CONDITIONS IN MEXICO
Dr. Wichman is now at Chi
huahua, Mexico, and writes as
follows:
"Conditions in and around the
city of Chihuahua are about nor
mal, but there are very few
Americans in the city to date,
where there were in normal
times before the war from 2,000
to 3,000 all the time.
The railroad equipment, or
what is left of it, ' is ready for
the junk pile. Our company in
shipping ore, coal or coke furnish
their own locomotives and cars
even the men but they are sub
ject to the orders and rules of
the railroad company.
. In coming up here our engine
broke down and one of the com
pany trains had to push the pas
senger train for miles until we
got an engine from Chihuahua.
The Mexican authorities and
people are doing everything pos
sible to open up the mines and
smelters in the state-" 1
existent collar) to find the money
she there secreted. &
' 'The officer does this and is
overcome with embarrasment
when a shining gold piece or a
crisp greenback is revealed.
'The purpose of this lie is to
discourage the making and send
ing of soldiers' and sailors' com
forts, and at the same time to
create suspicion and distrust in
regard to such trustworthy agen
cies for war relief as the Red
Cross and its auxiliaries.
"In whatever form it appears,
it is a lie. Worse than that, it
is a lie circulated for the sole
purpose of weakening our coun
try's cause. Everyone who hears
it should outspokenly nail it as a
lie, and thus do all that can be
done to nullify its evil results."
Plant your
lililí V III '.-TV ;
Our Bank'
and wale
cfrow.
u t.
