South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-04-20
WILL SEND ARMED FORCE AGAINST
ONLY "HUERTA AND SUPP(RTERS'
President Declares He Will Not Use Authority Over Fighting
Machines OF u. S. Against Mexican People" But
To Compel Dictators Respect

WASHINGTON, April 20
Asking approval 10 use the armed
forces Of the United States in such
ways and 10 such an extent that
may be necessary to obtain from
Gen. Huerta aid his adherentS the
fullest recognition of the rights
and dignity of the United States,
President Wilson today personally
appealed to a joint session of con-
greSS for permission to compel
proper recognition of the Suprem-
acy of the stars and strips.
81 earnestly hope that war is not
now in question, said the presi-
dent. eve do not desire to con-
troll Mexico. Our feelings for the
people of that country is one of
deep and genuine friendship. The
people Of Mexico are entitled to
settle their own domestic affairs in
their own way. We sincerely de-
sire to respect their rights. Mex
leo is torn by civil strife. Only part
of the country is under Gen. HUI
erta'S control.
IF armed conflict should un-
happily come as a result of his at
titude Of personal resentment to-
wards this government, We should
be fighting only Gen. Huerta and
those who adhere to him and give
him support, and our object
would he only to restore to the
people of the distracted republic
the opportunity to set up their own
laws.
The president said there was no
thought or aggression or aggrandize-
ment on the part OF the United
States. He asked merely for ap-
proval of his intention TO use his own
prerOgatiYe as commander in chief of
The ARM and navy 10 order the two
branches OF the military service into
action for the purpose OF compelling
President Huerta TO salute the Amer
lean flag.
Message Recites Occurrences.
The presidents address, which was
largely recitative of the occurrences
which led up TO the presentation Of
the ultimatum TO Gen. Huerta by the
United states. follows:
President Wilson in his message to
congress said:
Gentlemen of the Congress:
1T is my duty TO call your atten-
1iOn 10 a situation which has arisen
in our dealings with General Nictori-
anO Huerta- at Mexico City. which
calls for action. and 10 ask your advice
and cooperation in acting upon ii. on
the ninth of April a paymaSter OF
the L. S 5. Dolphin landed at the
lturbide bridge landing at TampicO
with a whale boat and boats crew TO
take off certain supplies needed by
this ship. and while engaged in load
ing the boat was arrested by an officer
and squad OF men of the army OF
General Huerta. Neither the pay
master nor anyone Of the boats crew
was armed.
Two OF the men were in the boat
when the arrests took place and were
obliged TO leave IL and submit to be
1aker into custody. Notwithstanding
the fact that the boat carried. both at
her bow and a her stern, the flag OF
the United states The officer who
made the arrest was proceeding up
one OF the ST. cts OF the city with his
prisoner when net by an officer Of
higher authority. who ordered him TO
return 10 the landing and await or
ders: and within an hour and half
drOm the time Of the arrest. orders
were received from the commander
of the Huertista forces at Tarnpico
Cor the release OF the paymaster anC
1lis men.
Apologies Followed
The release was followed by apol-
Dgies from the commander and later
fy an expression OF regret by General
1fuerta himself General Huerta urg
ed that marital law obtained at the
time at TampiCc. that orders had been
Issued that no one should be allowed
10 land az the Iturbide bridge and
that our sailors had no right there.
our naval commanders at the port
had not been notified or any such
prohibition; and even II they had
ieen. the only Justihable course open
20 the local authorities would have
been 10 request the paymaster and his
crew 10 withdraw and 10 lodge pro-
Test with the commanding officer OF
the fleet
Admiral Mayo regarded the ar
rest as so serious an affront that ne
was not satisfied with the apologies
offered but demanded that the flag
Of the United States be saluted with
special ceremony by the military
commander OF the port.
No Trivial Incident
THE incident cannot be regarded
as Arrival one, especially as two OF
the men arrested were taken from
the boat itself-that Is 20 say. from
the territory OF the United States;
but had Il stood by itself II might
have been attributed 10 the ignor-
ance or arrogance or a single officer
unfortunately, IL was not an iso-
lated ease. A series OF incidents have
recently occurred which can not but