New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-26
Funston, However, Belittles
Action of MexicanS at
Vera Cruz.
HUERTA'S ATTENTION
MAY BE CALLED TO IT
Administration Is Disinclined to
Permit It to Interfere with
Mediation.
From The Tribune Bureau. ]


Washington. May 25.-In firing on
the American hydroaeroplane flying In
the vicinity of Vera Cruz. yesterday.
the Mexican Federal forces were guilty
of a breach of the understanding which
exists between the United States and
Huerta that there shall be no aggres-
sive action on either side pending me-
diation.
This is the opinion OF officials Of the
government who have made a spec
ialty of international law, but it is
doubtful If the Huerta forces around
Vera Cruz are acquainted with the
niceties OF the international usage
which gives freedom of the air to air.
ships. even If they should be scouting
IL is not unlikely that the shooting will
be brought to the attention Of Huerta.
with a complaint about IT.
1t was said by administration off,
Gals to-day that in the circumstances
an American military aviator may fly
where he pleases. There is no restric-
wants TO go. and even II he few over
all the Mexican forces he would not be
guilty of violation of the understand
ing. This would be true even in case
of a formal armistice, which does not
exist. the agreement against hostilities
being only an informal and loosely con-
structed arrangement through the A
Il c mediators. The rules for the use
of airshps in time of truce only re-
strict them from dropping bombs.
Report Kept Secret.
The War Department received a re-
port of the firing on the American air.
ship yesterday. but it was not made
public. General Wotherspoon, who was
in charge Of the War Department this
afternoon, would not even admit that
he had the report, but it nevertheless
is in the War Department. The Navy
Department heard from Rear Admiral
Badger that the American outposts re-
ported that the Mexican outpost fired
twice on the airship. which was max
ing a practice flight"
In the circumstances the firing done
by the Mexican outposts might be con-
sidered an act Of war but with media
ton going on it is not believed that the
administration will make trouble, any
more than it did in the much more
fragrant affront involved in the execu-
ton of Private Parks.
Vera Cruz. May 3.-The Official report
of the shooting from the Mexican outposts
at a hydroaeroplane in which Lieutenant
Patrick Bellinger, of the naval aviation
corps. was making his daily practice fight
yesterday, indicates that score OF shots
were fired. The marine outpost which re-
ported the affair judged only BY the re-
ports of the rifles, and the statements as
TO the number of these are conflicting.
General Funston views the matter as
trivial and probably as having been the
act OF an irresponsible Mexican trooper
or two. who whiled away their time with
target practice at the flying boat
Bad Msrksmen, Funston Thinks.
Only because the rife reports vert
heard by American outguards when the
hydroaeroplane passed over the Federas
on its outward journey and that the firing
was repeated when the machine was re-
turning do the American army officers be-
Ieve that the aviators were fred upon.
Prom what l have heard of Mexican
shooting / judge that there Is little posi-
bility of any one in an aeroplane being
hit" General Funston said to-day. III
we were looking for an excuse TO make
yeprisaIs on the Mexican outposts we
could find one twice or thrice weekly.
Nothing but an assault which was clearly
Q serious attempt at driving In our out
rosts and which was started by the orders
of some high official would lead us to re-
turn the fire. 1t is always possible that
some of these irregular state rural guards
holding the line to the north OF us may
ret full of liquor and fire at our outposts.
Under our orders We could not consider
that a justification for replying to the
FIRE"
General Funston has no intention of
making any protest TO the Mexican COM
mander about the firing at the hydro
aeroplane. He said he assumed that II
Washington thought it advisable to do so
1t would make a protest to Mexico City,
as was done in the case of Private Samuel
Parks. The naval aviators here are not
under General Funstons command.
In forwarding the aviators' report of
Yesterdays flight Rear Admiral Badger
said they had seen one party OF hun
died or more Mexican soldiers on the
beach and an equal number further in
land. They also saw what evidently were
preparations to install field gun or
machine gun at a new site for an outpost