Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-07-30
RELIEF FIRST STEP
IN MEXICAN CRISIS
U. S. Demands That Food Be
Permitted to Reach Starving
People of Capital
MUST KEEP RAILROADS OPEN
American Citizen Assaulted by
Zapata Soldiers and Stars and
Stripes Tramped Upon.
MUST KEEP RAILROADS OPEN

WASHINGTON, July 2o.-Urgcnt rep
rcsentation demanding. in the name OF
humanity. that food be permitted to
reach the starving people of Mexico
City we're sent by the State Department
tonight to Generals Carranza. Villa and
Ia pata The notes declare avenues Of
transportation to Mexico City must be
opened 10 provision trains and kept
open.
Although the text OF the representa-
tions was not made public. it is known
that the document is a forcrunner OF
more definite action soon to be taken
in the form Of demand that the Mexi-
can factions end their strife and cstab-
lish constitutional! government by
means OF a joint conference Officials
believe General Carranza at Vera Cruz
is in position to keep the railroad to
Mexico City from Vera Cruz open for
transportation Of food beyond Pachuca
AT least. and that either he or Zapata,
in cooperation with Villa, can control
the line beyond that point
OMcial reports from Mexico City to-
day said there was actual starvation
there. and that conditions generally
were worse than ever. People OF all
classes are suffering for food. although
there is money in plenty to purchase
it.
message from Vera Cruz detailing
an assault upon an American citizen
near Puebla and violation of the
American flag by Zapata soldiers a
few days ago served to arouse officials
here TO the extreme gravity OF the
situation.
A new division of Mexican affairs
was created to-day in the State De-
partmcnt Leon J. annva WIS nr-
lnointed chief of the new division. Which
will handle all diplomatic correspon-
dence and other business relating to
MXico hereafter.
DETERMINED EFFORT TO
GET SUPPLIES THROUGH
Advices to the American Red Cross
from Charles ]. O'Connor, its special
representative directing relief work in
Mexico City, were communicated 10 Sec
retary Lansing to-day. He announced
later that n determined effort to get
supplies TO the capital would be made.
NJ. O'Connor's message, cahled from
as follows:
Scarcity of food is far greater than
II was two weeks ago. 1t is almost i'm
possible TO buy corn; vegetables are
far less plentiful than they were two
weeks ago. People are actually dying
Of starvation, as l can prove by doc
tors and nurses. We have had no word
of supplies coming from the states
Each time we have started TO buy any
thing here some change OF government
made change of plan necessary. We
are ready TO distribute food to families
but have not yet been able 10 secure
any at reasonable price. Conditions
are more chaotic than ever. and there
is not a single government official with
whom to deal.
There is n genuine reign of terror
in Mexico City. in SO far as legal pro-
cedure is concerned" read a message
to the department from Vera Cruz
dated July IS. which also detailed an
assault upon Allan Mallory. an Arneri-
can citizen, by zapata soldiers near
Puebla
AMERICAN FLAG
TRAMPLED UNDERFooT
Mallory was in an automobile with a
son OF the Chilean minister and two
Spaniards. The car, en- route to the
coast. flew the American flag, and was
carrying diplomatic correspondence
Near Puebla the automobile was stopped
by n company Of Zapata soldiers The
occupants were pulled out and the
American flag torn from its staff and
trampled upon by the soldiers, who
took Mallory and his companions before
a Iapata officer. They were searched,
their papers taken and the two Span-
iards sentenced to be executed
Whether sentence was carried out is
not known. the message bearing evil
dence Of having been censored on this
point. Mallory protested against the
sentencing OF the Spaniards
Keep your mouth shut or you will
he shot" ne was told by the officer,
who later released him. An investiga-
tion has been ordered
Paul Hudson. editor OF the Mexican
Herald, and his family, are still pris-
oners in Mexico City, another MESA re
said. Orders for their release. signed
by President Chasero. head of the
Mexican City convention government
are said TO have been ignored. and ap-
peals from American citizens and the
Brazilian minister lave been fruitless
The Villa agency tonight issued n
statement denying the evacuation of
Torreon
BARS DIAMOND IMPORTS