. LET THE Advertising in this newspaper help you when you need goods or service. A safe and pleasant guide. VOL. XCVHI-NO. 67 WIIiMESTGTON, C, MONDAY MOKOTG, MAY 29, 1916 WHOIiE NUMBER 39,596 Local thunder Showers Monday. Tues- ; - 1 Ci BULGARIAN ARMY OF ABOUT 25,000 MEN IS IN GREEK TERRITORY Invaders Have Reached Demir Hissar, Headed for the Aegean Seaport of Kavalla. FOUR FORTS ARE OCCUPIED Greeks Evacuate Rupel, Dragotin, Spatovo and Kanevo With out Resistance. SERBS LAND AT SALONIKI Only Artillery Bombardments in the Region of Verdun. The Bulgarian invasion " of Greek Macedonia has reached to Demir-Hissar and from that town forces of Bulgars are said to be making their way southeastward, toward the Aegean seaport of Ka valla. northeast of Saloniki. Unofficial estimates place the number of the invaders at 25,000. Along the Struma river the Greeks have evacuted the forts of Rupel, Dragotin, Spatovo and Kanevo to the Bulgars, without offering re sistance. . Coincidental with the Bulgar ian invasion comes a report that the rejuvenated Serbian army the ancient enemy of the Bulgars has landed at Saloniki to rein force the British and French troops already there. This force has been variously estimated, at from 80.000 to lOO.uOp,' officers and men. It -was reorganized on the island of Corfu. - o Infantry Attacks. . Only artillery bombardments have been in progress on the French front around Verdun. No infantry attacks have been made. Around Lemort Homme, northwest of Verdun, and in the sector west of the Thiaumont farm, northeast of the fortress, the bombard ments have been violent. In the Ar gonne forest the French have captured craters caused by the explosion of Ger man mines, and in Alsace have put down an attempt of the Germans to ad vance. In the fighting Saturday night the Germans in the Champagne region at several points penetrated the French line and took 100 prisoners. Petrograd reports an attempt of the Germans in the Lake Drisviaty region to start an offensive. The movement was stopped by concentrated artillery and rifle fire. The Austrians are still on the offens ive against the Italians in the region southeast of Trent, but Home reports hat wherever infantry attacks were started the Austrians met with repulse. On the Isonzo front at San Michele the Italians in mining operations de stroyed Austrian trenches and took the defenders of them under the rifle fire as they fled. Turkish contingents which tried to advance against the Russians on the Caucasus front in the region of Rivan-douza-Dergala, were repulsed by the Russians, according to Petrograd. SERBIAN ARMY, REJUVENATED, HAS BEEX LANDED AT SALONIKA Paris, May 28. After crossing the Aeeean Sea without loss the. Serbian army in full strength, now has been landed at Salonka, according to a dis patch received here today by wire less telegraphy. Serbia's new army has been various ly estimated to number between 80, 000 and 100,000 officers and men. It was reorganized on the Island of Cor iu. aproximately 700 miles, distant from Salonika. The Serbian army totaled about 300, '00 men at the outbreak of the war, 'Jt this force was greatly depleted by typhus and by the engagements iou?ht in an endeavor to check the --ustro-German and Gulgarian inva sion r,f Serbia and Montenegro. The femnant of the original armies saved "self by retreating through the Al oanin mountains to the Eastern shore 3f '! Adriatic. On reaching the seacoast the Ser bians were transported to Corfu, where tney were SUppiied wlth new rines clothing and efficiently equipped L , rther service on the Balkan bat tlefield. Al'STni- ATTEMPTS BREAK DOWN, ACCORDING TO ROME me. via London, May 28. The It- -n tb Lagarina valley the enemy uitiplied his effort, but, while in easin? his losses before our positions, 'inha was he able to break down the .'p resistance of our brave troops. Friday evening we repulsed a-vio-nt attack against our lines south of foiv f'ameras- Friday night and the , '0,vin? morning three additional at cks in the direction of Buele Pass of vWere rePulsed. On the remainder m, front as far as the Astlco, ar- y actions were in progress. Our - di niim.. 1 J f "'age - of enemy troops and columns ECE PROTESTS . AGAINST INVASION It is NotSelieved That Action of the Government Will be More Than a Protest. PRESS COMMENT VIOLENT Because the Bulgarians Were Permitted to Invade Greek Territory Prac , tically Unopposed Citizens to Hold Meeting Athens, via 'Paris, May 28. Greece's protest - against the military opera tions undertaken .by the Central Pow ers and by Bulgaria in Greek Mace donia was forwarded last night to the ministers - of Greece at Berlin, Vienna and Sofia. ' The Bulgarians entered Greek terri tory virtually