Flag of Betrayal: Tampico Affront Sparks Crisis in US-Mexico Relations

In a tense standoff that has left Washington on high alert, the fate of American marines held captive by the Huerta forces in Tampico hangs precariously in the balance. On April 17, 1914, President Woodrow Wilson expressed his confidence that the federal commander at Tampico would comply with Rear Admiral Mayo’s demand for a salute to the American flag, a gesture intended to make amends for the arrest of the marines. However, as the hours ticked by, the Navy Department remained uncertain whether the salute had been fired, leaving the administration reeling with anticipation.