Evening journal., 1916-09-18
ROOSEVELT attacks
DANIELS AND Wilson
Bases Accusations on lamp
ico Incident in Letter
TO Naval Critic
DECLARES THE FACTS
ARE INDlSPUTABLE

NEW YORK. Sept 1S.-Theodore
Roosevelt in letter to Horny Reuter-
dahl. in the naval critic. made public
Yesterday. attacks President Wilson
and Secretary Daniels in connection
with the Tampico affair. when tho
American warships were withdrawn
by order Of the administration.
Expressing regret that the Century
has not published Mr. Reuterdahl s
statement. the Colonel writes in man
part as follows.
sHou have presented authentic
proof of how the Americans in peru at
Tampico were deserted by their own
government against the protest OF the
senior American naval officer present.
You have shown that the government
at Washington had full knowledge OF
the danger Of the situation through
teleerams from Admiral Mayo sent by
wireless 10 the Navy Department on
April II. 12 and Is. You also give the
Telegram of Mr.. Daniels OF April ~
directing the Admiral to proceed to
Vera Cruz
'You have shown that Admiral
nlayo made an emphatic protest to
INC Navy Department, stating that he
feared tho result of the squadron
leaving would be the loss OF Ameri-
can lives and property You also
opotc the telegram sent by Admiral
MAYO the following day containing inc
protest OF tho American Consul. MI
Miller. and requesting authority TO re-
main al Tampico. You have shown
that. nevertheless. the Navy Depart
mont on the DIST confirmed its pre-
,ions orders and directed the ships
20 leave az once.
"Nohiv Refused 10 Rum"
sYon have shown that the Admiral
mt ont into the ocean eight miles
distant. hut received protest from
Consul Miller reitcrating his demand
for protection. You then quote the
Telegram and signals Of Admiral
AI.vo. who. in spite Of his orders,
noblv refused TO run from the post
NJ dutv while the lives Of American
men. women and children we're IN
danger"
or The President and Secretary Dan
iole. tho Colonel writes
4Presidcnt Wilson cannot shield
himself behind Mr.. Daniels. for MT
Daniels could do nothing that the
proeident does not order or sanction
N-hon MIR Daniels actions have been
,,rouoht to the attention OF Mr.. VIII
eon and arc not repudiated by him'
no, hecomc Mr.. Wilson'S; and MT.
wilson is fully and completely re-
nonsible for Mr.. Danicls-for all that
ne has done and loft undone
.rrhe prooi Is absolute thal Wncn
Adn,iral Niayo was az Tampico he
had received full knowledge ~ the
,iotinr and of the imminent danger 70
American lives. but that. neverthe-
ice- he steamed away into the ocean,
ANA ihat the Americans were rescued
h, German and British ships THIS
action constituted so grave an otenso
aroinst the honor OF the United
states. II represented so grave an OF
fensc from the standpoint OF natiohal
duty and sclf-respect. that any man
Responsible for il should be at once
taken out of office.
"Shortly thereafter the facts were
made public i'm the United states. u
Admiral MAYO had been responsible
and had not acted under orders. ther
Tho only proper course Tor Secretary
Daniels would have been 10 order his
instant court-martial: and In sucf
case tho failure to do so would have
shifted the blame NJ once from Tho
shoulders OF Admiral Mayo TO The
shoulders OF his superiors. Presiden
Wilson and Secretary Daniels.
.sThorcfore. even II these telegraml
4 hnpI
no such orders as those actually Is
sued by The Secretary OF the Navy t'
Admiral Mayo. nevertheless his su
pcriors. Secretary Daniels and Presi
dent Wilson would both have becom
fully responsible for the guilty trans
action by their acquiescence therein
They cannot. as they have sought 4
do. shift the blame on to the shoul
dcrs of the Admiral.
"Thc Facts Are lndisputable."
~By no possibility can President Wi
son and Secretary Daniels clear then
selves from guilt in the transaction. I'm
facts arc indispuiable. No one question
that there was riotmg which menace
the lives and property OF American
after the squadron had left. that II
commander of the squadron had motto
of the danger before sailing, and thg
protection to the Americans in dang'
was accorded by German and Britis
ships.
'For over three years President Wi
SON and Secretary Daniels have had ia
knowledge of these facts If il could 7
shown that Admiral Mayo acted on h
own responsibility, then President Wi
son and Secretary Daniels would sti
stand convicted of having connived q
acquiesced in and sanctioned the wror
by their failure TO punish il. But yC
have proved that their participation WI
more active. and that Admiral MAY
merely did as his Supporters, against h
protest. made him do