The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-09


 clops and Solace to look out for
 American and foreign lives until other
 provision is made; also giving me
 my first information that he had been
 ordered to seize the custom house at
 Vera Cruz. I sent back word that
 was outside, and would remain outside
 for further orders or developments ' How far were you from Tanpi-
 coz"
 About six miles. Well, later in the
 morning, Admiral Fletcher asked me
 to expedite the Chester and the San Francisco, and I sent them promptly. | Then I learned that Admiral Badger
 and Admiral Fletcher, consulting by | wireless, had agreed that the battle | ships of the Atlantic fleet should
 change their course from Tampico to
 Vera Cruz, letting the three divisions | of destroyerS come on to me-" | What was happening in Tampico %
 I asked
 Nothing very serious. The day
 of the 21st passed off quietly enough, 1 but that night after the Mexicans knew of the fighting in Vera Cruz, there were some anti-American de- | monstratiOns that the federal troops | put down quickly. It was during these demonstrations that Captain Koehler | of the German cruiser Dresden went to General Zaragoza and demanded | that he stop the demonstration and | that he protect the Americans He, with some of his officers, escorted | some American ladies and children to | the boat landing and took them off l to the Dresden.
 "I received so many alarming re- | ports during the night of the 21-22 | that I decided to go up the river on the morning of the 22nd and bring | out the Americans. What I had been guarding against was any ap- pearance of hostile action that might occasion a general outbreak, but the pressure put upon me was too strong | to be resisted.
 "You see, the problem was not merely the protection of Americans in Tampico alone, for the foreign popu- lation was scattered all through the oil region and among ranches far in the interior. Early on the morning of April 22nd I sent a message to Captain Doughty of the British cruiser Hermione, telling him of my intent, and asking him to inform General Zaragoza that I was coming in for the sole purpose of taking out Ameri- can citizens.
 Captain Doughty at once made a request that my plan should be- chang ed. He pointed out that it was not only Americans who were concerned, but also English, German, French and Spanish. He did not doubt my abil- ity to handle the Tampico situation, but he did fear for the safety of all foreigners in the city and in the in terior. One shot from my guns. one clash between my men and the Fed eral forces, and fire would be light ed that would spread far faster than any relief expedition could hope to follow. What he suggested was that should remain outside, and permit him to collect all Americans quietly and slowly, and then send them out to me.
 'Tt struck me as a good idea, and I advised Admiral Fletcher as fol- lows:
 Arranged as last resort to go in this morning to bring out Americans. Felt almost sure such action would precipitate hos tilities. British captain when in formed of my purpose requested
 me for the sake of all foreigners not to come, in, but that he would
 send Americans out, to which I
 agreed"
 'For three days this work of rescue went on. Over 2,100 Americans were taken out"
 "SO THAT IS HOW THE LIE STARTED THAT THE UNITED STATES DESERTED ITS CITIZENS AND FORGED THEM TO SEEK RE- FUGE UNDER THE BRITISH FLAG ?'' said.
 .Exact1y. For three days the work of rescue went on. We took out about 5000 Americans, dividing 1p among the ships as best we could. sent me two transports, the Hancock and the Dixie, and the Ward Line steamers I sent about 2,100 Ameri- cans to Galveston in these vessels and the Connecticut and some colliers and destroyers. Also later sent a large number to New Orleans.
 Mayo" I asked.
 Not single life"
 "Any property destroyed?"
 None, except losses incident to the rebel attack. SURELY SUCH RE- SUITS OUGHT TO CONSTITUTE A SUFFICIENT ANSWER TO MISREP- RESERVATIONS AND ASPER- SIONS," he exclaimed with intense earnestness. No bloodshed, no des- truction. I would have been easy for me to have smashed Tampico into bits with my guns. Not only did I h ho Ioff Des Moines and the Dolphin, but early on the morning of the 22nd, the three divisions of destroyers from Admiral Badgers fleet came up. You never saw a more beautiful sight than the swift approach as they came up to the rivers mouth in line!
 BUT IT WOULD HAVE MEANT WAR AND BURNING AND KILLING AND WHAT WAS AFTER WAS THE PROTECTION OF AMERICAN LIVES AND PROPERTY. IT WAS A TRYING SITUATION. LOTS OF TIMES IT WAS HARD FOR ME TO EXERCISE SELF-RESTRAINT, BUT I REALIZED THAT THE LIVES OF THOUSANDS HUNG ON THAT VERY SELF-RESTRAINT. THINK THE RESULTS JUSTIFIED MY COURSE.
 More than anything else resent the way they are hitting at Secretary Daniels over my shoulder know