The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-07-21
Six Americans in Launch
Flying American Flag At
tackled Near TampicO
GREATEST OUTRAGE
FOR A LONG TIME
State Department Demands an Explana-
ton = May Lead to Intervention =
Probable Additional War Ships Will
Be Sent to Mexican Waters.

Probable Addlt1onal war SmpS VIII
Be Sent to Mexican Waters.
WASHINGTON, July 21.-While on a !
fishing trip in the Tamesi river about
nine miles from Tampico, in the motor
sailing launch of the Z. 5. S. Cheyenne
on Sunday. July 6, American sailors were
held M and robbed 10y a Land 0! armed
Mexicans. There was no doubt as to the
identity of the launch, which was flying
the Amer lean flag
This latest outrage against Americans,
characterized by state department officials
as the elavest for a lono time, may force
the hand of the administration and com
pei armed intervention. 1t is the Official
opinion that it will have serious conse
cuences. Just such an incident as this
was responsible for the Vera Cruz eXpe-
| dtion. and it is certain if President Nil
son orders another expedition it will &C
complish its full purpose before withdraw
! ing.
| Inasmuch as Tampico is indisputably
| Carranza territory, and has been since
| the overthrow of the Huerta government,
the inclination here is to place the blame
for this insult to the American flag
sauarely upon the shoulders of President
! CarranZa
| The bandit leader Pelaez controls the
oil district back of Tampico, but the Car
ranzistas have for years controlled the re-
gion for miles in every direction from
| Tampico, especially along the coast. Sc
cret war department maps place the
mouth of the Tamesi river in Carranza
territory
| The formal statement, which was called
to the attention of President Wilson be-
| fore being made public, follows:
The department of state has just been
| advised that on July 6 a boat from the
! L. 5. s. Cheyenne and occupied by en-
! listed 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 government at Mexico
1 City and the authorities there have prom
ised to investigate at once.
Acting Secretary of State Phillips
Il frankly admitted the incident was the
gravest of several during the past few
months, and which have included murder,
rapine and robbery.
He said American consular officers in
the Tampico district have been ordered to
send in detailed reports While the in
cidcnt occurred July 6 just two
weeks ago and the despatch appears t.
have been sent two days later, il
was not called to Mr. Philhps's at
tention until Saturday
Secretary of the Navy Daniels, whcr
shown the state department announce
ment, declared it was the first news he
had received regarding the attack upoI
members of the Cheyenne's crew. He was
obviously disturbed at not having received
. direct word from the senior naval com
mander in the vicinity of Tampco
He sent post haste to the office of Ad
miral Benson, chief of naval operations, t,
learn if despatch had been received il
the navy department In a few mo
ments an officer returned to his offic
with a despatch from Commander Ear
p Finney, commander of the t. S
Topeka and senior commander near Tam
pico. This despatch, dated July I, on
day after the occurrence, follows:
II. IS. s. Chryenne's motor sailin
launch, with a fishing party was held u
by bandits July about nine miles fror
Tampico. One gold ring, one pair of shoe
and one watch stolen
Mr. Daniels Immediately sent the follow
ing despatch to Commander Finncy:
''Wire fuller report and result of inve.
tigation of the robbery of motor sailin
launch of the e. S s. Cheyenne Hav
parties been identified or apprehended
During the war priod a large numbc
of cruisers, submarine chasers and othe
craft were on active patrol duty in til
Gulf of Mexico. Shortly after the signin
of the armistice, however, most of thes
craft were withdrawn. They had ha
long service and many of them require
overhauling
While Secretary Daniels made no de-
mite announcement, it is expected tn;
Admiral Wilson, commander in chief
the Atlantic fleet, will send additions
naval vessels into the Gulf as result
the attack upon the Cheyenne's launc
Should sudden action be ordered, A.
miral Rodman, commander in chief of IL
: Pacific fleet, is now on his way to IL
; Panama canal with his great armada, al
n some of his fast vessels could be rusht
II into the Gulf.