Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-09-30
TAM|P|C0 S(|jTTEE
A CRAVEN A.|IF 1:;.n,
SAYS ROOSEVELT
Constituted So Crave an OffeAse
Against the Nations Honor
and Duty That the Man
Responsible Should Be
Removed From Office.
WILSON CANNOT SHIELD
HIMSELF BEHIND DANIELS

Authentic Proof That Americans IN
Peril Were Deserted hy Their Own
Government Against the Protest
the Senior Naval Officer Present
Most PusilIannnous Episode In the
Naval Annals of Our Country.
Theodore Roosevelt in q letter TO
Henry Eeutcrdahl. the naval critic.
criticises President Wilson and Sccrc-
tary Daniels in connection with the
TampicO affair, when the American
warships were withdrawn by order of
the Administration. The colonel says
"YOu have presented authentic proof
of how the Americans in peril 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
tclcGrams from Admiral Mayo sent
by wireless to the navy department on
April II, ~ and 13. You also give the
telegram of Mr.. Daniels Of April 20
directing the admiral to proceed to
Vera Cruz
Mayo Feared Loss of Life
you have shown that Admiral Mayo
made an emphatic protest to the navy
department. stalin" that he feared the
result Of the sQuadrun'S leaving would
be the loss of American lives and prop
erty. You also quote the kilograms
sent by Admiral Mayo the following
day, containing the protest Of the
American consul, Mr. Miller, and re
questing authority to remain at Tam
pico. You have shown that. ncvcrthe
less. the navy department on the DIST
confirmed its previous orders and di-
rectcd the ships to leave at once
"YOu have shown that the admiral
put out into the ocean eight miles dis
tant, but received q protest from Con
SUI Miller reitcratng his demand for
protection. You then quote the tele-
grams and signals of Admiral Mayo,
who, in spite of his orders. nobly re-
fused to run from the post Of duty
while the lives of American men, wom-
en- and children were in danger"
Can't Hide Behind Daniels.
or the President and Secretary Dan
iels the colonel writes:
"PrCside1t Wilson cannot shield him
self behind Mr.. Daniels. for Mr.. Dan
iels could do nothing that the prcsi-
dent does not order or sanction. When
Mr.. Daniels actions have been brought
to the attention Of Mr. Wilson, and
H.,
come Mr.. Wilson'S; and Mr.. Wilson is
fully and completely responsible for
Mr.. Daniels, for all that he has done
and left undOne.
"The proof is absolute that when
Admiral Mayo was at Tampico he had
received full knowledge Of the rioting
and Of the imminent danger to Ameri.
can lives; but that. nevertheless, he
steamed away into the ocean. and that
the Americans were rescued by Ger.
man and British ships. This action
constituted so grave an offcnso from
the standpoint of national duty and
self-respcct, that any man responsible
for it should be at once taken out Of
Office
Facts Made Public In u. s.
shortly thereafter the facts were
made public in the United States. If
Admiral Mayo had been responsible
and bad not acted under orders, then
the only proper course for Secretary
Daniels would have been to order his
instant court-martial. and in such case
the failure to do so would have shifted