unopposed and this has caused violent comment in the press and considerable agitation among the population. The Greek military, authorities here claim they were unable to communi cate with their troops in Eastern Mace donia. The belief is general here that it is the intention of the Greek gov ernment to confine its action to a pro test. GREEK CITIZENS TO PROTEST AGAINST INVASION OF GREECE Saloniki, via Paris, May 28. As an outgrowth of the popular indignation resulting p-om the violation of Greek territory a big meeting has been call ed here for tomorrow to protest against the action of the German and Bulga rian troops. The position of Rupel is an impor tant one. It dominates the defile lead ing to Demir-Hissar bridge which is the key to Seres and which also is reported to have been occupied. An adversary . thus controls the "railroad from Salonika to Kavalla." VENIZELOS COMMENTS ON INVASION BY THE BULGARS Athens, via London, May 28. "Who ever dreamed to see the Bulgarian flag supplant the Greek flag in Macedonia? Just for this we have maintained that mobilization at the cost of the economic ru? the country." a.j.. i ciMicius, me lurraer oremier. thus Writes in the Herald, the Venize list organ. Feeling runs high over the Bulgar ian invasion of Greece. The Herald ap peared today with a black border as a token of national mourning. SAYS WAR MUST BE FOUGHT, UNTIL GERMANY IS BEATEN London Times Discusses Wilson's Re ported Plan of Mediation. London, May 29. The Times today, discussing recent reports that President Wilson was preparing the way for American mediation in the war, declar ed that mediation of this character cannot be entertained because, as the editorial phrases it, a compromise be tween right and wrong is impossible and the war as a matter of principle must be fought until Germany -is beaten. - ' "President Wilson's electioneering speeches," says The Times, "are bring ing him on dangerous ground. We should be sorry to emulate the sug gestion of the Frankfurter Zeitung that President Wilson probably considers his political prospects will be helped by a conclusion of peace, but we think it right to state quite clearly that- the Allies are not and will not be disposed to allow American internal politics to intruder into their personal quarrel, be intruder into their personal quarrel They respectfully decline to admit that their righteous, honorable war can by any strained exercise of natural im partiality be assimilated into a German war of unprovoked aggression, mur der and outrage. They will listen to proposals of peace only when they .come from the beaten foe." MILITARY FIELD MASS Celebration in Memory of the Dead of the Army and Navy New .York, May 28. Thousands of persons were present today at military field mass celebrated at the New York navy yard in memory of the dead of the United' States army and navy. The cel hrant was the Rev. John B. Chidwick, chaplain of the battleship Maine when she -was blown up in Havana harbor. At the close of the mass father Chid wick delivered a brief address in which he declared that those "who die for their country .die for GOd." Those present included soldiers, sailors, ma rines and national guardsmen besides the army and navy veterans of the Spanish-American war. - - - Washington, May 28. Memorial Day wlll be observed here Tuesday, with elaborate exercises at rimgiori .,. tional cemetery, where are buried thou sands of dead soldiers. President Wil son will "deliver the principal address. In the evening the President will go to Baltimore for a theatrical perform ance given by the Friar's Club,-of New York. Oetroit, Mich., May 28 Henry jFord may return to Europe to renewals ef forts to bring about peace among the warring nations: This possibility was Sue fuic rtonight by Theodore De Lavigne, who ; is in close touch with w- Z-U . w said iMr. Ford may sail GRE .for Stockholm about June ; - : TO BE ENRAGED Hilles ves Opinion as to V" .ae Republican Platform Will Deal With. WILL ROOSEVELT GIVE IN? Or WlH He Become Outraged and Run on the Progressive Ticket Should the Republican Nominee Not Please Him! Chicago, May 28. Chairman Charles D. Hilles, of the Republican National Committee, today expressed the opinion that the platform adopted by the Na tional Convention next month would be along the most vital questions. From information obtained in talking with party leaders he believes the princi pal planks will include: A statment on preparedness for ad equate military and naval defense. A declaration in favor of a protect ive tariff to be prepared by a non-partisan tariff commission created by Con gress with special attention to the needs of the country's industries after the European war ends. A declaration