Omaha daily bee., 1915-03-08
FOREIGN WOMEN IN
MEXICO INSULTED
Stripped in Streets of Mexico City
in Daylight, According to
Refugee Stories.
STARVING COMMIT SUICIDE
RIII.I.ETIN.

oned in Mexico City and all the in
situations with which nuns are con-
nected have been closed, according to
statement given out here tonight
by Archbishop Jose Mora y Del Rio,
head OF the Catholic church in
Mexico. In addition. 1876 priests Of
foreign birth have been driven from
Mexico.
ST. LOUIS. March 7.-"Half the
population are out Of work, many
persons are dying OF hunger and
many others are committing suicide
rather than face starvation" declared
a letter written in Mexico City Feb
ruary "a and received here today.
The letter was written by woman
who, until recently, was secretary to
the president of an American con-
Germ in Mexico City.
Everything suffering.
II continued:
Everybody here is suffering. The
whole city IL unsanitary. as we have
streets have not been cleaned for months.
No foodstuffs are being brought into the
city. II seems that they are trying to
starve us out and they surely are sue
ceeding.
IL have eaten no bread for days and can
not get flour TO make e. Even tortillas
and cornmeal cannot be had. No one
seems to know what to do. Most Of the
hpr hat "a NJ nd xuba n han
pens as they have no money"
Priests ExiIed.
NEW YORK. March 6-The story Of
how twenty-five priests were driven from
Mexico by General Carranza because OF
their inability to raise $4,000 as a tax
to be paid to the Mexican government.
was told today by members Of group Of
seven of the priests. who reached here on
the steamer Montevideo.
The priests were In rags. They said
they we're the last OF the twenty-five
and that among those exlled were Ger
man, French. Italian and Spanish priests
and one Turk.
The twenty-five priests. they said, and
others numbering 80 altogether, were
summoned by General Obregon TO the
national palace in Mexico City and or
priests pleaded that they could not raise
this money they we're told that they
would have to do so or leave the coun-
try.
Money Not Raised.
The money was not raised and the
priests said they were locked In the pail
ace all night. They slept on the stone
floor The next morning diplomatic rep
resentatlves of their several governments
demanded their release. The demand was
acceded to on condition that the priests
leave the country.
A special train was pulled into the
Buena Vista station. the priests said, and
on this the foreign priests were ordered
By the time the train reached Vera
Cruz only eleven OF the party of twenty
two were left, several having gotten off
at way stations. Four of the eleven
failed to appear on shipboard. although
passage had been engaged for them and
the others were assigned places in the
steerage.
Passengers arriving here on the last
train out OF Mexico City last Saturday,
told OF an attack by bandits on q sub
urb OF the capital. fifteen minutes by
trolley from tho center OF the city. on
L women
among the foreigners were stripped of
their clothing in the street during the
daylight attack. The attackers described
themselves as zapata followers.
Reports Encouraging.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-lEncouraglng
advices Indicating that General CarranEa
might heed representations of the United
States and direct General obregon TO
permit food and supplies to reach Mexico
City. were received late today by the
State department,
Will the situation was still described
as grave. the intimation was given that
Carranza was beginning to yield 10 the
diplomatic pressue being exerted at Vera
Cruz for an amelioration OF conditions
In Mexico City. where famine has been
threatened.
Another disturbing element In the gem
eral situation reported to the State de-
partment was the outbreak of an cpl
demic of smallpox at Tampico Twenty
nine cases are now In the hospital.
Within the last three days eight deaths
have occurred. Consular dispatches say
II is not known how many more cases
have not been officially reported. with
the expected attack on Tampico, by the
villa forces. and the arrival of thou
sands OF CarranEa endorsements con-
ditions in the seaport are becoming al
most as uncomfortable for the foreign
colony as in Mexico City.
Pressure on ObreEOn.
In the Mexican capital foreign diplomats
are exerting every influence possible to
persuade General obregon to accept the
proffered aid OF a relief committee which
raised $4,000 pesos to buy food and sup
plies for the needy. obregon thus far has
refused them transportation facilities to
bring freight from towns in the vicinity.
During the day some OF the foreign
diplomats here received messages from
their representatives in Mexico City indi-
eating that the diplomatic corps was di-
slrous of leaving. One message said the
diplomats had decided TO leave In a body
and asked that arrangements be made for
the care Of diplomatic interests by con-
sulsr offices remaining. A somewhat
similar message was received by the
Swedish minister here from his govern
ment at Stockholm. Late today he called
on Secretary Bryan 20 ask what the
United states would advise In case OF
foreign diplomats desiring TO leave. He
informed the secretary that his govern