Pioneer Press

TAMPICO SCUTTLE
A GRAVEN AFFAIR.
SAYS ROOSEVELT

Constituted So Grave an Offense Against the Nation's Honor and Duty That the Man Responsible Should Be Removed From Office.

WILSON CANNOT SHIELD HIMSELF BEHIND DANIELS

Authentic Proof That Americans in Peril Were Deserted by Their Own Government Against the Protest of the Senior Naval Officer Present

Most Pusillanimous Episode In the Naval Annals of Our Country.

Theodore Roosevelt in a letter to Henry Reuterdahl, the naval critic, criticises President Wilson and Secretary Daniels in connection with the Tampico affair, when the American warships were withdrawn by order of the Administration. The colonel says:

"You have presented authentic proof of how the Americans in peril at Tampico were deserted by their own government against the protest of the senior American naval officer present. You have shown that the government at Washington had full knowledge of the danger of the situation through telegrams from Admiral Mayo sent by wireless to the navy department on April 11, 12 and 13. You also give the telegram of Mr. Daniels of April 20 directing the admiral to proceed to Vera Cruz."

Mayo Feared Loss of Life.

"You have shown that Admiral Mayo made an emphatic protest to the navy department, stating that he feared the result of the squadron's leaving would be the loss of American lives and property. You also quote the telegrams sent by Admiral Mayo the following day, containing the protest of the American consul, Mr. Miller, and requesting authority to remain at Tampico. You have shown that, nevertheless, the navy department on the 21st confirmed its previous orders and directed the ships to leave at once.

"You have shown that the admiral put out into the ocean eight miles distant, but received a protest from Consul Miller reiterating his demand for protection. You then quote the telegrams and signals of Admiral Mayo, who, in spite of his orders, nobly refused to run from the post of duty while the lives of American men, women and children were in danger."

Can't Hide Behind Daniels.

Of the President and Secretary Daniels the colonel writes:

"President Wilson cannot shield himself behind Mr. Daniels, for Mr. Daniels could do nothing that the president does not order or sanction. When Mr. Daniels' actions have been brought to the attention of Mr. Wilson, and are not repudiated by him, they become Mr. Wilson's; and Mr. Wilson is fully and completely responsible for Mr. Daniels, for all that he has done and left undone.

"The proof is absolute that when Admiral Mayo was at Tampico he had received full knowledge of the rioting and of the imminent danger to American lives; but that, nevertheless, he steamed away into the ocean, and that the Americans were rescued by German and British ships. This action constituted so grave an offense from the standpoint of national duty and self-respect, that any man responsible for it should be at once taken out of office."

Facts Made Public In U. S.

"Shortly thereafter the facts were made public in the United States. If Admiral Mayo had been responsible and had not acted under orders, then the only proper course for Secretary Daniels would have been to order his instant court-martial, and in such case the failure to do so would have shifted
the blame at once from the shoulders of Admiral Mayo to the shoulders of superiors. President Wilson and Secretary Daniels.

"Therefore, even if these telegrams did not exist, even if there had been no such orders, or those actually issued by the secretary of the navy to Admiral Mayo, nevertheless his superiors, Secretary Daniels and President Wilson, would both have become fully responsible for the guilty transaction by their acquiescence therein. They cannot, as they have sought to do, shift the blame to the shoulders of the admiral."