The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-05-08

alone for the American property owners
Of the Tampico district, but for those OF
other sections of Mexico as we'll, They
undoubtedly are prepared to make a
strong appeal for a reversal OF the
''watchful waiting policy maintained by
the United States.
The refugees saw Secretary Of the Navy
Daniels yesterday, but received very lit
tie sympathy from him. In fact they
We're told that they ought to be thank
full to the United States instead OF ut
teripg complaints against 1t.
The refugees have established head
quarters in a local hotel, and have
brought with them more than 100 pages
OF carefully compiled Eata, showing the
amount Of property destroyed and the
number of lives lost by Americans in
Mexico in the last few years.
Daniels Denies Charges.
The committee consists Of W. E. Lucas,
chairman. who was formerly secretary
to one OF New York's mayors; w. NJ.
Hanson, ]. Wood, l.. c. Fouts and DIR.
w. NJ. Turner. all of Tampico. They are
accompanied by a number of other
refugees.
These men surprised Secretary Of the
Navy Daniels yesterday afternoon, when
they declared with emphasis that the
government had fallen short of Its duty
to Americans at Tampico. Also they sur
prised Secretary Daniels when they pro-
tested against having been brought away
from Tampico against their wishes. They
said that when they had boarded the
English and German warships at Tam
pico TO be taken out TO the vessels of
Rear Admiral Mayo's command they
had expected to remain aboard only a
few days, until conditions at the port
became quieter. They complained that
the American warships should have
picked them up at Tampico and not left
them at the mercy of the English and
German vessels.
Secretary Daniels told them that he
did not take much stock in their COM
plant that they had been brought to the
United States against their wishes. Last
night he issued the following statement:
Daniels Issues Statement.
Complaints. evidently due 10 a lack OF
knowledge of the facts and a misunder-
standing of the situation. having been
made To the department by some of the
American refugees who have arrived in
this country from Tampico 1t has been
deemed advisable to state the situa-
ton clearly in order that there might
be no general misunderstanding upon
the part of the public and that the refu-
gees from Tampico themselves should
have information which they evidently
do not possess.
The complaints made by the refugees
relate principally to the withdrawal of
the American ships from the river on
which Tampico is located to the open
sea outside. and for the refusal of the
department TO take them back to Tampi-
co after having successfully taken them
out to absolute safety and security.
Let ii be stated first OF all that
the navy has considered it its pre-
eminent duty TO prevent loss OF life and
TO rescue Americans and foreigners in
obvious peril at the hands of excited
mobs of undisciplined soldiers
Protection Is Promised. :
The protection of property lying in
land and out OF range of the guns of the
fleet is clearly a difficult if not impossi-
bic problem for the naval forces of the
United States to attempt, but so far as
has been possible and whenever it could
be done without using for the purpose
ships needed to rescue endangered Ameri-
cans and carry them to places of safety,
the navy has endeavored to cool the en-
of an excited populace by the
sight of the visible power that is dis
~
as they are today, in practically every
port on both the east and west coasts.
but the saving and removing of Americans
and foreigners from perils has been its
first consideration. and has. in fact, been
its principal occupation during the last
few trying weeks.
The American property interests in
the oil wells at Tampico is undoubtedly
great, and nothing that we can do should
he left undone to prevent wanton pillage
and destruction of property, but the lives
of hundreds Of Americans and foreigners
looking to us to protect them in their
hour of need rank greater in the judy
ment of the department and at Tampico
as everywhere else. receive first consider
alton. Practically every American and
foreigner in the district is now safe, and
so far the property interests are safe as
well. 1t seems almost unnecessary to
explain or defend course which has
achieved such results. but to definitely