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Show nGHiGlLT ON ATTAMPICO Battleships Ordered to Give Refuge to Americans and Other Foreigners. PROPERTY IN DANGER Battle Reported in Progress at San Pedro and Paras No Details. Washington, D. C April 9. -Overnight dispatches to the navy department depart-ment from Rear Admiral Fletcher reported fighting still In progress at Tamplco, without advantage to either side. On account of a heavy norther, Rear Admiral Mayo was discouraging discourag-ing refugees from going aboard ships there. Admiral Fletcher sent this report, received from Admiral Mayo, yesterday yester-day afternoon: "Mayo reports fighting continues with no change except that the gunboat gun-boat Zaragoa is assisting the Vera Cruz in shelling Arbolgrande. On account of a norther and no advantage in fighting, am discouraging refugees from coming on board. Have received re-ceived few on Dcs Moines alongside dock. If rebels receive artillery, which seems to be Improbable, conditions con-ditions will be more serious. Reports circulated on shore that American battleships bat-tleships are supplying arms to the rebels." Refugees to be Cared for. The admiral added that he had directed di-rected Admiral Mayo to give refuge to Americans and other foreigners on American vessels as far as possible. The department today suggested to Admiral Fletcher the possibility of taking the marines off the transport Prairie at Vera Cruz and sending that vessel to Tampico to receive the refugees, refu-gees, who cannot be carod for on the other ships without more or less inconvenience. in-convenience. It Is about" settled that if an additional addi-tional ship is sent to" the east coast it will tye either a navy transport possibly the Hancock, now at New Orleans Or-leans or a commercial vessel. Officials here did not regard the shore report from Tampico that the rebels are receiving aid, from .the "A,nTcTiaan)aTtlcoIiTps''as 'worlh' commenting com-menting on. Foreign Property in Danger. Stato department officials said today to-day that foreign property, especially the oil plants in Tampico. were in grave danger but thcro was thought to be little danger to the lives of foreigners. for-eigners. Concerning conditions in Tampico the state department issued this statement: state-ment: "From Vera Cruz, wireless reports regarding Tampico Indicate that the situation a3 to foreign property is complicated and serious. The Waters-Pierce Oil refineries have been occupied by attacking forces during the last two days and, as a consequence, conse-quence, have been under fire from the federal gunboat in tho harbor. A loss to the entire property Is feared. The warehouses of the Agenda Commercial, Com-mercial, a German property, were burned with a loss of $500,000. Americans Released. From Ensenada, it is reported that the situation at Mazatlan is tranquil-Five tranquil-Five Americans arrested at Vera Cruz as a military precaution were released today A consular report from Torrcon says "very good order'' has been re-established there. Brigadier General Hugh L. Scott at El Paso reported to the war depart ment by wireless today that fighting was said to be in progress at San Pedro and Paras, but he gave no details. Red Cross Calls for Report. The Red Cross today called on Dr. Stephenson, head of the El Paso chapter, chap-ter, for a report concerning the needs of the Spanish refugees just arrived there. Secretary Bryan said that Consular Agent Carothers was under instructions instruc-tions to continue his representations to General Carranza for the protection of tho property which refugees left in Torreon and to obtain, if possible, permission for the Spaniards to return to their homes. nn |