in favor of a merchant marine. A statement dealing with the alleged shortcomings of the Democratic na tional. administration. Chairman Hilles said there was' a difference of opinion among the party leaders as to national woman suf frage and he did not know what ac tion the convention would take. The National Congressional Union will urge the Republicans to insert a plank in favor of a suffrage amend ment to the constitution and Chair man Hilles has promised the women a hearing before the commite'e on res olution. The only other organization thus far to ask for a hearing is the Navy League of the United States, which will send a committee to plead for a plank for the enlargement of the navy. In speaking of the probable action of the Progressive national convention called for June 7 in Chicago, Chair man Hilles said: "I imagine everybody assumes that the Pregressives will nominate Roose velt for President. If the Republican convention adopts straightforward sincere, ringing aeclara.tlbB3s.iijf !lth vital public questions how being dis cussed and nominates a man clearly equal to the important tasks which will confront the next President, Roosevelt might not think there would be any need of his entering the field. But if the Republicans nominate a man wh Mr. Roosevelt thinks :is a misfortune and. adopts a platform which he re gards as 'bung' he may feel so out raged as to run, and perhaps re-elect President - Wilson." Chairman Hilles denied the report that the organization had ever thought of attempting to 'force the nomination of a- candidate for President the first day of the convention. "Such a plan has never been, dis cussed by members of the National Committee and it would be impossible," he said.. "The convention will follow precedent. It will meet at '11 a', m. Wednesday, June 7, listen to the ad (Continued on Page Two.) JAMES J. HILL IS III A 1 Pioneer Railroad Builder Passes an Unsatisfactory Day. Special Train Sent to Chicago For Sup ply of a Certain Kind of Sedative Covers Distance of 431 Miles In Eight . Hours St. Paul, Minn., May 28. James J. Hill, critically ill at his residence here, passed a restless, .unsatisfactory day. While the ptoneer railroad builder's pulse was - good his temperature was high and he suffered considerable pain. Intermittently the patient' was uncon scious. : t ; Shortly after 1 o'clock . this after noon, waiting newspaper men and oth ers were aroused sharply when the Rev. Father 'Thomas' 3". Gibbons, vicar general 'of the St Paul arch diocese and pastor of the St.. Paul ;Cathedral, hurried from the. .cathedral edifice, where, he had been saying mass, to the Hill mansion. At this time it "was re ported that Mr. Hill? had suffered a slight sinking spell and that members of the family haa-teen called to the sick room. At 4 o'clock it was said Mr. Hill had rallied:, somewhat . His pulse was reported better, but a high temperature continued. At 6 o'clock tonight the patient's tempera ture was reported unchanged. . Throughout the day . men of promi nent i railroad,' business and pro fessional circles called at . the. - Hill home. All came away grave, -uncommunicative. , ' One of the 'physicians in attendance upoh Mi". Hill' intimated .that a cer tain! infrequently used sedative might be of some possible slight: benflt to the ' patient.' Other doctors '.present questioned the possible '. efflciencyVof these sedatives; and, as added argu ment against the- use, stated that none of it could beobtained at any point nearer than Chicago.,;: T ? ; Louis J- Hill, president of -the Great Northern Road and' son'; of J. j,""THill, chanced Ao , oVerhear'" this conversation or the surgeons. He hall his secretary (Continued S tae.-.Two. , - SEROUS 001 EXODUS MAS BEGUN FOR CONVENTIONS Many Members of the House and a Score of Senators Have Al ready Left Washington. IS MUCH POLITICAL TALK House Will Vote on Naval Bill Friday Senate to Take Action on Rivers and. Harbors Bill and Bran dels Nomination. Washington, May 28. The pre-con-vention exodus of members of Con gress already has begun, many mem bers of the House and nearly a score of Senators having left Washington for preliminary business pertaining to the Republican convention in Chicago next week. Democratic leaders will begin to depart later in the week on polit ical missions connected with the St. Louis convention. For many days the halls of the Cap itol have bui&zed with political dis cussions and administration leaders have encountered trouble in keeping a qtorum present in either House. Real izing that this difficulty will increase, extraordinary efforts are being made to hold members whose presence is not imperative until next Friday. To Vote on Naval Bill. Important legislation