OUTRAGES IN MEXICO.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 11028, 17 March 1914, Page 7

OUTRAGES IN MEXICO.

ASSAULTS AND MURDERS INVOLVING FOREIGN RESIDENTS. In view of tbo fooling that lias been aroused in England over tlio alleged murder of William Benton, a British subject, by the. leader of a section el tho Constitutionalist forces, the following article by the Mexican correspondent of tho London "Times" is of considerable interest:— At no tinio has the civil war been so widespread or so dangerous to foreigners as it is to-day. Already tho opportunities of employment have been reduced to such an extent that many a person has to choose between joining a band of " revel tosos " and starving. Onco he has joined he has no desire to go back to work. He earns more and has a more exciting life. Brigandage is still in the Mexican blood, and possesses an irresistible attraction for tho " enterprising" not only among peons but among the new artisan middle classes, more particularly so since the latter can pretend to themselves and others that they are fighting for the cause of democratic liberty. These democrats declare, .f they are asked, that they are " revoluciouarios "; in reality they aro bandits. They go around to every one of substance in the neighbourhood. They take whatever they can find in the way of money, clothes, provisions and liquor, especially liquor. If they are thwarted, they kill. FOREIGNERS NO LONGER IM-

MUNE. Tho outlook will he dark enough if they confine themselves to terrorising their own country people. But from, tho Eurbpoan point of view the situation is far worse. For a time foreign property was respected; the lives of foreigners were in littlo danger. Now the larger insurrecto bodies declare their intention of "taxing" foreign concerns.

For example, Lord Cowdray's Mexican Eagle Oil Company has had presented to it by rebels in the Tuxpam district a demand for £IO,OOO down and £2500 a month. The covert threat bphind this blackmail is the destruction of the wells. Small, irresponsible bands maltreat and plunder individuals. Many outrages are also perpetrated by peons who do not trouble to shelter under the rebel standard.. The prestige of the white people which kept them safe among a population always ready to revert to barbarism haa sadly declined. The arm of the law lias weakened, savage assaults, bare-faced robberies are committed, and go unpunished every week. .T. shall confine myself to attacks upon British subjects. I shall give instancies also of Americans robbed and killed, eo that I may quote with point the query put to mo by many I have met: " If this is the way the United States Government looks after its own subjects, how can wo expect it to protect us?" ATTACKS ON BRITISH SUBJECTS. At this moment the British consulate hero in Tampico is trying to find out what has become of four separate Englishmen, some of them with families, who are reported to have been either killed or carried off to be held at ransom by rebel bands.

Even in a State like Jalisco., where T was some ten days ago, and which is supposed to have been little disturbed, this sort of thing is liable to occur: An Englishman and his wife named Doring have a ranch only a' mile or so beyond the Guadalajara Street car terminus, quite near the city. Overnight at dinner timo dogs began to growl and immediately an attack was made by men armed with machetes. One "of the servants rushed off to a street car to summon help. A troop of horse galloped to the house. Fortunately the brave pair had managed, to drive their assailants off, but Mr Holfes, British Consul at Guadalajara, described the scene when he got there as a "shambles." Both Mr and Mrs Dering had been cut in many places. Eight deep wounds had to be sewn up.

In the neighbouring State of Michoacan a Canadian named Swayne had liis house attacked and burned over his head. He died in the flames, unless a shot had taken effect before. At Coohuyma an Englishman named Laughton and another man, von Thaden, were both shot dead. AMERICAN DONE TO DEATH.

At the Buenavista mine on Boris Gorow an American citizen -was the victim of an unusually horrible outrage, a body of rebels rode up and demanded arms. They were refused; they fired ; their, fire was- returned. A boy was killed and the rebels accused Gorow of killing him. Three men who were also at the mine, two called Budd and Bromley, the third, a Spaniard, managed to escape. The Spaniard rolled down a gully and hid in a cave; The other two got up a hill and thence saw Gorow done to death on a plateau below, after which the ruffians, tore the gold-filled teeth out of his mouth to sell for what they would fetch. Not far from the town of Aguas Calientes a peculiarly atrocious affray illustrated the dangerous spirit which is growing among the labourer class. A Scotchman named Walker, the owner of a quicksilver mine, did not receive, as usual, at the end of on© week the pay for his men. The rebels had interrupted the train service; the bank in Mexico City could not send the money. But the pelados would not hear reason. They attacked Mr and Mrs Walker with machetes. They were replied to with revolver shots. Both husband and wife fired, and fired with good aim. They killed between them seven of their assailants, but not, of course, without suffering badly themselves. WOMAN AND CHILDREN VICTIMS.

