Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-05-06
Story lust Told of Incident in
April Two Years Ago Gives
Inside Information


ing OF American troops south of the
border, the Tampico incident, which
occurred just two years ago this
month, is again brought to mind In
an editorial review of Henry Reuter-
dahl's story In the March Metropolis
tan, the Portland 0regonian says:
SO carefully has Secretary Daniels
avoided that policy of 'pitiless publici-
ty, says the Oregonian, which was
promised by President Wilson, that
not until now, two years after the
event. has the true story of the events
! at Tampico, Mexico, in April, 1914.
become known. There was good rea-
son, from the standpoint of Mr.. VIII
son and Mr. Daniels, for this conceal
ment. The story is one of civilian
officials pushing to one side the men
who by training were qualified to deal
with such a situation and giving di-
rect orders on movement of ships in
volving questions OF naval startegy.
Far worse, II is story of American
ships ordered to scuttle from town
where thousands of American lives
were imperiled by an Infatuated Mexi.
can mob and by rival Mexican arm
les which agreed only in hatred OF
Americans. In spite OF repeated APP
peals from Admiral Mayo, who was in
command on the ground, and from
United States Consul Miller, the
American squadron was ordered to
their rescue to British and German
ships.
Story Fully Verified.
aThe story is told, with full verifi-
cation by means of official wireless
messages, by Henry Reuterdahl in the
March Metropolitan.
when the Dolphin's boat crew was
arrested on April 10, 1914, by Huerta's
soldiers, that ship, the Chester and
the Des Moines were anchored at
Tampico, which is seven miles up the
narrow Panuc0 river They we're
cleared for action, with men sleeping
at the guns. The batIieships Connec-
ticut and Minnesota were outside,
drawing too much water to enter the
river. About eco American oil men
were IN the neighboring. oil regions
and four OF Huefta's gunbOats were
Smelling the rebel positions outside
the city. British, German and Dutch
warships were In the rlver. Admiral
MAYO had not been informed of the
eovernment's policy, the advice OF the
general board was not sought and
Mr.. Daniels, the country editor and
politician, ran things himself.
Demand Houses Wrath.
"Mayo's demand for q national sa-
Lutte TO wipe out the insult to the flag
set Tampico boiling and on April II
he sent this message, 'Anti-American
feeling very strong and the next day
he followed Il up with, Much
alarmed but added that he could
take and hold Tampico,s at least
temporarily. Knowing the situation,
his superiors, Admirals Badger and
Fletcher. advised Daniels On April 20:
MAYO should lot leave river until
salute is disposed Of
when the news OF the seizure OF
Vera Cruz on April 81 reached Tampi-
CO. the Mexicans were inflamed with
range and shouted. Death TO the
eringoes.' In the Plaza.
Departure Order Given.
But at p. m. on April 20 Daniels
had wirelessed to Fletcher at vera
Clnz:
Mayo ordered proceed Vera Cruz
all ships except Des Moines.
Fletcher repeated the order TO
Mayo and. not understanding its pur
pose. ai1eo Request verbficrtion.
Of the department.
Mayo on April 20 sent this en-
phatic message to Daniels:
Fear that our ships leaving Tam
pieo viii result In loss American citi-
zene' lives, property, due insulting
onti-American feeling. Position Des
Noines and American citizens OF vicin-
ity Will be nntenable. Therefore, re-
quest repetition and orders before
leave Tampico.
Protest 70 Entered.
During the night Miller boarded
the Dolphin and protested to Mayo
against the sQuadron's departure. At
7s40 next morping Mayo sent this fur
Their protest TO Daniels:
American consul at Tampico has
protested TO me against departure of
ships, see his despatch. Request au-