The Washington herald., 1914-05-03
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mud, the latter Of which had settled into
every part OF the ship Just before dark
the captain decided to anchor for the
night because Of thick weather. Watches
were set lamps lighted, and the Michigan
rolled gently with the ground swell
At our first dinner in the wardroom.
where all officers except the captain and
the Junior ensigns, the latest recruits
from Annapolis, mess, the talk turned on
our cruise. Conclusions were almost as
varied as they were numerous. Belief
was general. however. that something be-
yond Huerta's refusal to salute the
American nag 10 behind this quick rush
of our sea fighters to the Gulf.
Naval officers. however. feeling they
may talk among themselves. do not dis
cuss questions involving their superior
officers for publication. The views Of
these officers. interesting though they
were, cannot be recorded here.
Landing Force Ready.
On Board U. s. g. Michigan. April H.
When the Michigan reaches Tampico-
in fact long before-her crew will be
trained and ready to perform any dras-
tic service required
She will stand ready to throw on to the
breach at La Barra, the landing at the
mouth of the Panuco River, which runs
past Tampico and empties into the sea
six miles down, some 300 perfectly
armed, equipped and trained blue jackets
and marines, officered by Annapolis grad
yates. supported by field guns. supply
squad, hospital corps and even field
wireless apparatus.
The officers win have worked out ex-
actly the part that any integral unit of
a landing force would have to play, and
they will have their men trained to play
that part. In addition. having been with
few exceptions, at Tampico and Vera
Cruz before, the officers know just
about what form the attack will take
and they are prepared to play their part
in the action.
Tampico lies six miles inland on
muddy, sluggish river which beclouds
the blue waters of the Atlantic at La
Barra. The river cuts out a sandy prom
ontory. A small railroad runs up from
La Barra to Tsmpico. Between La
Barra and Tampico. on both sides Of the
Panuco River, are huge oil wells, some
OF which have been burning for some
time. others of which might be used
by the enemy TO retard the progress Of
landing party.
OIL Tanks n Menace.
Large vessels like the Michigan cannot
get within three miles of the shore. Gun
boats and dispatch boats may run up the
river around Tampico II they desire. One
possibility. in case the taking of Tampico
should be. ordered and the Mexicans
should decide to put up some form of re-
sistance, is that these oil wells may be
lighted, the contents of the mammoth
tanks ignited and run down the river and
over the promontory, thereby destroying
millions of dollars worth Of foreign
property and at the same time offering
serious resistance to our forces.
When we left Philadelphia yesterday we
had on board. in addition to nearly a full
complement of men, 175 blood-raw recruits
from the naval training station at Chi
cago. Not only are they new to a ship,
but the allotted time for their training
had been cut almost in half in order to
get them to the feet for this cruise.
They are being taken to fill up vacancies
on this and other vessels They are
fine-looking, hard-working bunch. On
GERS say 1t is the best-looking aggregation
of recruits they have seen.
In fact. 1 have never before seen in a
collection of 900 men doing work similar
to that performed by the Jackie and
his officer, so clean cut, healthy, intelli-
gent, and promising an ensemble as these
men present. And not least to be praised
is this new bunch of 175 outstanding
yOAieSNC4s
4 "Loose" ship.
The Michigan is known as a loose"
ship in the navy. Her men say she is
the ''loosest" Far from being a term Of
reproach, this is a distinct tribute to the
esprit de corps on board. 1t means that
in the excellent understanding between
officers and men, the mutual interest in
each other and In their ship, and the
high standard Of efficiency the Michigan
ranks highest.
In company with two other newspaper
men, / am a member of the wardroom
mess, comprising all commissioned off,
GERS on the ship, except the captain and
the eight junior ensigns. l have listened
numerous times while at table to discus
sions between officers as to the merits of
certain men. discussions which show an
intimate study by the officers OF the men
in their divisions and a deep-set desire to
advance them as quickly as possible.
have heard officers championing their
men before their brother officers until
the discussion became uncomfortably
acrid. The effect OF this interest is best
demonstrated by the shore leave record
of the Michigan in the past year. During
nearly seven mnnths, while the Nichigan