that will re quire attendance of members during the week includes the $241,000,000 na val appropriation bill in the House and the long fought Rivers and Harbors Appropriation bill in the Senate. The House will end debate on the Naval bill Friday and a vote before adjourn ment. The bill will then go to the Senate where the Naval Affairs com mittee will take it up after the con ventions end. Decisive action on the. $43,00,000 1 Rivers and Harbors bill in the Senate) is expected by Thtirsday or Friday at the latest. Tomorrow the Senate will vote on a motion to recommit with in struction that the bill be re-reported in the form of a blanket appropriation of $20,000,000 to carry on existing pro jects. While Senators who have per sistently fought the bill have made many converts they were doubtful to night that they could muster enough votes to send the bill back to the com mittee. If they do the commerce com mittee! will at once report the proposed substitute resolution which could be passed Immediately. "Vote on Brandeis Thursday. Another important event of the nom ination of Louis D. Brandeis to the Su preme Court. The vote will be taken Thursday and opposition leaders have conceded that confirmation will result. Majority and minority members of the Judiciary committee are preparing re ports for and against Mr. Brandeis which will be submitted in lieu of dis cussion in executive session Thursday to be, made public after the vote is taken. Another matter which Senate leaders hope to dispose of before the conven tion is the Philippine self-government bill, substituted by the House for the Rnatft Indeuendence measure. Adminis tration leaders are ready to accept the House bill without reference to me Philippines committee and they hope to force .a vote on it despite1 some Re publican opposition. iBe Ready for conventions. As soon as this business is disposed nf loaders . of bcfth. Houses will be ready for the conventions. Agreement already has been reached for the Sen ate to recess for three days at a time beginning 'next Saturday. The . House plans to keep going without recess, considering unaispuwsa ii. wi important matters which 'must await the return of absent members, are the fortincatixnjomalifiOnsiMar. Sundry Civil and' Pension Appropriation bills, already pending, and the Army Appropriation bill carrying approxi mately $150,000,000 which will be for mally reported Tuesday. . Tomorrow the Senate committee on postoffices and postroads will meet In executive session to consider the case of Fourth Assistant Postmaster General James I. Blakslee. who charged In a letter to postmasters that members, of the committee had. surrendered to the railroads in their disposition of. the Postoffice Appropriation bill. . Mr Blakslee and the committee had an exciting word war over the matter yesterday. ' ROOSEVELT SAYS .DANIELS' SCHEME IS Pt'RElY POLITICAL Saye Conferring Officer's Rank ! New Form of Porlt Barrel- New York, May 20. Colonel ' Roose velt, before leaving today on a speech aklg trip to Chicago. Kansas City a,. t.mh made oublic two letters in which he referred to the proposal to confer an. officer's rank on a . certain number of engineers participating yearly in the naval training cruises for civilians "purely as a P01"860; recommended by Mr Daniels- a new Wo roric Darrei. wmui whj i""", iwJ'rtlans with thirty add! tional and yeany Viia.x f, - . OTAna' come. lo addressed to Henry Reuterdahl and:the other to Tho;W. fimmTttefhVci orti telephone room 1 committee, .wnicaj: c1.ljlfler ' basement of the coliseum annex? mems-ior im if . , WAS FAT ALLY INJURED. Peter M. Morden Dies From Wonitd. Sustained in Trolley Aceiden, : Norfolk, Va, May 28. -In a .crossing collision early this morning, .between a Bay fihore trolley car. Ocean .Vlfw line. ,: and a wagon. Pr M. .Mrden. one f the best known. truckers a tljat section of Norfolk . wuniy. waa, injured and Mrs. "Mifren, his wife, nd yibung son Jjtjurei ;The car struck the wagon while 'going 4a,& full speed, hrl- ing it fronvuie tjaM - Mr- MurdehT - a3 aavitHl hOUrB rs; . after the accident The ottter; injured -iir recover E TO II CLOSE TODAY Seven New Methodist Bishops and Two Missionary Bishops Consecrated Yesterday. IMPRESSIVE SERVICE HELD Meeting: at Saratoga Spring Charac terised as One of the Most Im portant Ever Held Prospects For United Methodism '" -; Saratoga Springs, N. Y., May 28. Seven new bishops and two mission ary bishops of the Methodist Episco pal church were consecrated this aft ernoon at an impressive service whicf? was almost the last important busi ness of the 27th general conference before final adjournment tomorrow. All of the board of bishops participated in the service. The bishops