The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1919-07-26
GEXlCANS ATTACK
i. S. SAILORS
SIMILAR TO ~ INCIDENT


CHEYENNE, who were fishing IN tins
Tamesi River. nine miles from Tam
pico Mexico, on July E, and robbed
them. The boat, Secretary Daniels
said must have been flying the
American flag. The attack was re-
sarded here as an insult to the
American flag.
Though the attack on the sailors
occurred days ago there was no OIL
cial announcement Of it until the
state department gave out this state
ment:
The department of state has just
heen advised that on July 6 boat
from the q. S. S. Cheyenne and oc-
cupied by enlisted men OF that yes
sci. 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 author
tiles have promised to investigate at
once"
Secretary Daniels said he had not
heard of the incident until he saw
the state department announcement.
Then he asked aides If there had
been such a report. 1t was found
the navy report of the episode was
received July 7. Daniels gave out
paraphrase of the code message from
Commander E. P. Finney OF the
cruiser Topeka, which said that a
motor sailing launch of the monitor
Cheyenne, with fishing party aboard.
was held up by bandits July s, nine
miles from Tampico and the sailors
in it were robbed. The sailors, it
was said, lost a ring, watch and q
pair of shoes.
Daniels sent this message to Fin
Gey:
Wire fuller report and result of
Investigation of robbery of motor
sailing launch of the Cheyenne. Have
parties been Unidentified or appre-
lended?"
The attack was made in what is
supposed to be one of the two Car
ANA strongholds in Mexico, the dis
rict Immediately around Tampico.
The state department had no in
formation as to what sort Of men
.obbed the sailors. The navy depart
nent dispatch mentioned bandits"
In addition to the Cheyenne and
he Topeka, the navy ships available
or duty in the Tampico district are
he cruiser Castine, en- route from
Limon to Colon, in the Panama Ca
lal Zone, and the armed yacht May,
IN route from San Domingo to Port
Au Prince, Haiti
That the Tamesi River incident
might result in the announcement of
definite American policy toward
Mexico in the near future was be-
ieyed possible in many quarters. For
he past several weeks there have
9een many indications that the United
States was planning to abandon its
policy of tolerance and that program
was in the making which would call
! Tor Mexico being dealt with with a
firm hand. At the request Of the
state department, representatives of
American oil concerns with interests
IN Mexico recently conferred with
acting Secretary Of State Polk and it
has been reported that at this con-
ference it was indicated that the gov
eminent was preparing to protect
American interests in the southern
republic.
Also, during the past week there
have been meetings between Mexican
Ambassador Bonillas and American
Ambassador Fletcher; between Fletch-
or, Acting Secretary of State Polk
and Senator Lodge, chairman of the
foreign relations committee, and at a
meeting between Mr. Polk and the
president at the White House, it has
been insently reported, the Mexican
situation was discussed.
A flat denial by the state depart
ment OF South American press reports
that America has decided upon a pol
Icy OF armed intervention was being
taken at its face value and just what
course this government would pursue
could be made matter only for con-
lecture
But at the same time there was
every indication that the United
states soon would take concerted
action to impress the Mexican gov
eminent that American life and prop
erty in that country must be protect
cd; that other foreign interests must
be safe guarded, and that Mexico must
carry out her foreign obligations.