New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-07-20
Sailors of the Wyoming
Attacked by Bandits
While Fishing in River
9 Miles Above Tampico
State Department
Asks Explanation
Most Serious Incident
Since Vera Cruz, Saw
Government Officials
NeW York Tribune
Washington Bureau


sailors from the U. S. S. Cheyenne,
while in sailing launch flying the
American flag, were held up by armed
Mexlcans nine miles from Tampico on
July and robbed, the State Depart
ment announced to-day. Personal ef-
1ects OF the sailors, consisting of
ring, watch and pair of shoes, were
taken by the robbers, whose identity is
not made known in the State DEPART
ment advices.
The incident is regarded as very
SERIOUS at the State Department.. one
official declaring that it was "the most
serious incident since Vera Cruz"
The State Department official an
nouncement follows:
The Department of State has lust
been advised that on July a boat
from the U. S. S. Cheyenne and oc-
cupled by enlisted men of that vessel
who were on fishing trip, was held
up on the Tamesi River, near Tampico
by armed men. The sailors were robbed
of personal effects,
Mexico Promises Inquiry
urgent representations have bean
made by the Department of State to
both the local Mexican authorities at
Iampico and to the Federal govern
ment at Mexico City, and the author-
ties there have promised to investi-
gate at once"
Upon investigation by Secretary of
the Navy Daniels it was found a re-
port of the incident was communicated
to the Navy Department on July By
Commander E. P. Finney of the United
Finney's report said:
The u. S. S. Cheyenne's motor sail
ing launch with a fishing party aboard
was held up by bandits July 6 about
nine miles from Tampico and the occu-
pants robbed. One ring, one pair of
shoes and one watch were stolen"
No explanation was made as to why
the incident was kept secret so long.
Inquiries made early in the day, based
on rumors, disclosed that certain off
Gals were surprised that the incident
had not been announced some time
ago.
Though the State Departments ad-
vices make no mention of the American
flag on the sailing vessel, Secretary of
the Navy Daniels left no doubt that
the flag was carried when he stated
that all launches or small craft Of
American naval vessels bore the flag us
Identification.
Must Be Carranza Men
While the Mexican robbers were not
identified in either the State De-
partment or Navy Department ad-
vices, it was pointed out by army ,f-
fcials to-day that the Tampico dis
trict had long been under the con
troll of Carranza and that no one in
that territory was permitted to carry
Secret War Department maps show
ing the territory in Mexico where
bandits are known to be give the
Tampico district as under the con-
troll Of Carranzista troops.
The U: S. S. Cheyenne is one of
the navy's old monitors. 1t is COM
mandcd by Lieutenant Commander ].
w. Schoenfeld The Topeka is the
senior ship of the five American ves-
sells that are now in Mexican waters
"The State Department people are
wrong when they say this is the mos.
serious incident since Vera Cruz"
declared Senator Albert B. Fall, Of
New Mexico the recognized authority
of the Senate on Mexican affairs, to-
night
"Why are they excited, anyhow ?"
he demanded. "It's the customary
thing, isn't it?
Recalls 1916 Incident
"Seriously, this incident is not near
ly SO grave as that which occurred at
Tampico in 1916, two years after the
landing at Vera Cruz to avenge the
arrest Of American sailors at Tam
pico. In 1914 the Governor at Tam
pco turned the American sailors
loose at once when he heard of it,
He apologized. Huerta apologized
But we demanded salute for the
flag, and seized Vera Cruz with some
loss of life
but two years later, after we had
driven Huerta out and recognized
Carranza, thereby placing him in
power, American marines, in a launch
flying the American flag, we're fired
pco water front by Carranzistas. Our
men fred back and engaged in a skr-
mish which lasted some minutes. Com
mander Scott, commanding the Mari
eta, from which ship the launch had
come, notified the Carranzsta com
mander he would occupy the town, but
he was ordered from Washington to
withdraw his notice, and not to issue
ultimatums. | have defed the Navy
Department to deny this, though they
have never given out the report of
Commander Scott.
"An interesting phase Of this 1916
incident was that the launch, at the
time it was fired on, was engaged in
ugees from the shore, whence they
we're fleeing for their lives, virtually
at the order Of tho American govern
ment, which would not protect them,
to some ships which were to take them
uwavv