The Washington herald., 1919-07-21
u. 5. to Demand Punish
ment Of Mexicans Who
Held Up and Robbed
Boatload Of Bluejackets
From Warship Cheyenne.
SITUATION IS GRAVE,
OFFICIALS HERE SAY
Further Details Of Incident
Awaited by Navy Depart
ment Before Next Step Is
-Desperadoes Be-
lieved to Be Carranzistas.

Nothing short of an apology from
the Carranza government. together
with evidence showing that the band
OF desperadoes who insulted the
American flag and held UP and rob-
bed a number of American sailors
have been summarily punished. will
be acceptable to the United States.
This was said to be the attitude
of the State Department yesterday as
officials awaited further information
of the affront which occurred July D
near Tampico. Mexico. This is ter
ritory where Carranza is supposed to
be in complete control, and because
of this alleged control neither Amer
lean soldiers nor sailors are permit
ted to carry sidearms. The defense
less condition of the American blue
jackets made them easy prey for the
bandits.
Neither the State Department nor
the Navy Department had an addi-
tional report on the situation at a
late hour last night. II one is re-
ceived It will be Immediately wire
Iessed 20 the President. who is down
the Potomac River on the yacht May
Will Demand Punishment
Because it is admitted in official
quarters that the incident repre-
sents the gravest feature of Mexi-
can-American relations in the past
year, the State Department is hop
ing that the matter has already
been adjusted by the American
naval officers now in Mexican wa
ters. II the officers have demanded
an apology. and one has been given
by the Carranza authorities at
Tanpico. the matter would largely
be disposed of. One additional pro-
vision. however. would be neces-
ssrv. 1t would be the capture and
punishment of the bandits who
committed the insult and robbery.
The rext step of the Department
will, therefore. depend on the re-
port of Commander Finney VINO Is
in charge of the L. s S. Tope ka.
and is the ranking officer in Tam
picO waters. 1t was he who sent
the first report telling of the in
suit and robbery. which was per-
p4trated on the crew of a small
motor sailing launch of the U. ).
6 Cheyenne. an American monitor.
There is no attempt to minimize the
gravity of the situation as it Is pre-
sented by the two reports which are
already in the hands of the President
The latter has before him the report
sent by Commander Finney, which
reached the Navy Department the DAY
after the outrage took place, and the
report to the State Department. which
was received through diplomatic
channels.
President Likely to Act.
The President may take some def
mite action because the flag incident
and robbery are merely the culmina-
tion of a recent series of outrages
against Americans in territory which
Carranza has said was under his COM
rlete control. Moreover. the adminis-
alton may reel plOlhPtOu "
strong measures, as a British SUD
iect. Theodore Patterson. a mine su-
nerintendent. has just been reported
killed by Mexican bandits As op-
posed to the death of Patterson.
tbouCh. ia the murder of John Cor
reII. an American citizen. the ravag-
ing of his wife, and injury to his son;
the murder of Peter Catron, another
American; and a long list of rob-
heries of officials of American oil
interests. all Of which have occurred
rnNrrNI-EIn az PAGE NINE.