The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1915-04-03

Mexican Mob Dragged Starry
Banner When They Shot
McManus at Capital.
BRAZILIAN MINISTER REPORTS
Other Foreign Flags Violated by
RabbIe ecentIy-carranza Con-
tradicts ConsuIs.

Washington, March 26.-How the
American flag, which was flying over
the home of John B. McManus, a citi-
zen of the United States in Mexico
City, was torn and dragged half way
down the pole" by Zapata soldiers
when they murdered McManus and
looted his house two weeks ago. is told
in dispatches from the Brazilian min
lister, made public today by Secretary
Bryan.
This incident was reported at the
time the death of McManus was being
investigated, but there had been no
announcement of it until today Sec
rotary Bryan said reparation for the
insult to the flag had been asked from
the Zapata authorities, but that so far
no reply had come. In answer to in
quiries he said there had been no de-
mand for a salute to the flag, as in
the Tampico affair.
In this connection it became known
today that several foreign flags had
been violated recently at Manzanillo,
the house of a ranchman When the
AAiclIICA Wdo CdllCu " Tie dlICuLlOn VI
General Carranza, he denied the truth
of the reports of American and Brit
ish consuls.
Rear Admiral Caperton, command
ing the American fleet in Mexican wa
tiers, today ordered the battleship
Georgia from Vera Cruz to Progresso.
The Georgia will join the cruiser Des
Moines, now at Progresso guarding
foreign interests and seeing to it that
the port is open to commerce. Their
presence is expected to aid in the
maintenance of quiet in Yucatan,
where the sisa1 hemp growers are try
ing to get out their crop needed by
American Irvine manufacturers
To Pay No Debts.
FL Paso, Tex, March 25.-A three
months moratorium suspending the
payment of all notes, mortgages and
other evidence of Indebtedness, has
been declared throughout the territory
of the Villa government. The decree,
which was signed by General Villa in
Monterey on March 10, was made
public today in Chihuahua by Fran
cisco Escuadro, minister of finance.
OLOSI inc ICIlnS u IlA6 uSCI6Ss
banks are permitted to take legal
steps for the protection of their loans
by bringing proceedings for the at
tachment of property of debtors, but
no sale Of property under court order
may be had until after the expiration
of the three months stipulated in the
decree. All sales already ordered I'M
der court decree are postponed fer
three months.
The Bank of chihuahua, the official
bank of the Northern government, is
exempted from the operations of the
decree
In promulgating the moratorium,
General Villa takes occasion to justify
the action as a measure of social de-
tense and for the protection of bust
ness interests of the country. The
general points to the fact that sim
liar action has been taken in France,
Argentina and other countries where
conditions are no worse than in Mex
leo today
Warships Will Help.
Washington, March 24-An Ameri-
can wapship will take to Yucatan
money to finance the movement of
Mexico's sisaI hemp crop needed to
make Irvine foo binding the enormous
wheat crop of the farmers of the Unit
ed So tes this year. The money
S625,00O in currency which manufac-
turers propose to advance to the hemp
grOwers-is in bank vaults at Calves
ton, Tex, but until today no safe
means of getting it to Mexico had been
found
Secretary Daniels agreed to permit
the use of a warship for the purpose
after hearing a statement by Edward
c. Heidrich, Jr., of Peoria, H., repre-
senting the sisaI purchasers, who out
lined the difficulties that had been en-
countered. 1t is probable a gunboat or
destroyer now in southern waters will
be sent to Galveston to transport the
money.
There is said to be some $50, 600
bales of sisaI ready for shipment at
Progresso, the port, and Merida, the
railway center of Yucatan Since the
United States government prevented
Carranza from blockading Progresso,
the chief obstacles in the way Of NOV
ing this supply have been scarcity Of
labor and shipping facilities. "A num-
Der of ships are now awaiting cargoes,
however, and the labor situation is
improving, according to reports to the
state department