The Washington herald., 1917-02-17
OFFICIALS FEAR
BRITISH ACTION
AGAINST MEXICO
Suspect German Plot tc, En-
broil U. S. Through Mon
roe Doctrine Issue.
WILL FORESTALL MOVE
Washington Plans to Guard English
Interests. to Prevent Foreign
Military Invasion.

Grave concern over the continued in
timations that Carranza proposes to
establish some sort of an embargo
against the export Of Mexican products
was apparent in official circles here last
night. While officials of the State. War
and Navy Departments declined to dis
cuss the question, it was understood that
plans had been made to forstall any
move in Mexico which might embroiI
the United States with European nations
through the Monroe Doctrine. 1t is be-
heved that the actual use of naval de-
tachments and marines will be ordered
If necessary, to protect foreign interests
I'm Mexico. -
Apparently authentic reports from
Mexico stated that the Carranza govern
ment proposes to impose an /embarg,
which would prohibit the export of
petroleum from tine Tampico and Tux
pam districts. The direct result of this
would be the cutting off of the British
naval supply of fuel oil now secured
from Mexico. \ large part of the British
supply comes from the big Proteco well
in the Tuxpdm district which produces
i15,OOO barrels of crude oil day.
Must Reckon with Britain.
II became known here last nigit that
Great Britain is determined to ke ep the
Protero Oil supply available, and that
she will protect the well, which is Brit
ish property, by force IL necessary. 1t
was stated on authority last night, how
ever, that the United States will demand
strict compliance with the Monroe doc
trine in this connection, and that If any
armed force is necessary to control af-
fairs in Mexico, American troops will be
available. The Navy Department in ac-
cordance with the strict censorship on
all vessel movements, declined to say
what American ships were in the neigh
borhood Of the Mexican oil coast. 1t was
believed however. that several cruisers
are in the vicinity.
ganda activity in Mexico reached Wash
ington last night from confidential
sources.
Three Men Murdered.
Andrew Peterson, Hugh Accord and Bert
Jenson, the three American cowboys
whose bodies were found yesterday in
Mexican territory, about half a mile
south of the international boundary, were
apparently deliberately murdered. accord
ing to the judgment of the commanding
officer of the United States troops at
Hachita, N. Mex, who reported today to
the War Department. Lem Spillsbury,
the Mormon scout who discovered the
remains, said that all three of the cow
boys had been shot through the brain.
The bodies were recovered and last night
were to be brought into Hachita.
The War Department is convinced that
the activities Of the renegades in the
country to the south of Hachita are being
conducted by Gen. Jose Salazar a free
bOoter and general trOuble-maker who
at one time was affiliated with the Car
rama army and who for the last few
months has been actively engaged in
banditry throughout the northern end
Of Chihuahua and Sonora.
1t is also believed by the army men
cOrverssnt with conditions below the
border that Salazar is only waiting a
chance to raid United States territory in
CONTINUED on PAGE TWO.