The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-03-13
AMERICAN CITIZEN SHOT IN HOME BY
 ZAPATA SOLDIERS
(Continued from Page One)


 1 tion he had taken and adding a demand 1 for reparation to the victims family The 1 minister was instructed to insist on the 1 early punishment of the offenders and to l impress on the post commander at Mex
 ico City, General Salazar the seriousness | with which the American government i viewed the occurrence.
 1 The occupation of the city by the Za- 1 patistas, which was hailed with enthu-
 sasm by the people. was marred by three l cases of footing. Official reports said no 1 disorders occurred, and the city was quiet when the last dispatch, dated D. m., yesterday, was filed. It was said that the i killing of McManus at first alarmed the foreigners, but when it became apparent
 that the attack was an isolated case and 1 that assurances had been given for the l protection of foreigners generally, the 1 tension was relieved.
 The Brazilian minister reported in sev- eral dispatches on the murder The mo- tive for the crime, he explained, undoubt- edly was one of revenge for the killing of two Zapata soldiers by McNIanus. The minister said that when the Zapatistas withdrew several weeks ago, after the departure of General Gutierrez, some of them attempted to loot the home of Me Manus. The latter stood on his door step and although it was never definitely esta blished who fired the first shot, when l the attackers fled because of the arrival of Carranza forces, two were left behind dead.
 Apprehensive of what might be his fate on the return of the Zapata forces. Me Manus induced the Brazilian minister to seal his door with the coat of arms of the United States and hoisted an Amer ican flag over his home. Apparently, the minister reported, McManus was killed by simultaneous volley. The American had sent his wife and family 10 the home
 Of friends and no one so far as is known witnessed the shooting.
 The killing of McManus coming after the serious developments in the situation 1 in Mexico City of the last week has in- i creased apprehension here in official quar- 1 ters for the safety of foreigners. During l Obregon's occupation of the city a Swed-
 ish subject and four Spaniards were l killed. Before leaving Mexico City, Obre-
 gon gave the Brazilian minister a cer-
 tificate. confirming the fact that the Swede was killed by his soldiers. The l certificate was given to afford the Swede's 1 family basis for claim. The Carranza commander Is understood to have ey-
 pressed his regret over the occurrence
 and paid 1000 pesos toward the funeral expenses of the victim.
 l Several of the embassies and legations received word of the occupation of the city by the Zapatistas. Three cases Of footing in the suburbs were reported as having occurred with a German, British and French subject as victims. Unof- ficial reports that 2000 Mexicans had tried to release priests imprisoned by Obregon and that general riot resulted were not confirmed.
 Leave in Order
 General Obregons troops, according to l official dispatches, left in good order. In
 view of this the American government, it was said, probably would make no repre- sentations to the Carranza government. At first, 1t was supposed that the killing of McManus occurred through a lack of protection to foreigners by the depart ing force.
 Secretary Bryan is preparing to insist that the railway between Mexico City and Vera Cruz be kept open for the transportation of foreigners. The belief is, however, that representations for the maintenance of this railway communica- ton may prove unnecessary if the Za- pata-Villa forces repair the lines north ward to the American border The murder of McManus overshadowed al! other diplomatic phases of the Mexican situation, however. Messages transmit , ted by the Brazilian minister from Me- Manus' wife were sent to relatives at Dem Vor. They stated merely that the family Was away when the shooting occurred.
 
 an isolated case arising out of personal difficulties between McManus and the Zapatsta and not due to any general antipathy toward foreigners or intended attack on them as a whole. Confidence 1 prevailed that the Zapata troops would | maintain good order The following sum mary of conditions in the capital was is- ! sued by the state department: 'The department is advised that the Zapatistas occupied the City of Mexico l at a. m., March ii, in perfect order. and amidst popular enthusiasm represented by l all classes. The authorities who have | just assumed control of affairs in the l city have promised that everything in l their power would be done toward bring
 ing in the much needed supplies to re- 1 ieve the people. The Zapata chiefs have ;! expressed their appreciation of the efforts | made by the diplomatic corps to help the 1 city. They also have promised to do | everything possible to maintain order and give protection to foreigners and natives. | Committee to Meet l Tt was stated in these advices that in | ternational relief committee would meet
 on the 11th and that the Zapatistas would send representative to discuss the de- | tails of the plan to obtain transpora- | ton facilities. At 4 D. m., March Il, the | city was still quiet and more Zapatista i, forces were coming in
 | Evacuation by the Obregon troops solves
 many of the problems which had threat | encd to force a crisis in the relations be- 1 tween the Carranza government and the l United States. The food and water sup l ply can now be replenished and the im- 1 prsoned merchants released. What dis position has been made of the priests im- | prsoned by Obregon is not known. but
 it is believed they now will be released. 1 The Villa agency gave out the following | statement:
 "The confidential agency of the conven- 1 ton government of Mexico has no infor-
 nation whatever regarding the reported l killing of the American citizen, John B. l Manus. The agency wishes to state, however, that due punishment and repara- | tion will be made if the American in question has been subjected to death by soldiers under General Zapata's com mand
 1 Tn the meantime the agency is try | ing to obtain full details of the affair
 and begs that judgment be suspended un- | til the facts are fully known | RaVQuUo MOfiva