The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-11
DANIELS ADMITS ORDER.
secretary Acknowledge Having
Ordered withdrawal of sh,ps.

WAsHiNoToN. May Io.--There has been
some confusion In Washington for severa,
DAYS over Secretary Danielss answer Ia
the criticism OF tho withdrawal Of the
american vessels from Tampico. There
mas been u disposition In some quarters
mere To feel that he was shifting the bur-
zen TO the shoulders of Admiral Mayo and
that impression apparently has reached
Vera Cruz
careful reading OF Danlelss state.
ment, however. shows that the Secretary
does not hold Admiral Mayo responsible
Tor the original withdrawal Of the vessels
from Tampico. lie acknowledges that the
Department ordered Admiral Mayo to
withdraw his ileet to go TO the assistance
OF Admiral Fletcher at Vera Cruz
This was the statement given out by
secretary Daniels several days ago which
was construed as putting the RESPONSE
piiIty on him for the withdrawal of the
American vessels from Tampico:
"On the 10th of April II was decided
that should the continued refusal to prop
erly apologize for the insult toward the
American flag compel extreme measure.
the navy would he asked to occupy the
custom house NJ Vera Cruz, using for the
purpose the force under Admiral Fletcher
As the amount of resistance that would be
offered to this occupation could not be
forecast Il was decided to reenforce
Admiral Fletcher with the ships then III
Tampico, with the exception of the Des
Moines.
Admiral Mayo WAS directed to proceed
with his force. leaving only the Dies
Moines on guard at Tampico. military
necessitity requiring that only one ves-
oel should be left at that place. and IL
beiLg clearly foreseen that should til.
custom house be occupied public resent
ment against foreigners In Tampico
would rise 10 such IA point that the pres
ence OF "A single vessel. too weak TO take
Offensive measures OF reprisal would
probably irrtate the popuiace to the point
VI taking personal vengeance on the IN
nocent foreigners. not only at Tamplco
itself. but In the outlying districts. II
was therefore decided that the Des Moines
should lie outside the mouth OF the river
rather than In full sight of the city of
Tampico.
Events moved with greater swiftness
than was anticipated and the order {,
occupy the custom house was given early
on the morning q the :lst. before Ad-
Inral Mayos squadron could possibly
cooperate with Admiral Fletcher. In III,
meanwhile Admiral Badger. with ampl,
relief. was speeding TO Admiral Fletchcr's
Reinforcement and the order TO proceed
to Vera Cruz received by Admiral Mayo
was rescind.d.
Admiral Mayo was then confronted
with the problem OF getting the Ameri
cans and foreigners out OF the distric,
without loss OF life. II would Of course
have been possible for him to have moved
up the river with all OF his ships TO Tam
pico. but II must be remembered that this
was not problem Of collecting Americans
and foreigners actually In the city OF
Tampico only. but thar there were at that
time many Americans and foreigners
scattered throughout the oil well distric.
adjacent TO Tampico ana even further IN
the interior who had TO be brought safely
to the coast
Even had Il been possible under cover
or the guns o; the ships available "a
hav. brought these refugees in the city
OF Tamplco Itself safely on board. word
Of aggressive action by the Americans
would have spread to the surroundi,ig
country far swfter than any relief eN.
petition could have travelled to their
rescue. and IL is almost certain that re-
prisal on American citizens would have
followed and lives would have been lost.
80 clear was that that the captain OF
the British man-of-war earnestly adv.s, Il
Admiral Mayo not to send any ships back
to Tanpico. hasing his reasons on his
judgment that 1t would be precsrous and
would only result I'm the loss of life. 80
earnest was the British captain and 30
confident OF this that he offered 10 under
take the work of collecting all Of the
refugees and taking them out TO our ships