The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1914-04-17
Mas Declines to Salute.


Mas Declines to Salute.
Vera Cruz, Mex-General Gustavo |
Mas, the federal commander at Vera
Cruz, speaking Monday with reference
to the arrest of an American detach-
ment from the Dolphin at TampiCo
and the demand by the American adj
miral for satisfaction for the insult
to the American flag, said that the
Mexican government had ordered Gen.
eral MorelOs Zaragoza not to accede
to Admiral Mayo's demand-which
was that the American flag should be
saluted within twenty-four hours
considering that such step would be
highly derogatory to national dignity
and also was uncalled for, as absolute
ly no insult had been offered to the
American flag.
For the unfortunate mistake made
in arraigning the Americans, General
Mas added, General Zaragoza had by
his apology made ample compensation.
New Orleans, La. - The United
States transport Hancock Sunday
night received imperative orders from
Washington to proceed at once to
Tampico 1t is understood that the
Hancock will take aboard refugees
who are fleeing from the battle-swept
city Of Tampico, where sharp fighting
between Mexican constitutionalists
and federals has been reported.
The Hancock took on 400 tons Of
coal, filling her bunkers, which have
an 8OO-ton capacity, and sailed Mon
day.
The vessel arrived at New Orleans
two months ago, bringing $50 marines
from the advance base regiment.
When the Hancock steamed south
she was accompanied by the United
States hospital ship Solace under or
ders to hasten to Tampico The So
lace arrived last week and the crew
was given shore leave for eleven days
Two days after the Solace locked she
was ordered to proceed Immediately
to Tampico, but was delayed by coal
ing and by necessary repairs to her
ice manufacturing machinery.
Vera Cruz, Mex-That the Ameri.
can flag was taken from the launch
of the Dolphin by the captors of the
American sailors who were arrested
Friday and was subjected to insults
while being taken to the police sta
tion, has been reported at Vera Cruz
from a reliable source. This, says the
report, is the chief provocation for
Rear Admiral Mayo's demand that a
salute be fired in reparation by the
Mexican federal authorities.
1t is said that while the flag was
being borne through the streets vari-
Gus indignities were inflicted by the
more anti-American of the populace.
Tampico, Mex-The affair of the ar
rest by the Mexican federal authori-
ties at Tampico of the boats crew
from the Dolphin may not be settled
without serious international difficult
ties. General zaragoza, while profuse-
ly apologizing for the arrests, has de-
INJURED to the demand for a formal
salute pending instructions from Pres
ident Huerta That this might be laid
before the Mexican executive, Rear
Admiral Mayo's ultimatum has been
extended twenty-four hours from Fri.
day, 6 p, m.
Immediately after learning of the in
cident Rear Admiral Mayo is said to
have threatened to land marines to
compel the release of the biuejackets
and to establish neutral zone for the
protection of all foreigners from fur
Their indignities.
Rear Admiral Mayo Sunday sent
the following wireless message to
Rear Admiral Fletcher, which is re-
ceived as an official report:
General Zaragoza has sent me an
official letter concerning the arrest
of the boats crew from the Dolphin
and says that the affair was due to
the ignorance of his officers,
crew of the Dolphin, auxiliary to the
United States fleet now in Tampioo
harbor, was arrested and locked up
Friday by Mexican federal soldiers.
The crew was unarmed
Shortly after the incident Rear Ad-
miral Mayo, commander of the Ameri.
can fleet, ordered the release of the
men and an apology Admiral Mayo
gave the Mexicans unit! clock Fri
day afternoon to comply with his de-
mand. Included in the ultimatum was