South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-06-19
SAYS MEXICO IS
O-GERMAN NEST
American Tells of Conditions
in Nation to South of
u. S.
International News Service :

International News Service:
LAREDO. Tex, June 10 A
prominent American who for the
past two years has been making his
home in Tampico, Mexico, passed
through Laredo a few days ago en-
route 20 his old home in California,
and while here was interviewed as
TO conditions in Mexico He gave
out the following information as 10
the work being done by German
propagandists in that country:
"A few weeks ago when the Ger
mans made their big drive and won
a slight victory over the allies the
news was cabled TO Tampico and
Immediately the Germans Of that
place began a big celebration. They
decorated the place with German
flags, held a big parade, in which
German flags were carried. and at
night there was "a big banquet,
when speeches were made in Ger
man. The Mexican authorities did
not attempt 10 interfere with the
Germans in any way, in fact many
MeXicans OF Importance rendered
NANill dSNlSLdllte. a DGGSOn WAO Nt1il
be considered a reliable authority
on conditions in Mexico told me that
from statistics gathered by him IL
was found that there are at least
10000 Germans scattered through
out Mexico. and all Of them are en-
gagged in spreading German prOpa-
ganda among the MeXicans. 80
German employees are on the pay
rolls of American or British con
Germs in Mexico now, all having
been discharged after the war
started, and these same men, in
vengeance for losing their positions,
are working hard to incite the
Mexicans against the United States
and the allies and in favor Of Ger
many. This is no idle talk, but
well known fact in Mexico"
Tells About Oil.
Asked about conditions in the
Tampico oil district the American
gentleman said:
The oil field situation is gradu
ally becoming more serious as time
passes on account Of the exorbitant
taxes demanded by the Mexican
government and the inability OF the
oil field operators TO get the neces-
sary accommodations for the trans
portation of the product of the
great oil fields. Many tank steam
ers were taken out OF service in the
Tampico oil trade shortly after the
United States became involved in
the war for use in coastwise trade
in the United States. At this time
all Of the big oil tanks. each OF
which holds from $4,000 10 $4,000
barrels Of oil, are full and can not
be emptied for lack Of steamers. II
this condition continues long some
oil producers will have 10 shut
down"
And the III. c. OF L.
Referring to the American peo-
pie complaining OF high prices Of
living as a result OF the war, the
gentleman from Mexico smiled. pro-
duced a list Of prices asked in Mex
leo for the necessities of living and
said: Read that list" Here are
the prices quoted, payable in Amer
lean gold coin: Carnation milk.
one-pound can, 60 cents; COWS milk
(slightly queous), per quart, so
cents: eggs. each, - cents; ham
and bacon, per pound. $3.50; -four.
per 100 pounds, SOS TO s32; fresh
beef. per pound. 70 cents 20 81;
brown sugar ono white or granu-
lated. three TO four pounds for
81: potatoes, per pound, u cents;
onions. per pound. 10 cents; butter,
per pound. $1.75 10 So.
And then the American gentle
man smiled and said: ct got a
lunch in Monterey consisting OF two
eggs. a cup of coffee. bread and but
ter and two tomatoes, and it cost me
only $3.50"