Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-06-30
MEXICAN PEOPLE
|NDESPERATE NEED
Red Cross Forwarding Food
Supplies to the Famine
Stricken Districts.

Coincidentally with the notification to
the American Red Cross headquarters
here that the largest shipment Of food
supplies yet made had arrived at Vera
Cruz, consisting of seventeen carloads
OF flour. corn and beans. came an APP
peal from the Monclova district for
continued shipments of corn, beans,
salt and sugar, which are desperately
needed"
The food train that is being made up
at Vera Cruz is to be started inland to-
day to relieve the famine at Pachuca.
in the state of Hidalgo, where more
than 10000 persons have been reported
to be on the verge of starvation.
Red Cross headquarters has been in
formed that Consul General Arnold
Shanklin and Charles ]. O'Connor. Pa
cific coast director of the American
Red Cross, who are endeavoring to
make their way to Mexico City to take
charge of the relief work and to ar
range for the safe conduct of foreign
residents who may wish to leave, have
been given transportation by Gen. Car
rama as far as the headquarters Of
Cen Gonzales, few miles south of
Mexico City.
Famine Spreads in Mexico.
Food famine in Mexico is spreading
|
sections Durango, which repeatedly has
been reported in the best condition of any
state in northern Mexico as regards its
food supply, is facing a desperate stu
alton caused by the expectation Of large
quantities Of corn and beans.
While it is persistently claimed that
there is yet a large store of food hidden
In Durango, the authorities have been
ooHn Nv-l
ing to reliable reports to the American
Red Cross headquarters here, the local
relief association formed at Durango re-
Gently to conserve the corn supply for the
benefit of the destitute n-combatants
has abandoned it's efforts in this direction
on account Of the failure Of both the
civil and military authorities to lend any
aid"
Says Governor Is Powerless.
The report says:
1.-THE governor is powerless to do any,
thing Beans and corn have been ship
ped out of this city within the past two
weeks Outside buyers are paying $12
per hectoliter Cone hectoliter equals 2s5
bushels), whereas the association formed
to help the destitute is compelled to sell
at Sc to So per hectoliter.
when this section Is cleaned out there
will be no longer any section from which
supplies can be had for this city.
Therefore my earlier estimates that
the city of Durango might last until
August 1 must be materially cut down
for the reasons stated, and it would not
be surprising If within ten days a serious
shortage will be felt here in this CITY.
How far and to what extent any quantity
that may be hidden or stored within the
city will last cannot be estimated.
THE government and many others still
seem to hold to the belief that there is a
great deal Of corn within the state al
though no one is able to point out its
location or give any figures. So when the
day of shortage comes it will come unex-
pectedly and without warning"
Torreon Situation.
As to the Torreon situation, the Red
Cross report says:
well informed persons look for food
riots again in this city shortly. Upon the
exhaustion OF the Durango supply the
writer is unable to figure from where else
a supply can be obtained for the Lasuna
city"
Reports to the Red Cross saw f,,t,,
that the Guanacevi mining district has
already encountered hunger, and this sec
ton was believed to be in a fairly good
condition.
Topia, the northwestern part of the
state, and all the mountainous regions of
that part are known to be very short of
food.
San Pedro, east Of Torreon, and in the
heart of the cotton district. is reported
to be in state bordering on famine for
want of corn. and that there were riots
there.