As Mrs Walker lay on the ground, almost exhausted by pain anil loss of blood, a man went toward the kitchen door, where her daughter of fifteen and two smaller children were. Silo called to him to turn back. When he refused she shot him through the head. He fell across the doorway, and she had to crawl over his body to get into the kitchen. Here she stood, and on the wall against which she leaned a print of her body was left. At this moment the chief of police arrived. His only idea was to shoot at Mrs Walker as she stood. Fortunately the bullet struck between her feet. When the family was taken into town the people of "Aguas Caientes cheered them for their pluck. Let me close this selection from hundreds of cases with one which an Englishman and an American were concerned together. Near a place called Micos, between Tampico and San Luis Potosi, an old man named M'Crccklin owns a ranch. He has worked, hard on* it' for many years. His horses and tattle and his plantations are a credit t° him. ~,-1 A few weeks ago a gang of rebels rode up to his house. They demanded £IOO. He said he had not so much money in his safe, and he showed them the inside of the safe to prove his word. All ho could offer them was between £6O and £7O. They said it was not enough.

WOULD HANG AN OLD MAN. A rope ws produced and a noose thrown round his neck. Old M Crocklin said to his manager, an Englishman named Clark (I have talked with them both). " Take witness, I die like a man." They were both marched out. to a tree. The other end of the rope was thrown over a branch and jerked so that the old man could only touch the ground with Mb toes. Then he made a last appeal.' "I am 6eventy-four," he said. "I can only live a few years longer. Let me

finish my life naturalbv" After some discussion it was agreed that ho should go free if he would agree to fetch £BOO from his bank' in Tampico. Accordingly, he and Clark came to Tampico, and here' the consuls advised them not to go back. W. H. Wilson, the able and energetic representative of Great Britain, positively forbade Clark to take his wife into the Micos district again. Clark himself insisted upon returning to look after his employer's cattle. He only just escaped the same body of thieves, who worked off their disappointment by wrecking the farm, robbing the peons and seizing their women. TELLS STOEY TO JOHN LIM>. Old Mr M'Crocklin told his story to Mr Lind a. few days ago and asked pathetically when he would be able to go back to his property. Mr Lind said: "Not to-day nor to-morrow 3 but in six months I hope the country will be quiet." Why Mr Lind should think that the civil war will last only six months longer is hard to understand. If it takes its course it may continue for years. The United States, having announced that they are not concerned for the lives or property of Americans, have left themselves no ground for interference. Even if they attempted to interfere alone, the State of Mexico would have to become very much worse (so bitterly are they hated) Before it began in course of years to grow better.

There is only one way to bring peifce to the country, with security for Mexicans and foreigners alike. ; That is for the European Powers to join the Tfnited States, and to offer the Government of Mexico a loan upon two conditions. The first would be that an international board should supervise Mexican finance, put an end to thieving and corruption, and thus stop, revolutions, which have for their aim always the control of the public purse. The second condition. would be that: Mexico should accept European instructors for her army, which would then be capable of keeping order. POINTS TO EXAMPLE IN CHINA.

European plus American intervention would be accepted by Mexico. Sho could not stand against the whole world. And if European plus American intervention was required in China to safeguard foreign life and property during the Boxer rising, it is equally required in Mexico now. In sheer devilish, cold-blooded, cruelty the Mexicans are capable of outdoing the Chinese. That is why Sir Lionel Garden, the British Minister in Mexico, told all our consuls to warn people living in lonely places that they had better lx? prepared to betake themselves into towns. That is why Mr Lind has urged Americans to send away their wives and children. This is an intolerable situation in a country supposed to be civilised. It cannot he cured by Mexicans. There is no man among th§m strong enough to impose his will. It certainly cannot be cured by elections