Imperial Valley press., 1922-06-27
40 AMERICANS
HELD FOR
RANSOM
Payment of $4,000 Pesos
Demanded in 48
Hours
GOVERNMENT ACTIVE
Secretary Hughes 1nstructs
COnSulS to Put Screws
On ObregOn

WASHINGTON, June 27.-Mexican
bandits have seized the property Of the
Cortez Oil Co., an American concern
near Tampico, and are holding under
guard 40 American citizens and quar-
ter of million dollars worth of proper
ty against a demand for the payment
of ransom of $4,000 pesos within 48
hours, state department officials were
informed today by Consul Shaw at
Tampico.
The Aguade camp of the Cortez Oil
Co. was seized by the rebel general,
Gorozade, Shaw advised the depart
ment. A force of 240 heavily arr.ed
men have been placed on guard over
the camps and the Americans employ.
ed there by the company. No Mexi-
can troops are in the vicinity and the
lives of the Americans are believed to
be in danger.
The company has appealed to Amer
lean authorities for protection.
Hughes Orders Urgent Efforts
Secretary of State Hughes has in.
structed Charge d'Affaires Summerlin
at Mexico City to make the most ur-
government.
been ordered to take all possible steps
to procure immediate release Of the
Americans and abandonment Of the
camp. ~
Immediately after receiving news Of
the second capture of Americans with.
in four days, Hughes despatched ident-
ical notes to George Summerlin, Amer.
lean charge at Mexico City, and Shaw,
directing them to make demands on the
Mexican government for the instant
release of the Americans and punish.
ment of the perpetrators Of the out.
rage.
This government is aroused by the
two incidents, it was made plain at
the state department, and will insist
that the Mexicon government take all
steps necessary to punish the bandits
and guarantee Americans against fur.
ther reactions.
Navy Ready for Business
Both the war and navy departments
are watching the situation, Keeping in
touch with the state department.
Fully week ago the war depart.
ment learned that rigid censorship
had been made effective by the Mex.
lean government. The delay in Shaw IS
message is indicative that the censor.
ship is still in effect.
The wholesale kidnapings undoubted.
ly will have deterring effect upon
American recognition of the Obregon
government, negotiations toward which
have recently been progressing slowly
but satisfactorily. The bandit raids in
dicates that the Obregon government is
not giving sufficient protection in the
valuable Tampico oil district.
The navy's special service squadron
in Caribbean waters is not great dis.
tance away and it is understood that
other naval vessels are near Tampico.
The Galveston, of the special naval
squadron in the Caribbean, is at Guam.
tanamo, Cuba. The Birmingham, the
Tacoma and the Cleveland are in tho
Panama canal zone.
Pay Ransom for Bielaski
NEW YORK, June 27.-Officials Of
the Richmond, lowering & Co., oil op.
orators, today awaited word from a.
Bruce Bielaski, president Of the com
pany, who was kidnapped and held for
ransom in Mexico.
The company yesterday ordered the
Mexican banking firm Of Lacaud & Co.
to hand over to the bandits the 10000
pesos ($3,34c) demanded by Bielaski g
captors.
Bielaski, former chief of the bureau
of investigation, department Of Justice,
was captured Sunday 90 miles from
Mexico City. Manuel Barconia, Mexi.
can attorney, who was with him, was
also taken.