New-York tribune., 1920-01-09
Crime Wave Against All
Americans Is Predicted
Unless a Heavy Hand
Is Laid on Carranza
Three Murdered
Within Two Days
Bandits Give Oil Men
Protection Denied by
Troops of Government
BY Wilbur Forrest

tcsprisht, 1890. Neu York Tribune Inc)
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Jan. s.
Continued slaughter of American
citizens in Mexico and an epidemic
Of abductions for ransom must be
mpected from now on unless the
United States government comes
down with a heavy hand on the Car
rama administration immediately.
Three more Americans slaugh-
tered in the Tampico-Tuxpam oil
fields, as reported by the State De-
partment, during the last two days
may come as a surprise to the peo-
pie Of the United States, but it is no
surprise to those Americans who are
forced by their investments or bust
ness interests to remain in these
regions.
HOld.Ups Are Common
have just returned from pro-
Mcted stay in Mexico, a consider
abe portion of which l spent at
Tanpico and in the contiguous terri
tory. I have talked to oil field work
e,s principally and to men who carry
oil company pay rolls from Tampico
to the American oil field camps,
many of which are located generally
southward toward Tuxpam, and gen.
orally westward in the vicinity Of
the Panuco and Tamisi rivers.
Hold-ups are common. The lootinr
Of camps is frequent. Invariably the
Aexicans who perpetrate robberies,
looting or killing, are SO dressed that
i Is impossible to tell whether they
belong to the federal or rebel forces.
Invariably they easily escape without
leaving trace, so that even if the
federal authorities desired to punish
them it would be impossible.
The federal troops In the oil fields
hve the utmost contempt for Ameri-
cans, the more so because the Ameri-
cans are prohibited from carrying arms
70 protect themselves. II an American
% caught armed. with the exception Of
the few who are granted special Ii
senses, he is arrested and his weapons
eenAscated.
Vafranzista officers and soldiers may
MI Americans with impunity and in
~
'oe majority of cases escape even ar
ssst because Of the lack of disposition
ca the part Of the federal leaders to
punish such crimes. There is no dis
posit'on on the part of the Carranza
vvernment in Mexico City to take
sef'eusiy the purely verbal demands Of
sus oAte Department that murderers
caught and forced to pay the uni
"fsaiiy prescribed penalty.
Time for Notes Past
verbal demands have ceased to have
seR enect on the Mexican govern
W. and the time is coming when the
nsen administration must exercise
0se tnan apparently empty words in
~ oemands on Mexico that American
49, and property shall have proper
tusfansees. Law, in its strictest sense.
e more than ever true in the Tamau-
'pss ana Vera Cruz oil fields.
=, Hsk any American worker in these
~ - he'os whether he feels safer under
~ protection Of the Mexican federal
my Or the rebel forces Of PaIaez and
- -, invariably and with emphasis will
- you that be has a guaranty from
~ fsoeis which he has learned to rely
- only in few cases have Ameri-
,s1s come to harm in rebel territory
rsaa 5 pa practically every case the rebel
a'sfs ~ responsible have been caught
1a executed.
Il. .scehtiy Palaez general killed with
~. '~h nand number Of his soldiers
~ r. NAG robbed an American camp.
M aas most valuable oil properties in
:. q O., american capital is invested lie
X. .aissz's territory south Of Tampico.
M. .. companies pay Palaez large
w. 70 protect this territory The
.on carriers and others working
sasse fields are forced TO pass
ssysgh Carranzista Iineg before en-
xa,sls me rebel zone. At least half a
tsir .n o' these men with whom have
re-. ''d me that all their worries
III. ~ an end and that they we're
~ 70 breathe signs Of relief when
.'nnd thcmseives across this line.
~ me IL not marked by station
2a'rosts ss military lines we're
cn in the European war. It.
ssaSss dsy by day within certain
c. mere passerby may find either
~ Hssnzsstas or rebels, according 10
~. Movernents. H. IL Usually Within
~, seubtfui zene that murders and
s,zlSs occur, giving the assassjns
immunity from Identification.
Amsrieans Are Marked
s4f4 ssiesns carrying pay rolls usually
- sp'at the sarae risks that dough,
C>ntinued mn po0e Gye