Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-04-10
Government Will Send Money
to Mexico to Pay for the
SisaI Hemp Crop.
ARSON AND MURDER STORIES
Refugees Arriving at New Orleans Tell
of PitiIess Campaign Against
Civilian Population.

Washington, March 24.-An Ameri-
can warship will take to Yucatan
money to finance the movement of
Mexico's sisa1 hemp crop needed to
make twine for binding the enormous
wheat crop of the farmers of the Unit
ed States this year. The money
s625.000 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, ILL.,, repre-
senting the sisal purchasers, who out
lined the difficulties that had been en-
countered. 1t is probable gunboat or
destroyer now in southern waters will
be sent to Galveston to transport the
money
There is said to be some 100000
bales of sisa1 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 departm ent. Arrival of the Amer
lean money is expected to result in
immediate further improvement.
Arson and Murder Stories.
New Orleans, March 24.-General
Alvarado, the Carranza commander,
who recently reoccupied the state of
Yucatan, is directing a pitiless cam
paign of reprisals against inhabitants
and property holders, according to
refugees who arrived here tonight
from Progresso-
Jalachc, a town of $500 population,
is said to have been burned by Alavar-
ADDS troops. At Merida, capital of
the state, the plant of La Industrial
Compania was said to have been burn
ed 1t was owned by American and
British capitalists. 1t was declared
that 10000 bales of sisal hemp were
burned at Merida.
General Mendoza, the Yucatan state
military commander, has fed to the
United States with twenty of his men,
The others were said to have been
killed in battle or executed afterward.
Mexicans Destroying SisaI.
Washington, March 23.-Secretary
Bryan and Sir Cecil Spring-Rice, the
British ambassador, conferred today
over new danger menacing the Yuc-
atan sisal hemp supply, from which
must come the Irvine to bind this
years crop OF wheat in the United
States and Canada. Kansas and the
Middle Western wheat growing states
will be hardest hit Earlier both the
secretary and the ambassador had re-
ceived a committee of Yucatan citi-
zsns, who said that Carranza officials
at the port of Progresso were burning
stores of sisal and threatening grow
ers and shippers with heavy taxation
and penalties because of their refusal
to accept a Carranza governor.
San Antonio, Tex, March 23.-Gov-
ernor Ferguson today acquiesced in
authority from Washington for Gen
eral Ricaut, companding the Carranza
troops at Nuevo Laredo, to bring his
wounded to Laredo, Tex, in case of
attack by Villa soldiers. Permission
was originally granted to bring the
wounded Mexicans to Laredo and then
transport them to Matamoros, Mexico.
Conditions at Matamoros, however,
will not permit of this arrangement,
and the wounded will be given refuge
in Texas.
Villa Holds Keys.
Washin gton, March 22.-Two hun
dred miles as the crow flies separates
the two main bodies of CarranZa
troops in eastern Mexico. General
Francisco Villa, with. an army larger
than either body, but smaller than
their combined strength, holds the
railroad by which they must unite, if
they can, according to information re-
ceived here.
General A1varo Oregon, who re-
Gently evacuated Mexico City and
dropped out of sight, has reappeared
at San Luis Potosi, ESQ miles further
north. with $4,000 men Carranza
agents here admit that he wants to
take the railroad to Tampico, the oil
exporting seaport, almost due east, to
join General Pablo Gonzales, who
holds the place with $4,000 men