New Britain herald., 1914-04-20

Washington, April IV-r iesiuoiA. Wilson today answered Huerta's oe- fance by asking congress, assempleo in joint session, for approval to use the armed forces of the United states in such ways and to such extent as may be necessary to obtain rom General Huerta and his adherents the fullest recognition of the rights ana 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 na- tional guard.
 .aThere can be no thought of ag- gression or of selfish aggrandizement' declared the president to the sober faced throng of senators and repre- sentatives which packed the hall of the house.
 Just as soon as the joint session had dissolved this resolution was ln- troduced in the house:
 "A, resolution justirying the em- ployment of the armed forces of the United States in enforcing certain de- mands against Victorianu Huerta:
 Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives in congress as-
 
 United States Is Justified in the em- ployment of the armed forces of the United States to enforce the demands upon Victoriano Huerta for unequivo- cal amends to the government of the United States for indignities com- lmitted against this government by General Huerta and his representa- tives."
 At 3 P. M, sharp. President Will son delivered his address to congress asking for approval to use the armed forces of the United States in such ways and to such extent as may be necessary to obtain from Huerta and his adherents the fullest recog- nitions Of the rights and dignity of the United States"
 The president finished his reading of the message at SIP F. M., and left the chamber amid a roar of ap- plause and cheers.
 The text of the message follows:
 Ut is my duty to call your atten- ton to a situation which has arisen in our dealings with General Victor- ano Huerta at Mexico City which calls for action and to ask your advice and cooperation in acting upon it. On the ninth of April a paymaster of the U. s. $. Dolphin landed at the Itur- bide Bridge landing at Tampico wit. a whaleboat and boats crew to take of certain supplies needed by his ship. and while engaged in loading the boat was arrested by an officer and squad of men of the army of General Huerta. Neither the paymaster nor any of the boats crew was armed.
 Two of the men were in the boat when the arrest took place and were obliged to leave it and submit to be taken into custody, notwithstanding the fact that the boat carried. both at her bow and at her stern, the flag O. the United States. ~
 ''The officer who made the arrest was proceeding up one of the streets of the town with his prisoners when met by an officer of higher author ity, who ordered him to return to the landing. and await orders, and within an hour and half from the time of the arrest orders were re- ceived from the commander of the Huertista forces at Tampico for the release of the paymaster and his men. The release was followed by apolo- g1es from the commander and later by an expression of regret by Gen. eral Huerta himself. General Huerta urged that martial law obtained at the time at Tampico; that orders had been issued that no one should be allowed to. land at the Iturbide Bridge, and that our sailors had no right to land there. Our naval con- manders at the port had not been mo- titled of any such prohibition and, even if they had been. the only jus tif1able course open to the local au- thorities would have been to request the paymaster and his crew to with draw and to lodge 8 protest with the commanding officer of the fleet Ad- miral Mayo regarded the arrest as SO serious an affront that he 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.