Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-06-29
40 CITIZENS Of
u. s. IN MEXICO
ARE SEIZED BY
\ 4 BANDIT FORCE
Are Held With the Cortez
Oil Company's Property
for Ransom, Washington
IS Informed,
FATE OF CAPTURED
MEN Is A MYSTERY
Payment of $1,000 Pesos
III Is Demanded by Rebels
M Officials Won't Admit
They Feel Uneasy

W (By The Associated IfessJ -.
Washington, June 70. ma
may have happened to forty Amer
can employees of the Cortez Oli
company, captured by rebels neai
Tampico and held with the COM
pany's property for ransom re-
manned mystery tonlght', az
though the rebel raid occurred last
Sunday morning. No further worn
has come from Consul Shaw az
Tampico or from any other Official
or unofficial source since the con
sular despatch of Monday saylnS
that the lives of the forty Ameri-
cans and s250,000 in destrucuolc
property were held as security Oh
forty-eight hours notice for pay
s1nent of $4,000 pesos. Department
officials would not admit in any
formal way that they felt any un
easiness because of the lack OF
Ninformation. It was indicated thd:
delay in q complete clearing up OF
the situation was not regarded as
unusual.
aThere is known to be considerable
perplexity here, however, over the
fact that Consul Shaw has not IN
formed the state department as 20
steps taken by the Mexican federal
authorities to obtain release of cap
tive Americans.
Period Has Elapsed.
The period granted by Gorozave,
Il the rebel chief, for payment of the
ransom, had elapsed even before
the departments advices were
made known here. Directions to
the embassy in Mexico City and TO
the consul to insist on adequate
protection for American rights and
sentiment and upon punishment of
the raiders went forward. SO far
a. known late today no further
word had come from any quarter
Ia disclose what developed Tuesday
morning when the time limit ex-
pired.
The Washington government to-
day still withheld any step thai
y might lead the way to DEMANDS
That the Mexican government give
the Americans in jeopardy protec-
tion The attitude at the state de-
, partment was the reports now
available serious as the situation
ppeared to be on the face of Con-
asul Shaw's message, did not JUSTIFY
as vet dispatching Of warships TO
Mexican waters or any similar step.
Nothing has come to hand indicat-
f.r that the Obregon government Is
r1f,t. as 1t Is expected to do IN inc
circumstances, dealing with the
Gorozaye coup in the way to safe
guard American lives and prop
efty.
Consui's Message.
There is one point in which the
MASSAGE of Consul Shaw does not
chick up with what was previously
Understood in official circles here
Ia, be- the situation in the Tampico
reRion. The consufs message said
there were no Mexican federal
forces in the vicinity of the Aguar-
da camp Of the Cortez Oil company
wf1ere the raid and capture tooR
place. other reports indicate tina.
there are. at least $500 Mexican
federal troops in the Tampico re-
gio1,
Until recently there were approx
tnafely 5000 Mexican federals in
the Tampico district. The trooP
n6ncentration was one of the larg-
est in the Mexican army, indicating
6t the Importance attached to main
tanning firm hold on the oil regions
by the Mexico City authorities and
also presumably the condition of
unrest prevailing in that section
Labor and other disturbances to
the south of Tampico a short time
ago resulted in the movement OF
considerable bodies of troops to
ot6er points.
III Tampico Forces Reduced.
he result was heavy reduction
UfzEhe available forces near Tam
Did and it was this condition, it
WI pointed out here today. which
4 prS badly gave Gorozave his oppor-
tul4ty.
ii view of the serious conse-
4at16nces to the Mexican government
Nlfch any injury to the captive
Americans would imply. however,
III was argued that the government
would feel it necessary to rush It's
Forces back to the Tampico region
tn sufficient strength to guarantee
protection OF foreigners, should
that course be pursued. 1t seemed
more likely to officials here, how
ever, that the payment demanded
BY Gorozave would be made and
ultimately be assumed by the CEN
y tral government rather than that
any untoward event should bring
rift in negotiations with Wash
/ of the Obregon government.
Bielaslsi Is Released.
NReiease Of A. Bruce Bielaski,
..a&ld for ransom by bandits near
guernavaca, cleared that situation.