South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-13
Five American BattIeShipS
MaSSed in HarbOr = Re-
mainder of Mexican Squad
ron Called From Vera Cruz.
FLETCHER ORDERS
CIVILIZED WARFARE
Admiral Protests Against Hang
ing of Federal and Rebel
Commanders in Full View of
Shipping and City.

WASHINGTON, Dec 13-Practic-
ally the entire American fleet now I'm
Mexican waters has been massed out
side of TampicO, according TO dis
patches from Rear Admiral FLETCHER.
To the navy department this after
noon: The battIeships Virginia.
Rhode Island and New Jersey are at
anchor well OF the city while the
gunbOats Wheeling and Tacoma are
further in short Navy department.
officials are considering the advisable
ity of transferring the remainder of
the American feet from Vera Cruz
TO TampicO.
Admiral Fletcher has ordered ali
Americans out of the city of TamDicO
About 800 refugees have been taken
care of on board the American war
! ships. Al American WoIneH and
cili!heH ave been taken out of the
city. but some men have preferred TO
remain IN TampicO despite Admiral
Eletcher's warning.
The comma nder of the American
fleet reports that ali foreigners are
safe. The navy department. Saturday
chartered the Ward liner MORO Cas-
tie 10 90 TO Tampico and take ON
board such refugees as may wish To
leave. The Moro Castle will reach
IampicO Sunday morning. Admiral
Fletcher reports that the situation at
Iampico Is steadily getting worse
Heavy fighting continues and the
Mexican gunbosf Bravo i Smelling
the position OF the constitutionaIists.
Admiral Fletcher has not vet land
ed any marines, but he T. holding a
considerable force ready for instant
action if either side threatens foreign
property. which, up to this time, has
not been violated.
Rear ASmiral Fletcher has also
served notice on the fghting Mexican
rebels and federals at that port that
they must follow the rules of civilized
warfare.
He reported To Secy. OF the Navy
Daniels by wireless Saturday that the
battle was still going on there. but
that he had made formal protest "in
the name Of humanity against the
hanging Of all prisoners taken bv
each side This was the first init
nation the government had received
that the contestants at TamDicO were
using the same barbaric methods of
warfare that has characterized form
er fighting in northern Mexico.
Admiral Fletchers protest. which.
he says has been transmitted TO both
the federal and rebel commanders.
was brought about by the hanging OF
three rebels by the federaIs in full
view Of the shipping and city.
About 50 other prisoners also have
been shot or Hanged. Admiral Fetch
er did not report what answer was
made TO his protest.
MEXICO CITY. Dec. Rear
Admiral Fletcher, commander OF the
American naval forces in Mexican
waters, Friday ordered the rebels and
federals fighting at Tampico. to cease
firing. threatening to open upon them
with the guns Of the gunbOat Wheel
ing If his order was not Obeyed. Both
sides complied with the order
This information Is contained In a
dispatch received Friday night by Sir
Lionel Garden. the British minister.
from Rear Admiral Sir Christopher
Cradock of the British cruiser Ber-
wick, which is lying of Tampico.
The federals hold the center OF the
town OF TamDico and the water front
Rear Admiral Fletcher has ordered
foreigners TO take refuge on board
ships or 20 congregate on the water
front where they viii be under the
protection OF his guns
How many rebels are engaged in
the attack on TampicO is not known.
but II IS estimated that their number
is at least twice that OF the federals.
and their operations indicate that they
expect more men from Victoria, cap
ltal OF the state Of Tamaulipas. which
Ees half way between Tampico and
Monterey 20 the north.
The rebels. who are IN possession of
the railroad yards and shops and large
stores Of material and equipment, have
actually detached from their lines
sufficient men 10 undertake repairing
the railroad north and west from
Tampico toward Victoria The dam
age that has been done this line while
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