conse, crated and the station to which they have been assigned were: Herbert Welch, Seoul, Korea; Thom as Nicholson, Chicago; Adna Wright Leonard, San Francisco; Matthew S. Simpson Hughes, Portland, Ore.; Wil liam Fitzjames Oldham, Buenos Aires; Charles Bayard Mitchell, St. Paul, Minn.; Franklin Hamilton, Pittsburgh. The missionary bishops were Eden Samuel Johnson, Africa, and Alexander Priestley Camphor, the only negro chosen to the Episcopacy this session, Liberia, Africa. The conference is characterized by the delegates as one of the most im portant ever held, principally because of the plans adopted which, it is be lieved, will Jead to the unification of Methodist churches within four years and perhaps by 1918. The conference has placed the church on record as favoring renewed effort in the foreign and home mis sionary field. A revised ritual is to take the place of the form of service which has been in effect for many years. The missionary Episcopacy has been retained. Efforts are to be made to obtain within the next four years a $10,000,000 pension fund for retired clergy and their widows- .. . ... " The conference urged members of the church to ally themselves with po litical efforts against the liquor traffic. A new section of the discipline will ask that members refrain from the use of tobacco. Suffrage was. endorsed and polygamy denounced. Efforts to remove the amusement clause from the discipline again failed and members are still lia ble to expulsion if they play cards, dance or attend theatres. Ministers who officiate at the mar riage of divorced persons now are made answerable to their conference for an act of mal-administration.Pre-viously there was no penalty. The conference pledged to President Wilson the co-operation of the Meth odist Episcopal church in an effort for peace in Europe and urged that the United States take the first step in the formation of a league which will in sure future peace. COLISEUM AT CHICAGO IS Coat -City $195,000 to Prepare for Republican Convention. Arrangements of the Big: Hall Declared Superior to Those of Any Hall Ever Used by the Party For Similar Purpose Chicago, May 28. Work of prepar ing the Chicago coliseum for the Re publican National Convention June 7, has been completed. The big building with its 12,025 seats Is ready. It will be kept under police guard day and night W a. precaution against fire. It cost Chicago; about $95,000- to provide the Republican party with a suitable meeting place for Its 1916 national con vention. The arrangements of the hall ' are declared to be . superior to tbosi -of any hall ever used by the pafty for a similar purpose and credit is-given Colonel "Wnliam F. Stone, of Baltimore, sergeaht-at-arms of the na tional committee, who had full charge of" nreparlng the "hall. He personally supervised tbe'.-wprk of arranging the party's national convention halls in 1904, 1908 and 1912. There are sufficient exits to give easy access to every part of the hall and special . exits leading, to the large tel- the where hundred of special wires, have ? been Installed to connect the conveiitlon hall 'with, the outside world.'-' He has established a restaurant, an emergency hospital, and a branch post office for the useof -delegates and- oth ers. When James B. ! Reynolds, se retary of the Nationajltepuhlicin Com mittee, undertook- the.task of allotting tickets 'to'the various news associations and newspapers of the5 - country . he found there, were more than, 5,00p . ap plications for the 700 -seats provided. He- is now preparing the .temporary role of delegates and alternates for tKe convention and -later "will' com tail e thje evidence In the centeetiefelobe heard-by the National -'ConynlUee, June L GOHFERENG GOMES NOW READ HESS E TAX HALF This Will be the Government's Toll for the Fiscal Year Ending Next June 30. IT IS M'ADOO'S ESTIMATE Volume of Money Pouring Into the Treasury Has Steadily Increased Month By Month Increase In the Liquor Tax Receipts Washington, May 28. Half a billion dollars will be the government's rev enue tax poll for the fiscal year end ing June 30, next, according to a state ment issued today by Secretary Mc Adoo. This sum, which Mr. McAdoo says exceeds by many millions all pre vious estimates, will be made up, sub stantially, as follows: Taxes on whiskey, beer, cigars, cig arette and tobacco, $303,000,000. Taxes on the incomes of individuals and corporations, $115,000,000. Emergency tax collections, $83,000,- 000. The volume of money pouring into the treasurey has steadily increased month by month since last fall until it is now greater than at any time since the effects of the war began to be felt, Mr. McAdoo accounts for the situation as follows: "The