Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1914-04-30


and al the outbreak of the Spanish
war was a lieutenant and had at
tracted attention by his knowledge of
ordnance. \ 2
after the war he was relieved of
desk work at Washington and ordered
to sea. In March, 1904, he was pro-
noted to the rank of commander after
having served as commanding officer
of the gunboats Kanawaha and Eagle.
Soon after this promotion he was
made inspector of ordnance in charge
of the torpedo station at Newport.
where he served until March Is, 1905.
when he. again went to sea 1t vas
as chief of staff of the Asiatic feet,
which position he gave up to take
command of the cruiser Raleigh. After
two more years at sea he was ordered
to the naval war college at Newport.
and later he became a member of the
special ordnance board.
"In 1908 he was made a captain and
given command of the b~attleship Yer
mont. After leaving the Vermont he
became an aid on the staff Of Secre-
tary of the Navy George Won l.. Meyer.
1t was during this service in October,
1911, that he achieved flag rank"
May Succeed Badger.
Admiral Fletcher is regarded as a
probable successor of Rear Admiral
Badger as commander in chief of the
Atlantic feet, a promotion that will
carry with it the honor of command
ing the great United States fleet that
will be the first to pass through the
Panama canal when the waterway is
opened to the ships Of the world in
1915.
1t was Immediately following the
assassination of President MaderC
that Admiral Fletcher was ordered tc
i Mexican waters.
Enters Harbor In "Norther."
1t will be recalled that Admiral
Fletcher in his first cablegram record
ing the Selling of the custom-house al
Vera Cruz said that he commenced
operations in the face of an approach
ing "%norther."
The following extract from a navy
textbook on navigation may explain
why Admiral Fletcher acted withou'
undue delay in carrying out Presiden
Wilson's orders:
ITO attempt to run into the harbo
(Vera CRUZ in a 'norther' is extreme
ly perilous, for it blows more power
fully within than without the shoals
No confidence can be placed in an
chors and no assistance can be givel
from the shore in case Of accident"
Admiral Fletcher when not at SCI
resides>at 1441 Massachusetts avenue
Washington. He married Miss Susal
Hunt Stetson in 1895. He is a men
Der of the Chevy Chase and the Arm,
and Navy clubs in Washington,
How Seizure Order Was Given.
J Washington.-The story of hoy
President Wilson ordered the custom
house at Vera Cruz to be seized ha
been revealed.
The president had gone to bed MOI
, day night after having read his me:
sage to congress. The senate was d.
batting the joint resolution to approx
! the use of the army and navy, and th
president had determined to Withhold
; action until this resolution passed, a
) though feeling that in an emergenc
! the executive had ample authority I
4 act.
> At 4 o'clock Tuesday morning Sc
I rotary Bryan received a cablegral
$ from Consul Canada telling of the a
proach of a German vessel with
tremendous cargo of ammunition fl
Huerta.
n A number of locomotives and mar
cars were in readiness to rush Il
n arms to Mexico City.
Mr.. Bryan telephoned Secretary T
multy, who decided to awaken Il
president. He telephoned the Viii
House. The servants were timid. b
Tumulty insisted. Finally the pres
E dent came to the telephone. and viii
>. Secretary Tumulty was explaining Il
situation Secretary Daniels called
10 and was put on the same line.
He, too, had a dispatch about Il
ammunition. Rear Admiral Fletch
ls had sent a wireless that 10000
,r rounds Of ammunition and $50 N
% chine guns would be landed from t
German vessel by noon that day.
Il, The president listened in silence.