Omaha daily bee., 1915-08-11
PEOPLE DYING IN
MEXICO CITY FROM
STARVATION DAILY
One Hospital Reports Death Of Eight
Children, While Another An
nounces Number Of
Famine Victims.
SOLDIERS SHUT OUT ALL FOOD
Woman Arrested for Stealing Dog to
Take Home for Her Young
to Eat.
CAPITAL FALLS AND FALLS

MEXICO CITY, July Silva
Vera Cruz, Aug. S.-Via Laredo
Tex. Aug. 1o.-Delayed in trans
mission Eight deaths by starva-
ton, all children, were reported by
the police station of the Second ward
today. The general hospital also re-
ported deaths by starvation, though
the number was not made public.
police court record in the Second
ward was brought to the attention OF
the American Red Cross representatives
today as illustrative of the extreme mis-
cry prevailing among the lower classes
because of the want of food.
A woman was brought into court
charged with stealing dog. The de-
PENDANTS plea was that the animal was
stolen for the purpose of feeding it to
her children. The judge dismissed the
woman.
Food Can't Enter.
Despite the distressing conditions the
Red Cross representatives and the for
eign relief societies have been able to
do very little because the military Of
~ficials refuse to allow food to enter the
city
Red Cross officials now have supply
of beef and beans sufficient for 10000
llters Of soup. Already applications
have come from 6O,OOO persons, and the
present supply will last no longer than
a fortnight
Cases of death from starvation are
being daily reported TO the Red Cross
headquarters.
fu
capital has seen three changes of govern
ment Such kaleidoscope shifting of the
political status has alarmed even this
ity. accustomed as It has become to
rapid changes of political leadership
ZaPatistas Go.
Shortly after the noon hour yester-
day the inhabitants were startled by the
precipitate evacuation of the ZapatH
army before an invisible enemy, Two
hours later the villa contingent OF the
former army of occupation rallied and
street fighting ensued with the invading
Carranza forces.
At o'clock the firing ceased. and in
its place was heard the Changing of bells.
Offices and stores which had been in the
line of fire were opened and the occu-
pants emerged to learn thst the city had
been captured by Captain Manuel San
chez and twenty men OF Carranza's s
army. It is estimated that $500 Zapata
soldiers fled before this force. believing
it to be much larger.
Dead All Civilians.
Captain Sanchez installed himself in
the National palace and the Red Cross
ambulance and cars gathered up the dead
and wounded. numbering eleven, all OF
whom were civilians. the fighting having
taken place in the main streets of the
business section.
The city had settled down to the first
breathing spell of the day when the
zapata troops. learning that they had
been routed by a force of twenty men,
returned. Sanchez. with his Carranza
forces thereupon evacuated the palace,
which was taken possession of by Gen.
eral Castillo, who occupied It during the
night
FIees Police.
Castillo. when morning broke, left the
palace because of a rumored approach
OF hostile forces and General ALBANIA,
claiming to be Villa follower. occupied
the government offices. Towards noon
heavy firing on several streets leading 70
the national and municipal palaces, an
rounced the second approach of Carranza
men. This firing lasted all forenoon and
we'll into the afternoon, and when II
ceased the inhabitants were In doubt a
to whether the forces of villa. Zapata OF
kAI1 ,v,sk - -.