The Washington herald., 1915-03-16
BIockarc Ignored by L. :.

ny
The United States government. after ne
gotiati"ns had failed. took the view that
inasmuch as PrOgresO was in the hands
of insurgents over whom Carranza had
NJ control. he could not claim to exercise
Jurisdiction over Progreso and that.
therefore. no order OF his declaring the
port closed need lie respected unless en-
forced. With regard To Carranza's decla-
ration OF a blockade. the United States
held that the blockade might be ignored
unless IL were effective. One Gunboat.
the ProSresO. which was at Progreso. en-
gagged in making the blockade effective
was blown up. After the destruction Of
this vessel. there was no blOckading
force. and last week vessels began to
Use the port merely as a result of the alb
s"nce OF any power to prevent them.
Consequently. Washington held that the
blockade was not effective and need not
be recognized. The subsequent represen-
tations threatening to use naval vessels
are certain. ii is believed here. to have
the effect of dissuading CarranZa from
again attempting blockade
Before the Prosreso was blown up. she
had seized a small auxiliary craft belong
Ing to the Ward Line, and had stopped
another vessel by firing a shot across her
bow
The insursent faction at PrOgreSo is
understood to be greatly pleased at the
turn events have taken. There is an eX-
port tax on sisal and the stoppage OF
expectation of this product deprived them
Of practically their only source of revr-
nue..
CarranZa's hold on the oil district near
Tampico and Tuxpam is weakening. &C
cording TO advices reaching the State
Department yesterday, while conditions
in that region are most deplorable.
Villa troops are pursuing the Carran-
zistas along the line toward Ebano. while
the Villa agency here announced last
night that Villa is personally leading an
attack on TampiCo from Monterey The
Nillistas state that their chief has made
all his plans for the attack on Tampico
and that It will go forward rapidly to a
successful conclusion.
Spain Accept. Apology.
Ambassador Rinno. of Spain. called at
the State Department yesterday and In
formed Secretary Bryan that his govern
ment had accepted the note of apology
from Carranza regarding the expulsion
from Mexico Of the Spanish Minister to
that country. The Spanish government
Will heed CarranZa's suggestion that
some other person than the former min
lister be sent to Mexico as its representa-
tive. Whoever is sent to Mexico will not
De accredited 10 CarranZa. but will main
tain merely de facto relations with the
constitutionalist and his government.
villa Takes Command.
Monterey. Mexico. March "a via FL
Paso, March l5)-Gen. Francisco villa
left here today for San Luis Potosi to
take personal command of the campaign
against Tampico. Before leaving he de-
clared he was satisfied with conditions in
Northern Mexico and that he had no
fears OF Carranza's troops getting north
of Tampico. That big military move
ment Is under way is indicated by the
fact that all the railway rolling stock
has been pressed into service for the
transportation of troops.
Aqua Prieta. March 15-On peremptory
orders from Venustiano Carranza. re-
ccived today. Gen. Gales has lifted the |
embargo on food supplies going into |
Sonora, which has been rigidly enforced !
by the Carranza commander for the pas.
sixty days. Two hundred and fifty
American residents of mining camps |
south of the border in the siege district |
were reduced To a potato ration on ac- |
count of the blockade, while 10000 Mexi- |
cans were starving as a result of the |
Carranza decree. Americans must, how |
ever. secure permission of the Villa /
forces. which control the Psilroad before |
beginning shipments of flour and other |
to the south through Aqua |
Prie.a