The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-01
Mystery of Their Moves May
Have Bearing ON News.
CHARTERED JAPANESE VESSEL
Carried Big Cargo Marked "Ma-
chinery" to Carranza.
Believed That Efforts Were
Made to "SOund" Japan.


the disclosures of Germany's attempt
to align Mexico and Japan with Ger
many in an alliance against America,
a United Press story published Feb
ruary "a, takes on a new significance
today. 1t was written by the Toxic
correspondent January IL and sent by
mail. The story told of the "mys-
FERROUS movements in Japan Of three
CarranZistas.
| In view of today's disclosures, it ap-
pears probable these three MeXicans
may have been agents of the Car.
| rama government seeking t. sound"
Japan on the alliance proposition.
Altho the United States story is dated
January IL, seven days before the
German foreign secretary dispatched
q formal note to the German minister
in Mexico City committing Germanys
scheme to writing in a diplomatic
document, it is safe to assume Ger
many made some preliminary sound
ings'' of Mexico before such a note
was dispatched.
The Toxic story, as printed Feb
ruary "a, was as follows:
Watched Them in Toxic.
Toxic. Feb. 12.-(By maiD-An in
terrational affair circling around
three Mexicans and their mysterious
movements to buy ammunition ana
arms, has just finished its first act in
matte circles here is directed toward
conjecture as to Just what the Mexi-
cans were at in their mission for the
Carranza government
The Mexicans efforts met with sue
cess. But their activities have been
so intent as to arouse the daily watch
fulness on the part of officials con-
nected with both the American ana
British embassies here, the latter
fearing that attempts were being made
to aid the Germans.
While future developments are ex-
pected to heighten the sensational
character of the CarranZa mission, it
is now known rs a certainty tnat the
Mexicans assisted by two japanese,
Dutch adventurer and Welshman,
discharged from the British army for
conduct unbecoming an officer, sue
ceeded in chartering the Kotohira
Maru, a Japanese vessel. of 400
tons. After loading cargo. this boat
left Yokohama during the night OF
January 4 and proceeded to Muroran,
where it coaled and sailed direct for
Salina Cruz. Mexico.
Carried Gun Experts.
According to the manifest, the ship
ments consisted of 403 tons, but 1t is
known that this steamer of over 1000
tons did not sail direct for Salina Cruz
with a cargo of only four hundred
tons, listed as machinery. 1t is also
known that the Kotohira Maru car
ried 81 Japanese gun experts.
1t is believed the MeXicanS. handi-
capped IN their operations by the
alertness of the japanese government
were offered only inferior material,
of old pattern and lacking in uni
formity, SO the trio finally resolved
to add toNtheir small arms purchase
a quantity of machinery for the manu-
facture of guns and ammunition.
T. Had New York Credits!
The three Mexicans were J. NJ Car
pic, r. Vargas and CUTTER Astrega.
They arrived in Yokohama Novem-
Der %. They are all Carranza men.
Carpio was chief of staff under Cen
eral Obregon, Carranza's war minis
ter. The Mexicans had money-all
kinds of it. They had credits issued
by New York banks totalling more
than 100000 gold. This money is
generally known to have been depos-
tied in the Chartered Bank. the First
Bank of Japan and the Mitsui Bank.
In addition to these credits, there is a
large sum of money deposited in a
powerful bank here, the remnant of
a sum placed here by General Huerta
when that bandit was supreme across
the Rio Grande.
During their stay here the Mexicans
were frequently seen in company with
two smooth looking, well dressed Fill
pinos, but while the movements of
these F'ilipinos are being constantly
watched, as yet their connection with
the Mexicans has not been established.
The two Japanese aiding the MeXi-
cans We're 7. Sudzuki. former princi-
pal of the Toxic marine college and
NJ Nakashima. who has been active in
Mexican interests for years. Naka-
shina sailed for Mexico on the Koto-
hira Maru. He lived in Mexico for
nearly ten years.
The Mexicans made frequent calls
at the Mexican legation and were
often seen in company with Colonel
Romero. Carranza's minister here.
The latter claims, however, that his
countrymen only came to Japan in
quest of new trade markets for Mex
lean products.