The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1914-04-24
READS MESSAGE BEFORE CON-
GREss ASKING PERMISSION
TO USE ARMED FORCE
IN MEXICO.
HONOR OF UNITED STATES
At STAKE, SAYS EXECUTIVE
Thinks High Office Carries Power to
Meet Situation, But Seeks Co
operation Of Both Houses
DiseIaims Intention Of A.
Qression on Part ct U. s.
Washington, April 21.-President
Wilson laid the Mexican situation be-
fore congress in these words:

Washington, April 21.-President
Wilson laid the Mexican situation be-
fore congress in these words:
Message Of President.
Gentlemen of the Congress: 1t Is
my duty to call your attention to a
situation which has arisen in u deal
ings with General Victoriano Huerta
at Mexico City which calls for action
and to ask your advice and co-opera-
ton in acting upon it. On the ninth OF
April a paymaster of the U. S. S. Dol
phin landed at the Iturbide bridge
landing at Tampico with a w~haleboat
and boa IS crew to take of certain
supplies needed by his ship and while
engaged In loading the boat was ar
rested by an officer and squad of men
OF the army of General Huerta. Meth
er the paymaster nor any n OF the
boats crew was armed. Two of the
men were in the boat when the arrest
took place and were obliged to leave
1t and submit to be taken into custody,
notv- ithstanding the fact that the boat
carried, both at her bow and her stern,
the nag of the United States.
How Arrest Was Made.
"The officer who made the arrest
was proceeding up one Of the streets
OF the town with his prisoners when
met by an officer of higher authority,
who ordered him to return to the land
ing and await orders; and within an
hour and a half from the time of the
arrest orders were received from the
commander of the Huerista forces at
Tampico for the release of the pay
master and his men.
1.-THE release was followed by apollo
gies from the commander and later by
an expression of regret by General
Huerta himself. General Huerta urged
that martial law obtained at the time
at Tampico; that orders had been is
sued that no m should be allowed to
land at the Iturbide bridge; and that
our sailors had no right to land there.
Our naval commanders at the port had
not been notified of any such prohibi-
ton; and, e II they had been, the
only 5~ustifiable course open to the To-
cal authorities would have been to re-
quest the paymaster and his crew to
withdraw and to lodge q protest with
the commanding officer of the fleet.
Admiral Demands Salute.
Admiral Mayo regarded the arrest
% 30 serious al effront that he was
not satisfied with the apologies offer
ed. but demanded that the flag OF the
United States be saluted with special
ceremony by the military commander
Of the post.
This incident cannot be regarded
as q trivial one. especially as two Of
the men arrested were taken from the
boat itself-that IL to say. from the
territory Of the United States: but.
had It stood BY itself. It might have
been attributed to the ignorance or ar.
rogance Of q single officer.
Unfortunately, 1t was not an isolat-
ed case. A series Of incidents have
recently occurred which cannot but
create the impression that the repre-.
sentatives Of General Huerta were will
ing to 60 out Of their way to show dis
regard for the dignity and rights Of
this government and felt perfectly safe
IN doing what they pleased, making
free to show in many ways their irri.
tation and contempt.
Other indienkies.
"A few days after the incident at
Tampico an orderly from the u. s. s.
Minnesota was arrested at Vera Cruz
while ashore In uniform to obtain the
ships mail and was for a time thrown
into Jail. An official dispatch from
this government to It's embassy at
Mexico City was withheld by the au-
thorities Of the ~telegraphic service un-
TIL premptorily demanded by our
charge d'affaires in person.
so far as l a learn, such wrongs
and annoyances have been succered to
occur only against representatives Of
the United States. l have heard Of no
complaints from other governments Of
similar treatment. Subsequent ex-
plantations and formal apologies did
not and could not alter the popular i'm.
preston which 1t is possible it had