Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-04
Consul SiIIiman Reports Dis
aster, But Its Cause Is
Not Explained.
CARRANZA HAS NOT MOVED
CAPITAL FROM VERA CRUZ
Pan-Ameriean Conferees Decide to
Wait Little Longer on
His Reply.

Two hundred persons, including many
women and children, have been killed in
a train wreck 200 miles east Of Mexico
City, according to information received
today from United States Consul Silli-
man by the State Department.
Consul Silliman, reporting from Vera
Cruz, characterizes the wreck as IAN
appalling disaster" He does not say in
his dispatches whether the wreck was
an accident or the result of some of the
bandit-like work that has been going
on in Mexico for so long. A train fol-
| lowing the one which was wrecked,
and which contained forty-fve United
States refugees, was delayed by the
wreck, which occurred several days
ago, and the delayed refugees arrived
at Vera Cruz only yesterday with the
news of the disaster. It is presumed
that the censorship Of Carranza at Vera
Cruz prevented the news reaching the
United States sooner, although 1t Is not
indicated why the news did not come
through yesterday, as soon as known IN
Vera Cruz.
Freight Train Blown Up.
From Vera Cruz last night came
report that bandits had blown up
freight train yesterday forty miles
| from Vera Cruz on the Mexfcan rail-
way Another report came from Vera
Cruz that a passenger train hsd been
attacked on the Ja1ata-Teoce1o rail-
way line two days before. These are
presumed to be cases additional to that
of the wreck in which zoo persons
lost their lives.
Mr. Silliman also reported to the
State Department today that H. w.
Francis. the British citizen who has
newspapers, was liberated yesterday
from prison in Vera Cruz. uncondition-
ally. by Gen. Carranza- The latter has
been at various times reported as on
his way to Mexico City, but apparently
has not left Vera Cruz.
Carranza's foreign minister seems
to be still in Vera Cruz. A dispatch
from him last night at that point to
the arrival at Vera Cruz On route to
New York Of the Japanese minister to
Mexico. Gen. Gonzales appears to be
still in charge in Mexico City, and the
has decreed Sunday as a day Of rest by
all commercial establishments except
those distributing food.
State Department officials said today
they had no advices to substantiate
current reports that Mexican troops
were concentrating along the border
in northeast Mexico. although the sit
uation Is viewed with increasing APP
prehension. Practically all mobile
forces Of the regular army are at the
disposal of Maj. Gen. Funston.
The pan-American conferees have
decided to wait a few days longer be-
fore meeting again, in order to give
Gen. CarranZa ample opportunity to
reply to their appeal for a general
conference. His representatives. here
believe q rejection OF the appeal will
be forwarded soon.
Formal Reply to Carranza.
Formal notice that the signers of the
pan-American appeal for peace in Mex
leo acted IN their official capacities as
representatives of their governments
in afixing their names to the document
was on its way today to Gen. Carranza.
The notification was in answer to
Carranza's inquiry as to whether the
signers of the appeal were acting In
their personal capacities or for their
governments. 1t was sent by Secretary
Lansing, speaking for the other diplo-
mats who signed the document.
Officials here today awaited some in
dicat ton as to what, II any, effect the
reply will have on Carranza's response
to the appeal itself The date for hold
lean conference probably will not be
fixed pending receipt of Carranza's re-
ply.
Presidents Thanks to Brazil.
President Wilson has sent the follow
ing telegram to the president Of Brazil,
commencing the services rendered to
the United States government by the
Brazilian minister at Mexico City.
las Senior Don J. NJ. Cardoso de OIL
! veira Brazilian minister to Mexico, is
about to depart from the United States
| for Brazil, / avail myself OF the occa-
sion to express to your excellency the
! grateful acknowledgment of myself
and of the people of the United States
for the friendship shown and the serv-
ices rendered by your excellency's gov
eminent in permitting Senior Cardoso
to take upon himself in most trying
circumstances the exacting duty Of rep
resenting American interests in Mex
| leo.
Il cordially appreciate the efficient
| and whole hearted manner in which
| Senior Cardoso has served our country,
| and congratulate Brazil in having in
| her diplomatic service a representative
| Of such eminent fitness and SO agree
| able personality"
Secretary Lansing Heartily Concurs.
Transmitting a copy of this message
to Senior Cardoso, Secretary Lansang
said in a letter:
| Il heartily concur in the sentiment
| cent in the above quoted telegram and
also take great pleasure in availing
| myself OF this opportunity to convey to
| you my own appreciation Of your val
| liable assistance while in Mexico"
|