Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-06-29
MEXICAN OUTLAWS
HOLD 40 AMERICANS
FOR HEAVY RANSOM
State Department Demands
Immediate Release Of
Prisoners $1,000 Is Set
as Ransom for Men

WASHINGTON, June 27.-Mex-
lean bandits have seized the prop
erty Of the Cortez Oil company. an,
American concern, near Tampico.
and are holding under guard forty
American citizens and a quarter
Of a million dollars worth of the
property against a demand for the
payment of a ransom Of $4,000
pesos within forty-eight hours,
state department officials were in
formed today by Consul Shaw, at
Tampico.
The Aguade camp of the conn
pany was seized by the rebel gem
eral, Coronado, Shaw advised the
department. A force Of 24O heavily
armed men have been placed on
guard over the camps and the
forty Americans employed there by
the company. No Mexican troops
are in the vicinity and the lives OF
the Americans are. believed TO be
in danger.
Secretary of State Hughes has
Instructed Charge d'Affaires Sum
merlin, at Mexico City, to make
the most urgent. representation to
the Mexican government. The con-
sulate at Tampico likewise has
been ordered to take all possible
steps to procure the immediate re-
lease of the Americans and the
abandonment Of the camp.
The bandits ask for $4,000 pesos
(nominally $500, within 4S hours.
The Cortez incident follows the
capture by Mexican bandits OF A.
Bruce Bielaski at Cuernavaca, in
the state of Morelos. Ten thousand
pesos ransom was demanded for
him. Bielaski's employers >in New
York were reported to have sent
$4,000 to the bandits for his re-
lease.
This government is aroused by
the two incidents, it was made
plain at the state department. and
will insist that the Mexican gov
eminent take all steps necessary to
punish the bandits and guarantees
Americans against future raids.
The captures will be- discussed at
today cabinet meeting IT was In
Dictated. 9
The wholesale kidnapings undoubt-
eddy will have lettering effect
upon American recognition of the
Obregon government, negotiations
toward which recently have been
progressing slowly but satisfactor-
lily.
No further steps, aside from the
dispatch of the notes, are expected
from the state department until q
reply is received either from the
Mexican government or Summerlin
and Shaw H..
The state department will follow
presidents in the Cortez and Bieliski
cases, it was stated. Usually the
private concerns or individuals af-
fected pay the ransom demands, and
then the state department makes
representations to the Mexican gov
eminent for the return of the
money.
Officials here expressed alarm for
ttAS oHt1NIS VI IIlC pIloOllSIo DIS Tile 40.
hours ultimatum expired Tuesday,
according to their calculations.
Congress Criticised
The Cortez raid created a stir in
congress, where the prompt action
of the state department in demand
ing release Of the Americans was
commended,
If the Mexicans do not promptly
free their prisoners, resolutions de-
handing that this government take
steps to force them to probably will
be introduced Members of the sem
ate foreign relations committee, on
being informed on the raid, asked
official information from Secretary
Hughes.
The occurrence, coming on the
heels Of the kidnapping of Bielaski,
probably will cause q Mexican de-
bate, and a re,opening of the old
controversy in congress concerning
the proper policy, to be pursued to-
wards Mexico
RELEASE OF BIELASKI
is EXPECTED SOON
MEXICO CITY June 27-.Ry
the Associated Press. - Manuel
Barcena, Mexican lawyer who was
kidnapped together with A. Bruce
Bielaski, near Cuernavaca on Sun
day, has been released, and news
is momentarily expected of his
freedom. Latest advices from Cuer-
navaca said he was safe and that
negotiations with the bandits were
under way.
Mr.. BielasA1i, former chief OF
the American department of JUS
tice investigation bureau, and Sem
or Barcena. were seized while mo-
toring with their wives. The ram
som is being paid on the order of
Richmond, lowering and company.
New York, of which Mr.. Bielaski
is the head.
Travellers returning from Cuer-
navaca said an unsuccessful at
tempt was made to obtain Mr..
Bielaski's freedom by the payment
of $1,000 in cash, camouflaged to
represent ten times that amount.
BANDITS ARE HOLDING
LANDS OF OIL COMPANY
PHILADELPHIA, June. 27.-Ad-
vices received here today state Mex-
lean bandits invaded an outlying
area under operation by the CorteS
Oh company, Of this city, and are
occupying the ground. No damage
o. casualties were reported The
area contains several thousand acres,
under development by the Cortez
cCE.pany.
The work there has been confined
to prospecting for we'll sites. Much
valuable drilling machinery and
is on the ground, which
could be destroyed. it was stated.
about f""tv Americans are en-
ployed there under camp Superin-
tendent Shelley. Lists of the Ameri-
can employees are not available here.
The CorteZ company maintains