Norwich bulletin., 1922-06-29
lleiCans Still Held By Mexican Rebels
State Department Officials Do Not Give Any Indica- tion of Uneasiness Over the Situation.

Washington, June 28-What may nave, happened to forty American en- ployes of the Cortez Oil company, cap- tured by rebels near Tampico and held With the company's property for ran- som, remained mystery tonight, al- though the rebel raid occurred Sunday morning. No further word has come from Consul Shaw at Tampico or from any other official or unofficial source since the consular despatch of Monday. saying that lives of the forty Americans and $250,0o0 in destr1Lttble property were held as security on forty-eight hours notice for payment of 15,6O0 pesos.
 State department officials would not admit in any formal way that they felt any uneasiness because of the lack of information. It was indicated that de- lay in complete clearing up of the situation was not regarded as unusual. There is known to be considerable per plexity here, however. over the fact that Consul Shaw has not informed .he the Mexican federal authorities to obtain release of the captive Americans.
 The period granted by Gorozave( the rebel chief. for payment of the ransom had elapsed even before the department s advices were made known here Direc- tions to the embassy in Mexico City and to the consul to insist on adequate pro- lection for American rights went forward at once. So far as known late today no further word had come from any quarter to disclose what developed on Tuesday morning when the time limit 1 expired.
 The Washington government today still withheld any step that might lead ha fa 1c f1a4 | governmen protect he Americans in jeo- | pardy. The attitude at the state de- partment was the reports now available serious as the situation appeared to be on the face of Consul Shaw's message | did not justify as yet despatch of war. ships 10 Mexican waters or any similar l step, Nothing has yet come to hand in dicating that the Obregon government is i not dealing with the Gorozave coup 1T
 9 way to safeguard American lives anC property.
 l There is one point in which the mes l sage of Consul Shaw does not check III | with what was previously understood il 1 official circles here to be the situation
 in the Tampico region The consuli
 message said there were no Mexican i federal forces in the vicinity of thu l Aguarda camp of the Cortez Oil com
 pany where the raid and capture tool
 place. Other reports indicate that ther,
 are at least 2,50O Mexican federal troop
 in the Tampico region
 Until recently there were approxi
 mate1y 15,e0os Mexican federals in tn 1 Tampico district The troop concentra 1 ton there was one of the largest in th' l Mexican army, indicating the fmportanc kattaehed to maintaining firm hold of tn oil regions by the Mexico City authori ties. and also presumably. the con Edition of unrest in that region. Labo and other disturbances to the south O 1 Tampico short time ago resulted i the movement of considerable bodies 0 1 troops to other points, The result wa
 a heavy reduction of the available force | near Tampico and it was this condition
 was pointed, out here today, which prob
 ably gave Gorozaye his opportunity.