Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-09
ADMIRAL FLETCHER'S STORY
OF VERA CRUZ OCCUPATION
Detailed Report OF
Fighting on the
East Coast
INITIATIVE And CLEAR
JUDGMENT" IN BATTLE

| Washington. June s-Rear Admiral
| Fletchers own story of the occupation
Of Vera Cruz is told in the first de-
| tailed report Of the Nays operations
Oh the east coast of Mexico made
| public by the Navy Department.
! The report tells of Admiral Fletcher
receipt of the historic cablegram early
! in the morning of April II ordering
/ him to seize the Vera Cruz customs
house; of the swift descent of marines
and bluejackets from the American
warships upon the port and the bloody
| fighting that occurred when they met
/ with resistance from the Mexican fed
! eral soldiers and irregulars.
The Admiral refers particularly to
| the work of the cruisers Prairie,
! Chester and San Francisco which
moored inside the breakwater, covered
successive landings of marines and
bluejackets.
Initiative and clear judgment was
required on the part of the command
ing officers" says the report, and
the results showed in a striking man.
ner and efficiency of the ships under
their commands" The three vessels
were under charge of Commanders
Moffett, Stiekney and Harrison.
The report in full follows:
When the cablegram of A. NJ,
April 21st, to seize the custom house
was received, the following officers
were in my cabin:
Captain w. R. Rush, L. S. Navy,
Commanding Naval Brigade.
Captain II. Mel. 2. Huse, L. S.
Navy. Chief of Staff.
Commander H. o. Stickney, u. S.
Navy, Commanding Prairie.
Lieutenant Colonel w. c. Neville,
L. S. NJ. c.. Commanding Marine Reg
iment.
They had been called on board to
be informed of the situation and to as
sure me that the plans previously pre-
pared for the employment of the Naval
Forces against Vera Cruz were under
stood by them, and that they were
prepared to carry them out. The
method of procedure adopted was to
land marines from the Prairie. Florida
and Utah, and the seaman battalion
from the Florida. seize the Custom
house, railway terminal and cable Of
fee. The seaman battalion of the
Utah was held on board awaiting news
of the 'Ypiranga'.
Commander Sticlney and Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Neville returned to the
Prairie and at 8 A. NJ, Commander
Stickney went ashore and personally
notified the American Consul that we
would land to take charge of the Gus
tom-heuse. directed him to notify all
foreign consuls, and to send all for
eigners aboard the Ward Liner 'Mexi-
CO which was at Pier No. and the
'EsperanZa then moored in the harbor.
General Mass, the Mexican Military
Commandant, was notified by tele-
phone from the Consulate that we
would land at once to take charge of
the custom house and he was urged
to offer no resistance but to withdraw
in order to avoid useless loss of life
and property of the people of Vera
Cruz.
AT $40 A. NJ an officer from the
Prairie boarded the foreign men-of
war in the harbor. Carlos V fSpanish)
and Essex Qritish) and notified them
of Our intended action.
IAN officer from the Prairie visited
the Fort of San Juan d Ulloa. inform
ed the Commander of the Port that We
would seize the custom house, and
that any aggressive move on his part
would be Immediately followed by our
opening fire with heavy guns on the
fort The Commander of the fort said
that he understood the situation, but
if we opened fire, he would return it,
He had an armed guard of leo regular
troops who had charge of the prison.
ers.
1.-The Ward Liner Mexico with
foreigners on board, pulled away from
Pier No. and anchored in the outer
harbOr. Commander Cone of the Utah.
after anchoring his vessel at $40 A.
Nj, came on board. Cone reported his
landing force ready and waiting for
any service and returned to his ship
AT 1890 A. NJ. the Prairie reported
| Am ready, and / directed Captain
Rush to land his brigade and carry
cut orders. The following signal was
sent to the Prairie at 1850 A. NJ, Land
| and take Pier No. H. be prepared to
| cover landing by necessary gunfire. AT
| las the Prairie signalled, Battalion
has showed off The landing force of
| the Florida showed off at the same
time and was Joined by the Panama
| contingent of marines from the Utah.
| This made a total force of 1871 officers
and men of whom 500 were marines,
| all under the command of Captain
| Williams r. Rush, Z. 8 Navy, Captain
Of the Florida. At 1130 A. M. the
Prairie signalled, Battalion has land
ed; no evidence of any resistance thus
| far At Has A. NJ. signal was received
from the Consulate, Gable station o.
| X, and this meant that the cable sta
| ton was in possession of our forces
on shore and that communication with
| Washington was assured. At 11.50 A.
NJ. a signal was received from Cap
tain Rush on shore that headquarters
| had been established at the Hotel
| Terminal and SIGNAL station set up