The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-03-16
WILSON THREAT OF SOLID
SHOT HALTS CARRANZA
First Chief Calls OFF ProgrcsO
EmbargO-Famine in
Mexico.

WAsHtNGroN, March lb.-As a result
OF representations mad by the United
states to Carranza> there will be no
blockade OF Progreso, Yucatan. by the
Constitutionalists. The expectation OF
sisal fibre from this port. which ls i'm
portant for American industries, already
has been resume
Carranza was warned through Consul
Silllman that any attempt to use force
TO prevent American vessels from enter
ing and leaving Frogreso In the course
OF legitimate would be met by
the guns of United states naval vessels.
Tho cruiser Des Moines has been at
progreso for some time ready to take
any action necessary TO secur the use OF
the port 10 shipping.
There was M occasion, however for
the Des Moines to take such action. as
tho Mexican gunboat I~aragosa. assigned
to blockade ProRreso. has returned to
Vera Cruz without having reached her
destination. Ii is said In the official re-
ports that she was forced TO put back
IN account OF a severe storm. but there
IL no doubt that the storm merely has
tened the inevitable event and at the
same time avertcd q clash between the
pes Moincs and ;hc Mexican gurt.oAt
The Mexican Funboat Ocanpo. ordered
To assist tho Zaragosa, revor has LETT
Vera cruz.
The United States Government. after
negotiations had failed. took ~" view
that inasmuch ne Proercso was IN the
hands Of insurgents. over whom Car
rama mad no control. he could not claim
TO exercise jurisdiction over progreso
and therefore that no order Of his de-
cliring the port closed need he respected
unless enforced.
with regard to Carrauzas declaration
OF a blockade tho United states held
that similarly the blockade might he ig-
nored unless u was effective. one gum
boat. the Progreso. which was ~ Pro-
ercso engaged In making the blockade
effective. was blown up by the rebels
After the destruction ~ this vessel the,
was no blockading force and las, week
vessels began 10 use the port as a result
OF the absence Of any power e. prevor;
them.
Before the Progress, was blown up she
had seized q small auxiliary craft be-
longing to 'he Ward Line and had
stopped another vessel by firing "A shot
across ner bows.
Carrarzl's hold on the district near
Tampico and Tuxpan "a weakening.
The Carranzisias have already given up
. t0fiT control OF t0N OIL ntllS III lNt
Tuypan district and advices received
here to-day state that In a recent en-
cagcme0t ~ Wales. state Of san Luis
P'tosi. the Carrarza forces were driven
back upon Ebano. only thlrty-fvc miles
from Tampico. They are strongly in
treuchius themselves AZ Fbauo. which
~ 4 large amp of one OF the American
oil companies and an oil storage centre
Food is scarce IN Tampico and there
- m uh.af AT al In thu FtFx Tn.
United states Consul az Tamp.co has
again urged the Department TO warn
Americans not to go TO Tampico seeking
About 1900 business men with their
families refuse to leave Tampico, on &C
count ~ the necessity OF looking after
the properties with which they arc con
recied.
A. Vera Cruz the situation is becom-
lng uncertain. Despite "A decree by Car
rama RENTING tho duties on lard,
sugar. grain. -four and beans, there are
10 inportations. because merchants fear
20 order IN tho United states or else
where on account o: the political and
monetary uncertainties, There IL urgen,
necessity that something be done ri
once. Many destitute persons are reach
INK Vera cruz from interior points
The state Department was without
advices from Mexico city to-day as 70
= the situation there.
Conditions nj Manzaniilo are bad and
tho cruiser Cleveland has gone there n
afford protection 10 Americans or other
foreigners. The Carranza forces are
supposed - hold this port, nut the s!,ua'
r ton Is beyond their control. A villa
Z force * moving on Manzanillo from The
east. Tho military authorities at Col'mf
% are also reported as confscating variou'
Z properties. The Carranza authort''e'
have confscatcd the 1our mill owned 10y
the Madero family.
r Ambassador Riano ~ Spain called a
the state Department to-day and N
formed Secretary Bryan that his Gov
e INNER had accepted the note o
. apology from C%drranza regarding IN
To- expulsion from Mexico Of the Span,s'
o Minister to that country. The SPANS
. Government will heed Carranza's sug
9 gest!on that some other person than IN
n former Minister he sent 10 Mexico a
/, its representative Whoever is sent {
Mexico will not he accredited 20 Car
:. rama. but Will maintain merely de fact
relations with the Constitutionalist m
!, his Government.