Arizona republican., 1922-06-29
FATE OF 40 RANSOM.
VICTIMS IN MEXICO
STILL UNDETERMINED
Washington Fears For The
Safety Of Americans
Seized BY Bandit Band
And Held Prisoners

WASHINGTON. June 2s.-what |
may have happened to 40 American /
employees of the Cortez Oil company |
captured by rebels near Tampico /
and held with the companys prop |
erty for ransom, remained a mystery /
tonight, although the rebel raid oc-
CURED last Sunday morning No
further word has come from Consul
Shaw at Tampico or from any other |
official or unofficial source since the |
consular dispatch of Monday saving
that the lives of the 40 Americans
and $3.50 900 in destructibIe property
We're held as security on AS hours
notice for a payment of $4,000 pesos.
Department officials would not ad-
NIT in any formal way that they
felt any uneasiness because of the
lack of information. 1t was indi-
Gated that delay in complete clear
ing up of the situation was not re-
garded as unusual
There is known to be considerable
perplexity here. however, over the
fact that Consul Shaw has not in
formed the state department as to
steps taken by the Mexican federal
authorities TO obtain release of cap
tive Americans.
The period granted by Gorozave.
| the rebel chief, for payment of the
| ransom, had elapsed even before the
departments advices were made
known here. Directions to the en-
bassy in Mexico City and to the
consul to insist on adequate protec-
| ton for American rights and senti-
ment and upon punishment of the
I ra idprx went forward n
known late today no further word
had come from any quarter to dis
| close what developed Tuesday morn
! ing when the time limit expired.
| The Washington government today
still withheld any step that might
lead the way to demands that the
| Mexican government give the Amer
leans in jeopardy protection. The
attitude at the state department was
the reports now available. serious as
the situa ton appeared to be on the
face of Consul Shaw's message. did
not justify as yet dispatch of war
ships to Mexican waters or any
similar step. Nothing has come to
hand indicating that the Obregon
government is not, as il is expected
to do in the circumstances. dealing
| with the Gorozave coup in way
to safeguard American lives and
property.
There is one point in which the
message of Consul Shaw does not
check up with what was previously
understood in official circles here to
be the situation in the Tampico re-
gion. The consul's message said
there We're no Mexican federal forces
in the vicinity of the Aguarda camp
of the Cortez Oil company where the
raid and capture took place. Other
| irdina fa thaf at
! least $500 Mexican federal troops in
the Tampico region,
Until recently there were approx
imately $4,000 Mexican federals In
the Tampico district. The troop
concentration there was one of the
largest in the Mexican army, indi-
eating the Importance attached to
maintaining firm hold on the oil re-
gions by the Mexico City author
tiles and also presumably, the con-
dition of unrest prevailing in thai
! region. Labor and other disturbances
TO the south of Tampico a short
time ago resulted in the movement
of several bodies of troops to Other
points.
The result was a heavy reduction
of the available forces near Tam
pico and it was this condition. i
, was pointed out here today, which
: probably gave Gorozave his oppor'
; tunity
In view of the serious conse
quences to the Mexican government
, which any injury to the captiv'
Americans would imply. however. j
was argued that the government
would feel it necessary to rush ii
forces back to the Tampico region
in sufficient strength to guarante,
protection of foreigners, should tha
course be pursued. 1t seemed NOR
likely to officials here, however, tha
the payment demanded by Gorozav'
; would be made and ultimately b.
assumed by the central government
: rather than that any untowar,
Q event should bring a rift in nego
: tiations with Washington for diplo
y matte recognition of the Obregol
: government
$ Release of A. Bruce Bielaski. he'll
9 for ransom by bandits near Cuer
!, navaca, cleared that situation
: Charge Summerlin reported Mr.. Bic
: laski's release late today, saying h
d was safe and well" and was ex
v pected to arrive in Mexico City to
: night. There has never been muc
doubt here that the former Amer
e lean government official should b
# set free and no apprehension tha
s relations between Mexico and tn
a United States would become straine
r. over the incident.
It There is no question, however
" that the Cortez Oil company Incl
q dent has far more serious possibili
k ties if full information sustains Con
i sui Shaws first message No officie
e comment was obtainable here no
j. any indication as to how long tn
Washington government might b
: willing to wait for negotiations be
" tween the Mexican officials and tn
e rebels to bring about release OF tn
lie captives.
n "Armored' aluminium, used in tn
le manner of reinforced concrete, i
y now obtained by embedding in tn
: aluminium mass thin steel portion
i1l, rtr flN