The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-04-25
WILSON ADDRESSES CONGRESS-
LAYS MEXICAN SITUATION BE.
FORE JOINT SESSION.
Asks Approval of His Plan To Use
Navy and Army to Force Huerta
To Make Proper Reparation for In.
suits To the Flag.

""Shhstoh' Aprll ZO.-PreSiden
Wilson today answered Huerta's IL.
hance by asking congress. assembled
In Joint session. for approval to "use
the armed forces of the ,i:,ited States
I'm such ways and to su J.. extent as
may be necessary TO obta from Gen
Huerta and his adherent, the fullest
recognition of the rights and dignity
of the United States"
The president did not ask for any
appropriation OF money at this time,
nor for authority to call out the Nat
ional Guard.
There can be no thought of ag-
sression or of selfish ACKNOWLEDGMENT" "
declared the president to the sober
faced throng of senators and represen-
tatives which packed the hall of the
house.
This government can, I earnestly
hope. In no circumstances be forced
into war with the people of Mexico. II
armed conflict should unhappily come
as the result OF his (Huerta's) atti-
tude OF personal resentment towards
this government. we should be fight
ing only Gen. Huerta and those who
adhere to him and give him support
for our object would be to restore to
the people of the distracted republic
the opportunity to set up again their
own laws and their own government.
There can I'm what we do be no
thought OF aggression or OF selfish ag-
srandlzement. wc seek to maintain
The dignity and authority Of the
United states only because we wish
always To keep our great influence un-
impaired for the uses OF liberty both
In the United States and wherever
else II may DO employed for tho ben
CIT OF mankind"
President Wilson laid tho Mexican
situation before congress today I'm
these words:
Gentlemen OF the congress: 1t IL
my duty to call your attention to "a
situation which has arisen in our deal
ing with Gen. victoriano Huerta at
Mexico City which calls for action
and To ask your advice AMI coopera-
lion In acting Upon L.. On the 9Th
III April paymaster OF the United
states steamship Dolphin landed at
ne lturbide bridge landing at Tam
Dico with a whaleboat and boats crew
% take of certain supplies needed
Dy his ship. and while enga ID in
loading the boat was arrested by an
officer and squad OF men of the army
of Gen. Huerta- Neither the pay
master nor any one or the boats crew
VAS armed Two OF the men were In
the boat when the arrest took place
and were Obliged to leave II and sub
init To be taken into custody, notwith-
standing the fact that the boat car
ricd. both at her bow and at her stern,
the nag OF the United States. The
officer who made the arrest was pro-
ceeding up one OF the streets OF tho
town with his prisoners when met by
AN officer OF higher authority. who or
dered him To return to the landing and
await orders: and within an hour and
half from the time of the arrest
orders were received from the COM
fnander OF the Huerta forces at
Tampico for tho release OF the pay
master.
The release was followed by apoi-
ogics from the commander and later
by an expression OF regret by Gen.
Huerta himself. Gen. Huerta urged
that martial law obtained at the time
at 1ampico: that orders had beer is
sued that no one should he allowed
to land at tho 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
prohibition: and. even IL they had
been. tho only justinable course open
To tho loyal authorities would have
Nv" w 'epueSt the pdyHldStcr ana MS
crew To withdraw and to lodge ID pro-
test with the commanding officer of
the fleet. Admiral Mayo regar ed the
arrest US so serious AN affrcGt that
no was not satisfied with the apollo
gies but demanded that the aag OF
the United States he saluted with
special ceremony by the military COM
mandcr OF the port.
The incident can not he regarded
ns trivial one, especially as two
OF the men arrested were taken from
tho boat itself-that is TO say. from
had II stood by itself II might have
been attributed To the ignorance or