Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-11

Washington, March 1o.-Secretary Bryan announced tonight that the food l situation in Mexico City was still very | serious and that the forces of Gen | eral Obregon appeared not to have | evacuated the city yet, though this | was expected at any moment. He said that no definite information had I reached the state department as to the l reply which General CarranZa is pre- pairing to the American note demand | ing an improvement in conditions for foreigners. American Note Had Good Effect. Sir Cecil Spring Rice, the British | ambassador. brought to the depart ment a copy of a telegram received | from Thomas Hohler, charge d'affaires of the British legation in Mexico City, | declaring that the American note, a copy of which had been presented to General Obregon simultaneously with | it's delivery to General Carranza, had | produced a good effect on the situa- l tion. The charge pointed out, how ever, the necessity at all times of keeping line of railway and tele- graphic communication open between Mexico City and Vera Cruz
 No More Warships Sent. No more warships were ordered to | Mexican waters today and mono will be sent pending further developments l in the situation. The United States already has made representations on the subject of keeping railway com munication open from Mexico City to Vera Cruz.
 | MT Bryan stated tonight that Charles A. Douglass, Washington ad visor to the Carranza government, now at Vera Cruz, was cooperating with American Consul Silliman in an l attempt to solve the transportation I ,lr,y- reports showed that the trains from i Mexico City were being used for mil | itary purposes or being held for that | object. AS yet no requests had come, he added, from Americans in Mexico | City for transportation facilities, but | the department is doing what it can | to make the necessary arrangements for trains to carry away those which desire to heed the warning from the | Washington government for American citizens to leave Mexico City.
 Situation Seems Improved.
 In a general way, the situation seemed to some officials to have inn proved. There was an incraSing con- fidence that Carranza would give the required assurances for the protection of foreigners and that the United
 States would not be compelled to take any further steps.
 Fear of Famine Exists.
 The fear of famine still exists and the Mexican Red Cross has appealed again to the American Red Cross for assistance. Relief projects are held up pending the outcome of the state departments representation on behalf of an international committee com
 posed of wealthy residents in Mexico City, who raised a fund to take
 charge of the situation.
 carranza Claims Exaeseration.
 The Carranza agency issued another statement today saying reports of the
 conditions in Mexico City were eXag-
 gerated and predicting that General Carranza's reply would prove that
 most of these reports were baseless. At the state department the official
 reports continued to show the cond1- tion of affairs as threatening, although
 officials thought General Carranza would instruct General Obregon to ar range for the policing of Mexico City
 in the event of evacuation. The Za- pata forces are expected to take pos
 session imm lately after Obregon's s
 men withdraw.
 Little Military Activity.
 Reports from other. parts of Mex military activity today. Secretary Bryan announced that an agreement
 was about to be reached whereby the
 exportation of sisal hemp from Pro- STeSO "OulQ De assured. The lOllOW-
 ing information was given out at the state department concerning the evac-
 uation of Piedras Negras:
 Piedras Nesras Evacuated by Car , ranza Garrison.
 "Piedras Negras was evacuated on
 March by the Carranza garrison.
 Only a small guard was left to police
 the town until the forces of Villa ar
 rive, which are expected on the 10th. , l. is reported that they have been delayed by the heavy rains and the cold weather. The commanding off,
 cer of the United States troops at Eagle Pass has permitted the Mexican
 wounded to cross to the American |. side The commander of the Carranza forces at Piedras Negras has given full assurances to the American con , sul that no property will be destroyed
 and that order will be maintained un- til the entry of the Villa troGps.'' l The Washington agency of General . | Villa gave out the following:
 Sacked Piedras Negras. 'Piedras Negras was sacked by the Carranzistas before they evacuated the city yesterday, according to a mes
 sage received this afternoon from the
 convention consul at Eagle Pass. Se- , rious disorders followed. Governor r Acuna is refugee in Eagle Pass. The international bridge has been closed The Carranzistas have retreated east ward"
 At the war department Secretary
 Garrison made public a message from Colonel Hodges at Eagle Pass stating that sixty-one patients from the mill . itary hospital in PiedraS Negras, five . men nurses, five women nurses, one 3 surgeon and eleven attendants had ] been permitted to cross to the Amer
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