Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-04-24
TWO J, S, WAhSH|pS ARE EN ROUTE T0
 MEXICAN WATERS
Protect American Citizens and Interests at MaZatlan and
 Topobobamp0
i SONORA ARMY IS
 MOVING ON MAZATLAN
Other Mexican Reports Indicate That Revolt is Gaining in Strenyth and SeriousnesS--Protec
 tiOn is Requested

Washington, April 23.-Two war shlps from the Pacific fleet were en- route tonight to Mexican waters to protect American citizens and inter ests at Mazatlan and Topolobampo. They were dispatched from San Diego today on orders from the navy de- partment after a request for protec- tlon had come from state department representatives at those two Mexican Pacific ports.
 A similar request came from the government agent at Frontiers on the gull coast but was not acted upon pending further investigation of the situation there. The cruiser Sacra- mento is at Tampico only short dis tance away.
 The exact situation at Maaztlan and Topolobampo was not known here. There had been no report of disturbances at either place and lat est advices said federal force of $50 men and two cannon had arrived at Mazatlan.
 Sonora state forces, in rebellion against the Carranza government are known to be pushing on towards Mazatlan, the most important Mexi- can gateway on the Pacific This force is now well south of Topolo- bampo, but whether detachment had been deployed to make an assault there was not clear.
 At the navy department it was said that the cruiser Salem and destroyer No. PIC, the ships ordered to Mexi- co, were under instructions to in vestigate the situation.
 There are extensive American in- terests at Mazatlan where the MeXi- Steamship company has it's terminal. Word has been re- ceived at the office of the company that both of the Mexican ports had been closed.
 George T.. Summerlin, American charge draffaires at Mexico City, who has been consulting with Secre- tary Colby at the state department, left tonight for Mexico City and it was understood that his departure had been hastened because of the situation in Mexico.
 In official circles today it was re- ported that General Arnuldo Gomez, former federal commander at Tux pam, Mexico, and General Manuel Palez, who for several years has been commander of rebel forces in the Mexican oil fields, had joined forces against the Carranza government. They were reported April 21-22 to be attacking the federal forces at Tux pam. It also was said in official circles that Colonel Gallegos, com mander of the federal forces in Linares, Nuevo, Leon, had rebelled with his entire garrison This town is on the Monterey -Tampico division of the national railroad and com mands an important section of the northern part of Mexico.
 Burn Fruit Barges.
 New York, April 23.-Bandits have been burning fruit barges and de- stroying property generally along the Usumacinta river and at Frontera, ,l gulf port of Mexico, where Ameri- cans have asked the United States to send warships, according to anl of the Tropical Fruit com oany. quoting advices recently re- ,eived from agents of the Mexican Fruit and Steamship company, sub- salary. Armed Mexican govern nent guards were reported to have been used to protect the companv's 'roperty at Frontera against the l
 Frontera is at the mouth of the Jsumacinta river, on the Gulf of Mexico, and has been used for num- per of years as a shipping point for bananas and dye woods.