The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-04
MR.. TUMULTY'S MEMORY BAD
Instead Of Taking Vera Cruz Admiral
Mayo Could Not Protect Americans.

10 THE NEW York HERALD: Mr..
Tumulty's reference to the Vera Cruz
affair in his eulogy OF the President Is
particularly unfortunate In the eyes OF
all who were unlucky enough to. suffer
from the consequences OF that disastrous
piece OF international bungling-
To begin with. Mr.. Tumulty's memory
is at fault when he speaks OF Admiral
Mayo as taking Vera Cruz. AS matter
OF fact Mayo was at Tampico. $50 miles
away, with three vessels. ostensibly to
protect Americans. when the capture OF
Vera Cruz took place. News OF the
event reached Tampico almost imme-
lately and a mob OF Mexlcans gathered
to take vengeance on the Americans in
town, some 800 Of whom sought refuge
In the Southern Hotel, where they we're
besieged by the pcpulace
Mayo, at anchor In the Panuco River
few hundred yards away, realized the
need of going to the aid OF his country
men, but was forbidden to do so by re-
peated wireless orders from Washington
and eventually steamed out to sea, leav-
ing the Americans In the hotel to the
mercy of the mob. from which they were
rescued by the resolute action Of the
Captain of the German cruiser Dresden,
who told the Mexican commandant to
dispense the crowd or the German ma
rines would do so.
"It breaks my heart, but 1t has to be
DONE" were the words of the President,
according to Tumulty, when he issued
the order for the capture OF Vera Cruz.
Why did it have to be done? The
first reason given by the Administration
was to compel the Mexicans to salute
the American aag; later. as an after
thought, was given the reason that de-
livery to the Mexicans Of certain ship
ment of arms on the German steamer
Ypiranga had to be prevented.
They were delivered. nevertheless,
few days afterward' at another port.
with the full knowledge Of the State De-
partment as was another shipment car
ried by the Bavaria. The salute de-
n.anded was never given. The Ameri-
can public is therefore justified in disbe-
Jieving the statements OF the Admins
tration on this score.
Subsequently our Secretary OF State,
william jennings Bryan, was indiscreet
enough to let the truth slip out when he
said 1--WE took Vera Cruz to show the
world that we were In earnest when we
said that Huerta must CO." In other
words. Mr.. Wilson's passion for med
ding in the affairs Of other people led
him to employ the armed forces of the
United States in forcing out of office
President Of whom he did not approve.
in an attack which. besides being d.
rect violation of our treaty with Mexico.
as well as contrary to all international
law, cost the lives of some twenty OF
our men and Of several times as many
Mexicans Yet this was the same Pres
dent Wilson who less than year later
could tell an indianapolis audience:
European nations have taken as long
as they wanted and split as much blood
as they pleased In settling their own
affairs, and shall we deny that to Mexico
because she Is weak? No, l say. ! am
proud to belong TO a strong nation which
says: This country which we can crush
shall have just much freedom In her
own affairs as we have"
Haytians and others, please take mo-
tice. But Mr.. Tumulty says that Mr..
Wilson has too fine Il nature for the
dramatics and posturings of the politi-
cal game as 1t is usually played. and
Mr.. Tumulty ought to know. A. J. o.
NEW York, November 3.