Evening star., 1915-03-13
Officials Here Expect Condi-
tions to Improve With Ar
rival of Zapata Forces.
lin PRETTY GOOD SHAPE"
is COMMENT OF BRYAN
Anxiety for Americans Continues
Evident. However-Family of
McManus Safe.

and officials here expected all coHui'
tions to improve with the occupation OF
the Zapata forces. Secretary Bryan
said:
II think we are in pretty good shape
Carranza has promised to permit people
leaving the capital to travel over the
portion of the railroad he controls
while the Zapata general in command
there has undertaken to admit fooo
supplies"
The whereabouts of Gen. Obregon
commanding the CarranZa force which
evacuated the city. is not known here
officials because of the bearing IL VIII
have on CarranZa's forces and his abil-
ity to maintain himself at Vera Cruz.
Mrs. Mary Dargan and Miss Eliza
beth McManus of Chicago, sisters OF
John B. McManus. received telegram
from Secretary of State Bryan saying
that the decedent's widow and children
were safe, adding government will
look after their interests" An earlier
telegram from Mr.. Bryan, speaking on
the City of Mexico, stated that Mrs
McManus and the children were absent
when Mr.. McManus was attacked.
Anxiety for Americans.
Anxiety for the safety of Americans
in Mexico City continued evident here
today, although administration officials
expressed the hope that Zapata forces
who now occupy the city. would main
tain order.
Rapid fire evacuation and occupation
OF the capital has brought such cha
otic condition of affairs however that
some officials and diplomats believe nc
foreigners lives are SAFE
The killing March II of John B. Nc
Manus. the American dairy owner, in
Mexico City, for which Zapata troops
were reported responsible, did not tend
to increase confidence in government
circles that affairs would be MAIN
tained in stable fashion
IT was expected here that Gen. Sala-
Ear, post commander at Mexico City,
would promptly carry out his intention
to punish the guilty and make repara-
tion to the family of the victim in re-
sponse to demands of the American
government.
Such records as are available here
show there were two men bearing the
name OF ]. B. McManus in Mexico City.
The first was mining man with in
terests In the Guanajuata district.
the second was president OF the Nc
Manus Sanitary Dairy Company and
during the American occupation of
Vera Cruz was employed as a sanitary
inspector and under orders of Gen.
Funston cleaned up the hotels and
markets. He was known among Amer
leans In Mexico as having been In diff
hculties with the authorities and was
more recently reported arrested by "a
pata authorities at his dairy farm in
the suburbs. Officials here are con-
vinced that the dead man was the lat
ter.
Wants Railroad Kept opne.
Secretary Bryan is preparing to in
sist that the railway between Mexico
City and Vera Cruz be kept open for
the transportation of foreigners, re-
gardless of what authorities are in
control at either end. While Ameri-
cans in the Mexican capital, however.
have repeatedly been warned to leave,
none has. even recently, expressed a
desire to do so. The belief is that rep
resentations for the maintenance of
railway communication between Mex
leo City and the sea may prove unnec-
essary IL the Zapata-Villa forces repair
the railway lines northward to the
American border. affording ample
facilities for the bringing Of food to
the city
The occupation of the city by the
Zapatistas, which was hailed with en-
thusiasm by the people. was marred by
three cases of looting. Official reports
said no disorders occurred. and the
city was quiet, when the last dispatch
was fled. 1t was said that the killing
of McManus at first alarmed the for
eigners. but when it bacame apparent
that the attack on McManus was an
isolated case. and that assurances had
been given for the protection of for
eigners generally. the tension was re-
lieved.
Several OF the embassies and legations
received word of the occupation of the
city by the Zapatistas. Three cases OF
looting, in the suburbs of the capital
were reported as having occurred, with
a German. British and a French sub
ject as victims. Cnoftcial reports thai
1000 Mexicans had tried to release the
priests imprisoned by Obregon and thai
a general riot resulted were not con.
nrmed.
obregon Leaves Orderly.
Gen. Obregon's troops, according t.
tho omcial dispatches. left in good or.
der. and the Brazilian minister re
marked that evidently the Carranzs
commander was impressed by the ton,
of tho American note. In view Of thf,
report the American government. +
was said. probably would mako no rem
ressntations to the Carranza govern
msnt.
Tho Brazilian minister reported a
length in several dispatches on tn,
McManus murder. The motive for RI,
crime. he explained, was undoubtedI,
one Of revenge for the killing OF tw,
ZapAta soldiers by McManus whe,
their forces last left Mexico City. Tn,
minister said that when the Zapatista.
withdrew several weeks ago, after IN,
departure of Gen. Gutierrez, some o
them attempted to loot the home O
McManus. The latter stood on his doc
step and though il was never definitel,
established who fred the first shoi
Aad hef.
arrival of Carrauza forces two wer
left behind dead.
Apprehensive of what might be hi
fate on the return of the Zapata force,
McManus induced the Brazilian minis
ter to seal his door with the coat O
arms OF the United States and hoiste
an American flag over his home.
Apparently. tho minister reported
McManus was killed by a simulta neou
voIley. for the shots were fred at
short distance, and his hat was file
with bullet holes Previously tn
American had taken precautions I
send his wife and family to the hom
of friends. and no one. so far as
known. witnessed the shooting
Swede and Spaniards Killed.
During obregon's occupation of III
city q Swedish subject and four Spar
iards were killed. Before leayin
Mexico City, Obregon gave the Brazil
ian minister a certificate confrmin
the fact that tho Swede was killed h
his soldiers. The certificate was give
to AFFORD the family of the later
basis for a claim The Carranza COW
nander is understood to have expresse
his regret over the occurrence and pa
1000 pesos toward the funeral expense
OF the victim.
Evacuation by tho obregon troor