THE MEXICAN TROUBLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11251, 1 July 1922, Page 6

THE MEXICAN TROUBLE

CAPTURES BY BANDITS EIGHTY-FIVE PRISONERS TAKEN AT OIL CAMP. FIELD FOR RANSOM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association WASHINGTON, Juno 29. The American Consul at Tampico has informed the State Department that Mexican bandits have captured the Pecero oil camip, and are holding eigh-ty-five prisoners, including eight Americans, for ransom. Tile forty Americans previously seized have been released, but whether ransoms were paid is not known. The State Department is forwarding pressing demands on the Mexican Government to check the banditry and safeguard American residents. The State Department is advised that Bruce Beilaeki, former chief of the United States Secret Service, has been released by the Mexican bandits, fiifo and well, after payment of £IOOO as a ransom. *

A POLITICAL MOVE

ACCORDING TO HEAR.ST PAPERS. NEW YORK, June 29. The Hoarst papers assert that the Mexican kidnappings have all been purposely arranged by certain oil operators for the purpose of defeating tho movement to secure recognition of Mexico by the United States. President Obregon has declared that all the incidents Were designed toy permit Mexico’s enemies to create enmity between Mexico City and Washington. A THRILLING ESCAPE HOW BIELASKI GAINED HIS FREEDOM. (Received June 30, 11.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 29. Reports from Mexico state that Bielaski escaped by his own efforts. While his captore were asleep, he, barefooted, and half-naked, made his way from the cave where the bandits half-starved him. He then leaped from a cliff, swam the river, and took refuge in a Mexican engineer’s home. Bielaski was badly scratched and bitten by insects.