The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1914-03-20
COWLES TELLS
Of MEXICAN
SITUATION
Rear Admiral Back from West
Coast Describes Conditions Of
Country Practically Controlled
by Rebels Leaves for Wash
ingt9n and viii Pass Through
Honolulu En- Route to Orient
Next Month.

Next Month.
...... - SUI "a b5nR5
SAN DIEGO, California, March Sd
Looking as hale and hearty as the
day he sailed from San Diego aboard
the cruiser California, eleven months
ago, Rear Admiral Walter G. Cowles,
formerly commander in chief of the
United states Pacific feet, arrived at
ten-ffteen O'Clock yesterday morning
from Mazatlan on board the cruiser
Pittsburgh. Admiral Cowles' record AS
commander Of the Pacific fleet Is one
Of the most remarkable in the annals
of the American navy In that he was
not north Of Guaymas nor south Of
Manzanfllo during the entire time he
commanded the fleet. lie hoisted his
flag aboard the California in San Diego
harbor at 4 p. m, the afternoon Of
April Y 1913, smiling the next morning
for Guaymas, where he relieved Rear
Admiral w. II. IL. Switzerland.
Admiral Cowles frankly admitted
that he was delighted TO get back 10,
San Diego, and expressed regret that
the exigeneies Of the service made il
impossible Tor him to tarry more than
q few hours. Commenting on cond.
lions along the west coast Of Mexico as
ne found them in his official capacity,
Admiral Cowles said:
Tampico in Hands Of Rebels.
"The report Of the surrenderine Of
the gunboat Tampieo 10 the Constitu.
tionalists Of Topolobampo is true. Be-
fore the vessel sailed from GunyInas
twenty Of the crew who were loyal 10
Huerta were put ashore. Upon the
surrendering of the vessel at Topolo.
bampo the captain and chief engineer
were relieved and sent south on a mer-
chant steamer. believe that the
rebels had an idea that these two Off
GERS were not wholly loyal TO the Ma.
derista cause, and for that reason the
rebels found II best TO have them dis
placed.
. IL is the prevailing opinion at Ma.
zatlan among government officials.
and also share the same view. that
no naval engagement will take place i'm
the near future between the Tampieo
and the federal gunboats Morelos and
Guerrero. The policy Of the rebels is
to keep the TampicO at Topolobampo
more for moral effect rather than TO
risk a battle with the odds in favor Of
the government warships The Tam
pico is kept fully eoaled aud has plenty
OF ammunition aboard and battle 10
the finish probably will occur IL the
Morelos and Guerrero venture inside
Topolobampo harbor and force the
engagement, However, i do not con-
slider this likely, as both vessels were
at Mazatlan when the Pittsburgh sail
ed and were making no preparations
for steaming north.
Control Two States.
"Both the states Of Sonora and
Sinaloa are in absolute control Of the
Constitutionalists with the exception
Of the seaports of Mazatlan and Quay
mas. At Mazatlan force Of 1000
Federals are defending the city. II
is my opinion that the rebels win new.
er succeed in capturing the seaport. 1t
is too strongly fortified, the troops are
loyal to Huerta, and during the last
several engagements victory has rest
ed with the government troops. Ma
zatlan Is as safe from capture as Is
San Diego, or any other California
seaport at the present time
There is still desultory lighting in
the vicinity OF Guaymas and several
miles outside Of Mazatlan, but at the
other ports along the west coast the
rebels have things pretty much their
own way"
Bluejackets Cheer Admiral.
Admiral Cowles was ofieially re.
lieved Of the command Of the Pacific
feet Saturday morning, FEBRUARY 2s,
by Rear Admiral Thomas b. Howard,
who raised his flag aboard the Cali
fornia at Mazatlan.
Although he came north on the Pitts.
bpFgh simply has passenger, the griz-
zled naval officer was accorded all the
honots Of his rank as he descended the
starboard gangway Of the cruiser at
eleven-ten O'Clock AS the admiral
stepped onto the quarter deck the band
struck up :. Hail to the Chief ,
slowly making his way to the head OF
the gangway, past the ships officers,
who had lined up on the starboard sides
TO bid him goodbye, Admiral Oowles
stopped abruptly when the band
played "Auld Lang syne, = and sa-
lutte of thirteen guns roared out over
the waters As the strains of the song
died away the admiral waved his hand
in q gay salute and descended the
gangway to the steam launch along.
side. The flag, which was hauled
down as the band played the last
piece, will be hoisted aboard the flag
ship Saratoga of the Asiatie feet up,
on Admiral Cowles arrival at Maya
saki. .. =. #a# "a
Accompanied by his flag secretary,
Lieutenant Charles q, Davy, the adj.
miral left yesterday afternoon for
Washington. Z He will return to San
Francisco in time to take passage TO
the Orient aboard the liner Korea, on
April 2. With him will sail Lienten-
ants Dayy and Baldridqe, the latter
Admiral Gowles feet ordinance officer
While in Washington Admiral cowles
win attend the wedding Of Lieutenant
Baldridge, who is TO marry the daugh
ter Of General and Mrs. s, II. Smith.