Evening star., 1919-07-20
u. 5. TARS ROBBED
| IN OFFICIAL BOAT
ON MEXICAN RIVER
HoId-Up by Armed Men Re-
sembIes Attacks Preceding
Vera Cruz Occupation.
OFFICIALS SEE TROUBLE
LOOMING IN ASSAULT
Dispatch Urgent Word to Carranza
Government; New U. S. Policy
Thought in Effect.

A boat from the U. S. S. Cheyenne
occupied by enlisted men of the
American Navy was held up by
armed men in the Tamesi river. nine
miles off Tampico, Mexico. on July
E, and the sailors were robbed. The
American flag was flying from the
boat at the time.
Closely resembling the attacks on
American sailors which led to the
occupation of Vera Cruz in 1914, the
State Department did not hesitate to
regard it as a most grave affair and
| Immediately dispatched urgent rep
resentations to the Carranza govern
ment and the local authorities at
Tampico
Although the sailors were fishing,
they were on official duty bringing in
food for their ship, and the American
flag flying from the boat denoted that
it was official business.
Report Delayed 12 Days.
Preliminary reports of the attack,
reaching the Navy Department on
July ., uio Hot 6o " ShS otoeS ~
partmerh until yesterday, when it
promptly was given out. No expla-
nation was made for the delay.
The incident is regarded as most
serious and charged with possibilities
because the Carranza forces are in
full control of the Tampico district.
especially the city and the waters
about it. although the official report
does not identify the Mexicans who
attacked the boat. and because it
comes as the climax to long series
! of recent attacks on Americans. all OF
which have been made the subject OF
! increasingly urgent representations to
| the Carranza government.
Bandit Dominance Not Known.
Army officials said no reports re-
garding the activities of bandits in
the Tampico district had been re-
ceived heretofore and that official i'm
| formation in the War department files
showed that the Tampico district had
been under complete control Gy the
Mexican government. for several years.
Inc otdlc tiiS
statement concerning the incident:
THE Department of State has just
been advised that on July a boat
from the U. S. S. Cheyenne, occupied
| by enlisted men of that vessel who
/ were on a fishing trip, was held up
on the Tamesi river. near Tampico.
by armed men. The sailors were
robbed of personal effects,
Urgent representations have been
made by the Department of State to
both the local Mexican authorities at
Tampico and to the federal govern
ment at Mexico City, and the authori-
ties there have promised to investi-
gate at once"
Fuller Report Ordered.
Secretary Daniels sent the following
telegram to Commander F1nney OF
the Topeka:
wire fuller report and results of
Investigation of robbery of motor
sailing launch of U. s. S. Cheyenne.
Have parties been identified or ap-
.prehended?" -
Since President Wilson returned
from. the peace conference he has
turned his attention great deal TO
the. Mexican situation. Various re-
ports have been circulating in sourcea
in touch with Mexican. affairs that
the American government policy had
undergone a change. but there has
been no official indication or an
nouncement. ,-es..
/ q. S. Ready for Developments.
| 1t is known, however. that the I
American troops along the border I
have anew set of orders, which was
evidenced by the prompt manner in
which they crossed into Juarez ana
cleaned up thet-fshting there when
it .menaced Ell Paso. The extent to
which the military establishment has
been prepared to meet situation in
Mexico has not fully been disclosed.
but there are evidences that the gov
ernment is taking measures to be
.prepared, for any eventualities into
which it, may be forced.
4 It. was an incident at Tampico in
1914 Which brought on the occupa-
tlOn OF vera SfuA- "a ooat ifoHi ono
of Admiral Mayo's ships was de%
tanned. paymaster was arrested :
and jailed. and at other times. mes
seneers from the ships were menaced
ashore. Gen, Huerta refused to apol-
og}ze and. salute the American; flag
and the occupation of Vera Cruz fols9s
lowed. =. = ~
officials here see in the incident of
July 6 the makings of a more serious