The daily times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1902-1936, 1919-07-21
MEXICANS ROB
OUR MARINES
Hold Up Party from the Chey-
enne While Fishing
OFF Tampico.
MANY OTHER oUTRAGEs

WASHINGTON, D. c., July 49,
The American flag has again been
insulted by the Mexicans.
The affront was coupled with the
robbery of a crew of American sail
|ors near Tampico, Mexico, on July
9Th An inquiry at the State Depart
Iment today developed these facts
and brought for the issuance
of a statement to the effect that
urgent representations" had been
made to theMexicangovernm
1t was admitted at theState de-
partment that the case was the most
serious of any that have tended to
disrupt relations between Mexico and
the United States within the past
six months, although in the last four
weeks two American citizens have
been murdered by Mexican bandits
The State Department made the
following statement this afternoon:
.The Department of State has
tj:est been advised that on July 9Th,
a boat from the U. S. S., Cheyenne,
occupied by enlisted men of that yes
t.sel, 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
lbeen made by the Department OF
State to both the local authorities
at Tampico and the Federal govern
ment at Mexico City, and the author
tiles there have promised to investi-
gate at once.
Between 1855 and 200 o'clock
[sailors are believed to have been on
the small boat-a combination mo-
tor sailing launch,-which flew
the American flag. 1t is not known
whether any shots were fired by the
bandits to bring the vessel toa stop
Secretary of the Nav yDaniels to-
day ordered a complete report of the
incident from the commander of Am
erican vessels in Mexican waters.
The navy department heard OF
the affronr and robbery on July T.
but the matter was not brought tc
attention of Secretary Daniels until
today. The first word to the navy de-
lpartment came from Commander
E. F. Finney, of the U. S. S. Top
leka. His message said:
"a motor sailing launch from the
u. S. S. Cheyenne, with fishing
party, was held up by bandits or
iJuly 6, about nine miles from Tam
pico, One ring one watch, and one
pair of shoes were stolen.''
The meagre property involved
Edoes not effect the issue whatever
itwas said at the department, but
the blue-jackets probably were al
leave at the time and wore fat
ligue uniforms. The robbery took
lplace on a Sunday afternoon Lit.
Commander J. w. Schoenfield, was
in command of the Cheyenne but
khe motor launch is believed to have
carried only enlisted men.
The gist of the matter lies in the
fact that the American sailors were
helpless before the bandits. They
Ibid not carry firearms, as this i:
prohibited by the Carranza govern
tment, and it has been the contention
lof the CarranZa authorities righ
|along that the Tampico district was
free from bandits. 1t is assumed tha
1.-THE fishing party was far outnumber
led by the bandits and that the lat
ter used force inrobbing the Amer
leans.
This is the second case within the
past month wherein Americans il
the Tampico district have suffered
from the depredations of bandits
iWhile the description of the mel
iwho attacked the Americans is a.
Iyet unknown, the murder of Johl
wv. Correll, an American Citizen
Hast month, within twenty miles o
tTampico was accomplished by a par
lty of fifty men, many of whom wor
1.-THE uniform of Carranzas' sol
Urgent representations" whicl
were madefin the Corre1l case, thu
Il far have been fruitless. Mrs, Correl
the widowiRho was attacked an
J fcoI ned On mage six)