehouses OK
the Agencia Commercial. German
firm, have burned with a loss of $780,
600, and fear is expressed for the en-
tire property OF the Waters Pierce Oil
company because II is occupied by
rebels whose position is under fire
from the federal gunboat.
Every effort is being made by tins
state department TO insure the protec-
ton of the foreign properties at Tam
pico. Communications are being en-
{ tered into with the federal and rebel
commanders with the view CT setting
up limitation OF the fighting zone,
which will afford a reasonable degree
of protection TO foreign interests
These communications probably viii
be made through Admiral Mayo. cnm-
manding the American squadron at
Tampico. There is grave danger OF
serious complications In the event that
the requests of the United States are
disregarded by either side
A further complication Is feared In
the event OF the opposing commanders
not proving amenable to suggestion
from Admiral Mayo through the
presence at Tampico of British, Ger
man and Spanish admirals. all OF
whom are charged with the protection
of the very substantial interests Of
their countrymen at Tampico. An In
clination on the part OF the European
commanders to employ drastic meaa-
ures in order to insure protection
might force Admiral Mayo TO take
more serious steps than he would wish.
The fact that German property In
terests are among those threatened
does not add to the complacency Of
the administration. for during the ex'
element over the recent Benton In
cident there were strong fntimationa
unoff1ciaily from Germany that shs
would he inclined to act moro force