Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-05-04
CAP PTURE SLAYERS. |
/ AMERICA DEMANDS
carranza Called Upon to
Avenge Murder of I. F.
Greenlaw and Son.
U. S. CITIZENS IN FLIGHT.
Quit Mazatlan for San Pedro as
Warships Steam to
Save Them.
tBy Universal service.1-


WASHINGTON, May 3.-The
chaotic and dangerous situation in,
Mexico, which demanded confer.
ence CT State and Navy Department
officials yesterday. was empha sized
today by the dispatch OF additional
warships-most OF them 1estroyers-
TO TampIco and Vera Cruz.
Repeated reports that Carranza
has been cut Off in Mexico City with
out means OF escape added to the
anxiety OF government officials. 1t
is understood that it the Carranzistas
should after all concentrate at tho
state capital and give battle to the
ring OF rcvolutionists gathering for
such fight the situation with re-
spect to the large number of Ameri-
can citizens in Mexico City would be
prccarious.
Doublc Murder by bandits.
On top OF the hurry call from Tam
p.co and Vera Cruz, tho news CANA
to the State Department that two
American citizens, Then Francis
Greenlaw and his minor SON. were
murdered by Mexican bandits yester-
day at\Pallazados. lo5 miles from the
capital. Tho State, Department for
warded an emphatic demand to the
carranSa government that the mus-s
derers be caught and puntsheds
4reenlaw Is said to be Californian.
and was working for a British lur,-
ber firm ut Eloro.
The activity OF the State and Navy
lDepartments became vlgoyois ,prin.;
eipally because of the news from tho
l,Tampieo region Not-.far from tbas
city are the Oil 'iieids Q owned by ythal
Netherlands and Great Britain.
Franco Is financially interested very,
largely in Vera Cruz. whore mart oc
the customs dues arc hypothecated
to the. French government. :
1t is noteworthy that the vessels.
ordered to the rescue today ere bound.
for Tampico and Vera Cruz. This
sovernmsnt is bound to protect the
American and foreign interests there
or permit foreign warships-Rritish.
and French--to do so.
The situation now presented ar
| Tampico occurred on smaller sonia
Just before the war, when, notwIth-
standing the presence of American,
warshps, the British government
sen. to TaWpico squadron and the,
Netherlands stationed one of ia b,t-
tleships there. ~
Cnrrnnza's Grave Flight.
The plight OF the Carranza govern
ment at the Mexican capital excitez
sravest concern today. The dis
patches Indicated that tho railway,
limo from Vera Cruz has been cut and.
that the rebels arc in possession of
all the routes to the north. II is not,
known yet who holds the lines on tba
Tchuantepec Railway to saiina Cruz
which with Vera Cruz are now tina
only remaining avenues for the 're.
treat OF the Carranza officials. =
The isolation of Mexico CITY. of-
hcials said, would be manifestly tho
sravest possible condition that could;
arise with respect to tho lives and
property of American citizens. The
first thing the United States would
DC called upon to do. In the opinion
OF officials. would be to see that com.
munication between Vera Cruz and
Mexico City be kept open. This ex.
plains the official announcement that
the purpose OF sending the re-en-S
forcement OF warships Is that they
shall be utilized as an asylum for
American citizens in case of acute
danger. This applies to Vera Cruz
Tampico. Mazatlan, Guaymas, Topolo-
bampo. Salina Cruz, Mexico City and
FTontera. The call for assistance
from Frontera. in the State OF ra.
basco. was among the first that
caused tho governmental send a war,
ship to a Mexican city during this
revolution.
U. s.. wnrnhips at Many Ports.
Officials here insist that there Is no
present intention OF Intervening.
technically speaking. but the facts
arc TINT the United States has made
preparations. most of which have
been officially announced, to have
naval forces at every port OF con-
sequence in Mexico. The stationinE
OF ships at any port held by the rebels
insures commercial dealing between.
American merchants and that port I
until II has been reconquered by Carr
ransa. Tho rule OF the War De.
partment as to- frontier customs ports
will be followed by tho Navy and
State departments.
1t was pointed out today. With
reference to the sudden change from
inactivity OF the various departments
for the past weak, that George IT,
charge d'araires and a :
competent military commander had
arrived at his post when the whole
attitude of this government was re.fT
rersed. It Is believed now that. the
State and Navy conference yesterday
was called at his susscstion. II ists
,tcontinued on Second pace) s.
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