The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-05-11
Secretary of the Navy Daniels
Tries to Shield Himself
From Criticism of Tampico
Americans
Adnirals Amazed
At His Statement
Badger and Mayo Had Specific
Orders From Navy Depart
ment to Leave Tampico For
Vera Cruz---Announcement
Causes Grestest Surprise
BY DUDLEY HARMON.

VERA CRUZ, May 10.--The official
statement made by Secretary of the
Navy Daniels, answering the com
plants of critics of the action OF the
department in removing the warships
from Tampico by throwing the re-
sponsiblity on Rear Admirals Badger
and Mayo. has just reached here. and
has caused the greatest establishment
among people who are aware of all
the circumstances.
1t is an undeniable fact that the
secretary of the navy himself ordered
the withdrawal Of Rear Admiral
Mayo's ships with the exception OF
the cruiser Des Moines. from Tampico.
The vessels were all ordered to Vera
Cruz except the Des Moines, which
was instructed to withdraw outside
the harbor of Tampico. This was on
April goth
Rear Admiral Mayo was astonished
at receiving the order. He did not
believe that this withdrawal was IN
tended. and the order was not obeyed
until he had received confirmation of
the dispatch from the navy depart
ment.
At this time Rear Admiral Badger
was beyond wireless communication
with Rear Admiral Mayo. and knew
nothing Of the withdrawal OF the yes
sells from Tampico until it had been
accom- plished. For that reason ne had
nothing to. do with It, and did not APP
prove Of the order from Washington.
Rear Admiral Badger appeared TO
be astonished today when informed
of the apparent effort of the Wash
ington authorities to blame himself
refugees have been denouncing as the
Tampico crime.
Mediators the Way.
senores Rahasa and Rodriguez.
President Huerta,s Representatives be-
fore the A BIC medtators at the
Niagara Falls conference. arrived here
this morning. There were no ceremo-
MES attending their arrival. and no
display of any kind, They were ac-
companied to the break IN the rail-
road from Meico City by President
Huertas mounted guard.
On the arrival OF the delegates here
they Immediately boarded the steam
ship Kronprinzessin Cecilie where they
remained In seclusion and refused to
see anyone They viii sail for the
north tomorrow The delegates are
accompanied by their families and
nurse@ and maids. There are twenty
persons all told in the party,
The delegates and their families used
General Funston's automobiles from
the train to the Sandal wharf. where
the first Americal landing was made
Funston stops Gambling.
General Funston has issued on anti
gambling decree, which provides that
anyone caught running a gambling
house hereafter shall he liable to "a
sentence of one years Imprisonment
and IA fine of i. 900 pesos Gambling
WAS revived here recently, and sew
erai houses have been running the
same as before the American occupa-
tion.
The case OF the disappearance OF
Private Parks, the orderly of Lieu
tenant Colonel Taggart. who is sup
posed to have been captured and killed
by Mexicans when he passed the Amer
lean outposts near Teteria. has been
referred to the authorities at Wash
tngton with a recommendation that
certain action be taken.
1t Is believed here that General
Funston is likely to restrict the move
ments of new spaper correspondent to-
ward the interior, because OF the ar
rests in Mexico city yesterday OF
number of these men who went to the
capital from this city.