The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-30
MR.. TUMULTY IN ERROR.
His Statements About Vera Cruz
Shown to Be Inaccurate.

To THE New York HERALD: Joseph
p. Tumulty in his address at Bethesda.
Md. paid to his chief, the President, a
tribute marked by deep feeling and even
pathos. One occupying the privileged
post of private secretary to the Presi-
dent of the United States. however,
should, in his public utterances, guard
his words for the sake of historical ac-
curacy. In his reference to the navy's
capture of Vera Cruz in April. 1914.
Secretary Tumulty. II correctly quoted.
has been guilty OF at least one gross
error. Your report of Mr.. Tumulty's
address-and those of the other news
papers are substantially identical--says :
President Wilson talked over the tele-
phone wire with Secretaries Bryan and
Daniels. and Mr.. Tumulty said he also
was on the telephone during the CONVEX
sation. When the situation had been
stated to the President. he said. the
voice came back clear and firm: Order
Admiral Mayo to take Vera Cruz at
once"
Now. Admiral Mayo was not present
at the capture of Vera Cruz and had
nothing to do directly with that event
Probably Mr.. Tumulty, and certainly the
President, knew in 1914 that the order
referred to was directed to Rear Admiral
Frank r. Fletcher. who was in command
at Vera Cruz and was senior to Rear
Admiral Mayo.
II was Rear Admiral Fletcher who d.
rected from start to finish the occupa-
ton of the Mexican city and the three
d,v, ct,hhorp 6ybttno, ipcidapt thereto
1t was Fletcher who signed the order
proclaiming martial law in the cap
tured port and who held it until the
arrival from Galveston of the late Brig
adler General Frederick Funston with
his brigade. 1t was Fletcher who stood
beside Funston during the ceremonial
review of the gallant naval brigade
which marked the turning over of the
custody of Vera Cruz from the navy to
the army.
During the fighting OF April 81 to 20.
flagship. the Connecticut, was in the
harbor Of Tampico. where he and the
small squadron under his direct COM
mand had been detailed for the protec-
ton of American interests. Tampico
was and is the key to the great Mex
lean oil fields, and there had been per-
sistent fighting there between the two
Mexican factions.
In one other respect I believe Mr..
Tumulty's memory must be faulty. The
original order Of the Navy Department
to Rear Admiral Fletcher did not in
struct him to take Vera Cruz at once"
1t directed him to take possession of the
Vera Cruz custom house. The capture
of the entire city and port was made
necessary from a military point of view
by the unexpectedly bitter resistance
offered by the Mexicans. 1t was not ac-
complished until the second day-April
22--after the night arrival from the
north of Rear Admiral Badger with the
main division of the Atlantic fleet.
Such unofficial emissaries of the Ad-
ministratlon as John Lind and William
Bayard Hale had so misjudged the Mex
lean temper that the Wilson Administra-
ton imagined the Vera Cruz custom
house could be taken forclbly with little
more ado than attends like enterprise
in Hayti or Santo Domingo.
Mr.. Tumulty's substitution of Rear
Admiral Mayo's name for that of Rear
Admiral Fletcher probably arose from
the fact that II was Rear Admiral Mayo
who forced the issue at Tampico when
n boatload OF American seamen had been
placed Under arrest. 1t was Mayo who
demanded In redress OF the outrage an
apology and a salute to the American
fag-a demand which was sustained by
Rear Admiral Mayo's superiors.
1t may he worth while in passing TO
note the fact that of the two ostensible
reasons for the Vera Cruz assault one
was to prevent the landing Of the Ypi-
ranga's- cargo and the other to force
Huerta to comply with the demand for
salute to the flag in apology for the
Tampico incident. Huerta, though ne
subsequently was forced into retirement,
never did salute the flag or tender an
apology. The Ypiranga's cargo OF arms
and munitions. though barred from Vera
Cruz at the moment, was safely landed
later at another Mexican port and found
It's way by rail to Mexico city.
AS staff correspondent for THE New
YORK HERALD / was stationed In Vera
Cruz uninterruptedly from January I'M
I'll July of 1914, and took some part In
the history making events Of those April
days. HAMILTON PELrz.
NEW York, October 20.