great boom in business is large ly responsible for the increase in re ceipts from ordinary internal revenue. The prosperity of the country with the attendant wider scope of employment and increase in wages has, in itself, received in a larger consumption of taxable articles, greatly augmenting the government's revenue." Consumption of whiskey, cigars, cigarettes and tobacco has increased according to revenues received, while consumption of beer has decreased during the fiiscal year. For the first ten months of the fiscal year receipts of taxes on cigars, cigarettes and to bacco increased $5,505,121 over the corresponding period a year ago, due in large part, the statement says, to the great improvement in business con ditions. The statement continues: "Notwithstanding the spread of pro hibition, collections on distilled sfcir its for the first ten months of the cur rent fiscal year increased $10,013,140 Lover the corresponding period of a year ago. Thisls due lri"gTe"at measure to the effective enforcement of the In ternal revenue taxes on distilled spir its. It is estimated that through the campaign of the Treasury Depart ment against undergauging, equaliz ing and blockading distilleries, the revenue of the government has been increased by probably $5,000,000 an nually." The only article of taxation showing a decrease is beer. The commissioner says the tax in beer on account of fraud has been negligible and that the decrease is due principally to the in crease in the prohibition laws. It is estimated that expenditures from the internal revenue appropriation for the current fiscal year will amount to $7,200,000 and even if the collections amount to only $495,000,000, the cost of collections will be $1.45 per cent, the lowest in the history of the Inter nal revenue service. If the collections amount to $500,000 the cost of collection will approximate 1.44 per cent. GERMANS ASSERT LOYALTY TO THE "UNITED STATES "Creed" is Submitted to Representative Gathering In Chicago. Chicago, May 28. Loyalty of Ger mans to the United States was declared today at..a representative gathering of ixermans irom an over ine. ccruniry. a "creed" was submitted by the German American Newspaper Publishers' Asso ciation in which it was asserted that the Germans might be hyphenated Americans, but their Americanism i: unhyphenated." The "creed" presented at the meet Ing will be acted upon at another meeting to be held tomorrow. Some of the things which the tentative creed advocated were: An adequate preparedness based on patriotism; American ships for foreign commerce; maintenance of the Panama canal free to American ships; insist ence by Americaof the freedoft of th seas. The meeting today was presided over by J. B. Meyer, a Philadelphia manufacturer, and the majority of the representatives in attendance are hdfe to attend the Republican convention It is the intention to form in Chicago a central body, which shall keep fit touch with ' all German-American or ganizations In the country with a view to guiding them In matters of national political Importance and on other ques tions in which they are Interested. AUGUSTUS POLLACK HONORED Organised Labor Erects Monument to His Memory Hold Big; Parade. Wheeling, W. Va May 28. A monu ment erected from unds; donated by organized labor was unveiled on the public square here today to the late Augustus Pollack, well known stogie manufacturer A parade In which 10, 00 marchers representing every branch of Industry in Wheeling participated preceded the exercises. Local labor leaders claim that the monument is the first-ever raised to the memory of an employer of labor. Cotumbua, N. M.. May 28. Little ere dence is placed hy military authorities in reports from Chihuahua that Car ranza troops have" discovered Villa In hiding near .Jlmlnez. . Several officers here today expressed '-their conviction that VUla is still ajive. but asserted that, General Pershing, expeditionary irCommaBder. Is in -possession of Infor 1. ... . 1. - 1 1 4 maiion. as to in pruuauic wucicauwuvb of the bandit . chieftain, which doS not coincide with that. -of General Tte vino. v No-? details; of General Persh ing's report can be: obtained here, how- DOLLARS MEXIGAU DEGREES ARE IMPOSED UPON AMERICAN MINERS Message Tells of Actual Oonfisca tion of Property of American Citizens at Tampico. PROTEST TO WHITE HOUSU Carranza's Note Expected Today;. Pershing. Gives. Further De tails of ! Cruses Battle. Washington, May 28 On the eve on receipt of General Carranza's notei which officials believe will, renew the? demand for withdrawal of American) troops from Mexico, and with anothe conference between American an Mexican military commanders about t begin, a protest was received at th White House today, reporting serious difficulties between American oil opW erators at Tampico and the Mexican) authorities. The protest came in the form of a tel-( egram addressed to President Wilson by 84 American citizens residing at Tampico. They declared military officials wr w.rrll7r decrees designed to rnkkeTrss for Americans to do business in tha country and said one of them had been arrested and imprisoned for three! hours because he refused to pay Ma emloyes wages fixed by the authorities? ... 