Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-09
MEXICANS SEEK
WAR SUPPLIES

Here is another angle on the cele.
brated Japanese mystery freighter
Kotohira Maru. which left Honolulu
at 6:15 Wednesday morning for Yoke.
hama. after bunkering here. She ar
rived Monday morning direct from
ManzanillO, Mexico, where she unload.
ed either ammunition or munition-
making machinery brought from ia
pen for the CarranZa government.
The following news story, Associat,
ed Press correspondence from Toxic,
says the Kotohira will carry from ia
pan to Mexico not only ammunition
for rifles, but field artillery and ma
chinery for agricultural and industrial
purposes The kotohira is now re-
turning in ballast to Japan, having
turned down offers of 1900 tons of
cargo made her by Honolulu shippers.
The Associated Press story is as fol.
lows:
TOXIC, Japan.-Considerah inter
est has been caused in Japan by the
arrival and activities Of three Next
cans. who represent the government
Of Gen. Carrarza, and who are said
to he making extensive purchases in
behalf OF their country. According to
the information at Toxic the prospec-
tive purchases include munitions of
REORGANIZATION. rifles and artillery
and a steamship, in addition to ma
chinery for agricultural and indus
trial purposes.
The Mexican agents, who are in
charge of Col. Carpio, are reported to
have succeeded in their quest for
rifles and even for steamship. 1t
had been understood that they were
negotiating for the freight steamer
Kotohira Maru, a vessel of some 5000
tens, and the announcement that this
steamer cleared from Yokohama on
January ,, with its declared destina-
ton as Salina Cruz, Mexico, was ac-
Cepting in some quarters as proof that
the negotiations were successful. The
manifest gave the cargo as general
merchandise and machinery, but the
report was current in Toxic that the
vessel had on board number of rifles,
estimated at $4,000, consigned to the
Carranza government. This report
could not be confirmed here.
In response to inquiries by The AS
ISOLATED Press the Mexican legation
at Toxic denied that the Kotohira
Maru carried any rifles. The legation
admitted that the steamer had sailed
for Mexico but said that her cargo
was confined to general merchandise
end machinery. consigned to a com.
pany in Mexico. The legation added
that Mexico had been seeking rifles
but had been unsuccessful, as all the
available weapons had been purchased
by the Entente Allies. The legation
confirmed the departure of the Koto-
hira Maru, saying il was under charter
to a japanese firm.
1t is believed here that the Mexican
government recently opened a credit
in Japan of Sl.000.000 for the trans
action OF general business. During the
presidency of Gen. Huerta the gov
eminent of Mexico opened negotia.
lions with Japanese firms for the pur-
chase of rifles and ammunition, de-
posting some 100000 yen for that
purpose in the country. fAbout $4,000
rifles. modelled after the Spanish in
faptry weapon, were actually deliver.
ed to the Huerta government, but be-
fore other consignments were pos
sible the European war broke out.
This interfered with the delivery of
further orders to Mexico. Some co.
600 rifles originally intended for that
country were sold to Russia and
France and the weapons that went to
Russia are now being used by the
Russian troops on duty in Northern