The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-12-10
United States and England
to Stop Mexican Treach-
cry in the Oil Region
REASON TO SUSPECT
PLOT BY THE GERMANS
Csrranza Has Sent 10000 Men to Ov-
erpower Garrison Of Only 4,000-Ap-
proach to the Sea Is Guarded by the
Unied States Navy.

WASHINGTON, Dee. l0.-Immedi-
ate and effective steps have been deeid-
ed upon by Great Britain and the
United States to protect the vitality i'm
portant oil supplies in Tampico, Next
co. Law and order will be guaran
teed by American marines. The joint
British. American move has been pre-
cipitated by the verified reports that
First Chief Carranza has sent Gen.
Francisco Murguia and Gen. Diegues,
each with q force estimated at 5000
men. to wrest control of the oil dis
tricts from Gen. Manuel Palaez, who is
in command there with a force Of APP
proximately 1000.
A clash between these two Carranza
generals and Gen. Palace might have
the most serious consequences for the
Cowdrav oil interests which supply
the British navy.
| There is some reason to believe that
German agents acting under instruc-
| tions from the German legation at
Mexico City have persuaded the Next
can government to move against Pa
! laez. These reports lack confirmation,
but the United States and Great Brit
ain are not going to take any chances
| of trouble in this region.
1t is understood that the measures
! being taken here are of a character
| that leaves no room for doubt that
they will be effective. Details cannot
! be published, but there will be no fight
ing on Mexican soil III the vicinity of
the interests of Lord Cowdray or the
| Mexican Petroleum company.
Manuel Palace, who claims control
in this region, is himself an owner OF
1 oil wells and has constituted himself 2
4 protector of the interests between Tam
pico and Tuxpan. He is being support
ed by the owners of the properties hC
protects. He has no intention of lead
ing his force outside Of this district
and he is said to be making no effor
TO Illustrate Carranza S plans to collec
taxes from oil exported via Tampico
But he will not permit any force t
enter the zone he has prescribed q
necessary to insure the protection o
the oil properties.
Carranza has sent Gen. Nafarrete I,
TamIieo TO take charge of customs re
ccipts and administer the law as it af
z fects oil exports, &c. Nafarrete is lie
: ported to have an administrative fore
with him and he has had no troubl
with Palace. 1t develops now that tn
j British and other interests have conf
? dencc in Palace and are willing to n
= sist him in the maintenance of a fore
I sufficiently strong TO protect their proI
critics. The approach to this distrie
+ between 1ampico and TuXpam froi
4 the interior of Mexico is through
p, thickct controlled only by a few pas
II e.. II is by mastery of these passC
! tA3t Palace claims to be able to kcc
out any invaders.
The trouble now seems to be due :
o tn" German legation at Mexico Cit,
f" which has inspired the idea that Z;
Q laez is defying Carranza : control an
should be eliminated. 1t il said III;
g Won Eckhaydt, the German minister ;
: Mexico City, persuaded Carranza
y send Gems. Murguia aud Diegu,
; against Palace. Won Echhardt is +
. ported to be seeking to make capit
out Of the fact that the British owne
pay Palace to protect their propcrt
He SAYS that the amounts paid in
single year total $3J0,000 and By tn
u means seeks to persuade Carranza tn;
legitimate revenue is being divertC
from the Mexican government
>. The approach to Tampico and Tu
y pam from TIE sea is known TO be co
trolled by the United States navy
!. is equally important that the approa,
- from the interior be not left to chan
- 1t is believed that there will not
= any trouble with Carranza over {
10 British American protective plan T
- fact that immediate action has chara
terized the American attitude is in
20. self regarded as proof against frictio
ad