00 ut ierraB previously agreedJ upon with the men. Assert Right to Protection. 1 SiBwrs of the meeeage asserted? their right to protection from the American government, and announce ed their determination not to com- Ply with arbitrary and confiscatory orders and decrees by the Mexicans. White House officials sents the pro- test to the State .Department for in- vestigation. Other complaints already have been received regarding recent decrees by the Carranza government and it is probabl that there will ba representations on the subject just as soon as the controversy over the pres ence of American troops in Mexico la adjusted. - "It has become practically impossible for an American to do business ofj any nature in this section of the coun try." the Tampico message said. "be- thorities that we believe to be directed thoritles that w ebelieve to be directed primarily against American citizens.' For a year a series of decrees have made their appearance which have been! progressive in that they are consist ently becoming more anti-American. we believe that the authorities had no the remotest idea, when they first be gun to issue such decres. that the would be able to enforce them, but tha wnen nothing was done by our gov ernment to secure their repeal, thk' these edicts have been made more strin gent each day until our property laf threatened .with confiscation and in! some cases has been actually conflscat ed, and our personal liberal is men-4 aced. Liberty Restricted. "A military decree was issued som months ago providing that lands mlgh not be leased in the state of Vera Cru: for oil purposes without the consen of the state government and this de cree has been modified until now n foreigner is permitted to acquire leases real estate or assignments of lease from a native. , ; "A decree was issued a few days agri by the local military authorities pro viding that labor should be paid, and merchandise would be sold on a basis of Mexican gold, the consideration to be paid in Mexican paper money at $xt arbitrary value fixed by the govern- ment, regardless of the commercial value of this paper money as regulated by supply an ddemand. "All of the above decrees violate Mexican law and are in contravention of the rights of Americans guaranteed by treaty between Mexico - and the United States. We desire to know if the American government will permit the above decrees, or any of them, to remain in force where the rights bf Americans are involved. "An understanding with the author ities as to the future would not be sufficient. The decrees already in ex istence must . be repealed where they affect Americans." ; Note Expected Today. j Manuel Mendez, General Carranza'w personal messenger, bringing the new note to the United States, passed) through St. Louis yesterday and should, reach here early tomorrow. EJlseo Ar-j redondo, the Mexican ambassador desTg-i nate, may deliver the commmunicatiorrj tomorrow. Otherwise, its delivery prob-! ably will be postponed until Wednes-; day, government officers being closed; Tuesday in observance of Memorial' Day. . So far no official summary of theV new note has been received but all In-, formation supports the uniform belter In official quarters that it will renew tue suggestion that the American ex pedition be withdrawn. There Is no indication that the administration l prepared to grant such a demand. Further details regarding the recent) engagement near Cruses between seven men of. the Seventeenth Infantry and. an outlaw band of 20 under the noto-j rious bandit leaders Cervantes and Ben-; comoh, both of whom were killed byj Private George Hulett, were received at the War Department today fron General Pershing. His message, dated) from Namiqulpa May 26, was . as foM lows: Trooper Shovr Splendid Conduct. Detailed account of the fight yes terday showed splendid conduct on thel part of detachment of enlisted men. Without an , officer and under Lance Corporal Davis Marksbury (who died from wounds), these men fought against great odds. Drove off, enemy4 who charged them on horseoacK. jss- (Continued on i-age iwaj j mi r i ll! It' continued on Pag Eight.) A - , sir- ' - " ' - ' ' fHS- ' 2.' r ;2 , i . W ' "S3.: M ..( t r W.