Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-03-15
.MEX|CANS MUST
RAISE bL ge';,,aOE
Wilson D< ..ds That Port
of Progreso Must Be
Kept Open.
MEXICAN GUNBOAT
STOPS U. S. SHIP
Announcement 10 Made That carranxj
Raises Blockade and Orders Zarasssa
to Vera Cruz Before Receiving ovdse
-WiIson's Reply to carrsnxa Friends
iy But Firm nd Leaves No Doubt @
to Administrator Attitude.

Washington, March l5.-The United
States served notice on General Care
rama that the port Of Progreso, thru
which practically all the sissl used IN
making harvesting twine Cor this couns
try is obtained. must be kept open, and
is prepared to back up its demand with
the cruiser Des Moines, now at that
port.
Tnis was followed by the announces
ment that General Carranza has ahans
doned his blockade of the port %
Progreso The Mexican gunboat Zara@
gosa has been called of and tvd
American ships laden with sisal for the
United States were cleared SATURDAY.
without interference
Rear Admiral Caperton. commandjnn
the American fleet IN Mexican waters.
reported the raising Of the blockade
today in his dispatches
The admirals dispatches, telling %
the relief of the situation. crossed =
new note from the United States which,,
was send to Carranza this morninei
giving notice that the United StaAaa
was determined to raise .hs blockaAaa
American Ship Stopped.
It became known .or the nrpt tirnn
today that last week the Mexican guns
boat had stopped one American G0lu
by firing across her bow. and held 90
another. and had interfered with Brit-
ing shipping. The seriousness Of the
situation was pointed out by SecrstarI
Houston. who advised the president
that 100000 pounds Of twine are used
each year in the United States In bind
ing grain. flax and corn crops ana that.
nine-tenths of the supply IL made from
sisal grown in Yucatan and exported
thru Progreso.
kilograms from manufactures ana
farmers In the grain growing statea
pouring into the White House and the
state department pointed out that uns
less the sisal could DE secured the hare
vesting this season would be embars
rassed.
Yucatan Food Supply Affected.
Since Feb. 25. the state department
has protested against the closing oG
the port of Progreso. The people Oe
Yucatan. it was said, obtain all their
food supplies from outside sources, and
| were anxious that the embargo bo
| raised.
State department advises also res
portde that Progreso was opened for the
present at least altho they assigned q
| severe storm as the reason for tho re-
turn to Vera Cruz Of the gunboat
| Zaragosa.
Naval officials declare there Is little
probability Of the renewal Of the effort
to close the port.
Reply "Friendly" But Firm.
| President Wilson's reply to General
Carranza's note of March s. which was
| in response to the demand OF tho
| United States for better treatment for
Americans in Mexico, In part follows: ::
II beg that you will understand that
| IL our messages occasionally arc
| couched in terms Of otrong emphasis
| 1t is only because they contain such
matters which touch tho very safety Of
Mexico itself and the whole process
| Of its future history. We seek always
to act as friends of the Mexican people.
and as their friends II Is our duty to
speak very plainly about the grava
danger which threatens them from
without. whatever happens within their
borders, which is calculated to arouse
the hostile sentiment OF the whole
world.
Must Respect Foreign Rights.
| Nothing will stir that sentiment
more hotly or create more danger than
any (even temporary disregard for
lives, and the safety or the rights OF
the citizens Of other countries resident
| in your country. or any contempt for
the right and safety to those who reps
resent religion.
"Any attempt to explain these things
will not eradicate this sentiment or
lessen the danger arising from them.
| THE right to warn You Is ono OF
friendship and we can not be too earn
est. To speak less earnest would bo to
conceal from you a terrible risk which
M lover Of Mexico would care. 70 rum"